MARSOF 2030: A Strategic Vision for the Future

Marine Raiders are spread across the globe conducting full spectrum special operations in a range of diverse settings. They demonstrate their professionalism and success every day in demanding operating environments worldwide, where they are producing operational gains for supported commanders. While all of us can be proud of MARSOCs strong, sustained performance, we must also be cognizant of a more chaotic and complex future looming on the horizon. Armed with both of these realities, I directed the staff to look beyond the next ridgeline to future operating environments and determine what changes might be required as we move forward. To this end, MARSOC embarked on an 18 month effort to identify opportunities, threats, capabilities, and considerations for the Command to maximize its contribution to the nation in 2030 and beyond. The MARSOC of today, with its extensive capabilities, has been over a decade in the making. Likewise, success in meeting challenges posed by evolving threat environments will be the result of reflective decisions and deliberate innovations - a lasting process we must begin today. The year 2030 represents an aim point that affords MARSOC flexibility in seeking and aligning funds to developmental efforts well beyond the current Future Years Defense Program FYDP. Focusing on the future will allow us space to plan, program and implement future capabilities. The futures effort is best seen as a continuous process one that is responsive to Component requirements in an ever changing environment. There is no specific or predetermined endpoint toward which we are driving. On the contrary, our progress will be monitored, assessed, and our capabilities periodically recalibrated so that it keeps focus on whatever the next ridgeline might be.