MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Virginia— Marine Corps Systems Command is realigning its organizational structure to rapidly equip the Marine Air Ground Task Force with the tools needed to adapt and overcome in any clime and place.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert B. Neller’s 2016 Fragmentary Order #1, “Advance to Contact,” ordered a comprehensive review of the Corps’ force structure and organization no later than the end of fiscal year 2017. Giving Combat Development and Integration the
office of primary responsibility with Manpower and Reserve Affairs in support, he said, “We will be willing to accept risk in the size and organization of our units in order to create the capabilities we need for the future.”
To that end, MCSC concurrently conducted its own force structure review, according to MCSC Commander Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader. The last force structure review was conducted in 2001.
“We looked at MCSC’s nine program offices, supporting staff elements, and subordinate command Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity to determine if the command was optimally aligned around the nature of the products it provides to the MAGTF,” Shrader said.
U.S. Marines patrol during a live-fire raid training event, part of Mission Rehearsal Exercise, in southern Jordan Sept. 12, 2016. The MRX is a collective training event where the Marine Air Ground Task Force elements collaborate to refine individual and cooperative capabilities. Marine Corps Systems Command, the acquisition command of the Marine Corps, is realigning its organizational structure to more rapidly equip the MAGTF with information technology and ground weapon systems and equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trever Statz/Released)
“Equipping the MAGTF is what makes Marine Corps acquisition unique,” he said. “It’s what makes us relevant.”
Everything MCSC does supports the MAGTF: command and control; force protection; maneuver; fires; logistics and intelligence. The command’s mission is to develop capability, provide equipment and integrate them throughout and beyond the MAGTF.
On June 1, MCSC reached initial operational capability—a
sea change in the command’s organization that is intended
to enhance MAGTF alignment across product lines. This change means the command will shift away from its former structure of nine program offices, with 32 product managers and 87 teams. The new MAGTF-aligned structure will feature four portfolios that are aligned across the MAGTF elements—with the exception of the Air Combat Element. This new structure will have 14 program managers, including two direct-report program managers.
The command is now realigned under the following portfolio managers: PfM Command Element Systems, PfM Ground Combat Element Systems, PfM Logistics Combat Element Systems and PfM Support Establishment Systems. Twelve of the 14 program managers are aligned under the portfolio managers, and the program managers for Training Systems and Light Armored Vehicles will continue to report directly to the MCSC commander.
Complete integration of the new structure is planned for Oct. 1. It will include refining and defining command relationships; aligning operations and customer interfaces with existing processes for prioritizing, resourcing and assessing work; and documenting and comprehensively supporting the organizational design.
“The future of Marine Corps ground weapons and information technology systems will continue to involve identifying and defeating complex and increasingly sophisticated threats,” said Shrader. “MCSC is prepping the battlefield with an eye on the future. Through our realignment, I am confident we will be better positioned to field the most advanced, affordable and relevant technologies; and increase the speed at which we deliver those capabilities to the MAGTF.”