Fight Smarter, Not Harder: MCDP-7 - Reinvigorating the Philosophy of Maneuver Warfare through Learning

This thesis will be qualitative in nature, utilizing published literature, scholarly writings, congressional testimonies, academic journals, previous theses, and public records. The literature review will take a look at relevant works in providing an understanding of selected themes from Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 7, Learning (MCDP-7) on why learning is critically important to the profession of arms, and to addresscertain methods for how the Marine Corps can improve a Marines learning and thinking capabilities. The goal of my review is to provide an understanding of how the Marine Corps can improve its ability to better understand its current complex environment, enhance its ability to quickly recognize changing conditions, increase its adaptability, and improve its ability to outthink adversaries by making learning an organizational priority. This thesis will review and cover selected themes in MCDP-7 with relevant academic literature and extend further steps for implementing MCDP-7. The increasing uncertainty in our strategic environment, as well as the internal complex problems we are encountering today as a nation, makes it critically important that our institution focuses on the warfighters learning, thinking, and education.