Naval Operations Concept 2006

This publication is the latest in an evolutionary series that describes how the Navy-Marine Corps team will contribute to the defense of our nation. It supersedes the 2002 Naval Operating Concept for Joint Operations, refining and expanding upon that document as well as earlier papers like From the Sea and Forward...From the Sea. This concept is principally guided by national strategy as articulated in The National Security Strategy of the United States of America, The National Defense Strategy of the United States of America, and The National Strategy for Maritime Security. It provides the naval concept under which the forthcoming Navy Operating Concepts, Marine Corps Operating Concepts for a Changing Security Environment, and existing or emerging functional and enabling concepts will reside. Specifically, this concept calls for more widely distributed forces to provide increased forward presence, security cooperation with an expanding set of international partners, preemption of non-traditional threats, and global response to crises in regions around the world where access might be difficult. This document provides our Commanders Intent to guide the considerable creativity and judgment of our Sailors and Marines in applying a set of principles and methods within the framework provided by Sea Power 21 and The 21st Century Marine Corps. The end-state is de-centralized decision-making and execution based on broad, centralized guidance.