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Innovation

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Commandant issues second Innovation Challenge with a focus on training

16 Mar 2017 | Jim Andrews/PAO Staff Marine Corps Base Quantico

Modernization, leveraging technology, force-on-force training, improved Professional Military Education (PME), new ideas and improvement of old methods are just some of the things the Commandant of the Marine Corps is looking for in his second iteration of the Innovation Challenge issued recently.

This is the second Innovation Challenge issued by the commandant (the first one was at the end of 2016). While the first Challenge was lead by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Training and Education Command (TECOM) is tasked with leading the latest one.

The focus of this Challenge affects all current and future Marines on the most basic of levels training. The CMC issued MARADMIN 110/17 on March 6, outlining the latest Innovation Challenge, which seeks ideas and submissions on how the Marine Corps can enhance training and education to improve the decision-making ability of small unit leaders. Unlike the previous Innovation Challenge, this one is not limited to active duty Marines. The challenge is open to all U.S. military personnel and Department of Defense appropriated fund civilians.

Sgt. Maj. Justin LeHew, sergeant major of Training and Education Command, stated it best when he said, "The Marine Corps does not have a monopoly on good ideas," which is why the Challenge was opened up to all military services and DoD civilians.

Maj. Gen. Jim Lukeman, commanding general of TECOM, emphasized that all levels of training are constantly evaluated and TECOM is always self- evaluating how they train Marines. However, they want to get outside of the walls of TECOM and get fresh, ground-breaking ideas. Lukeman also highlighted technology, such as virtual reality and the gaming industry, as areas where the Marine Corps could find opportunities for training expansion.

LeHew’s message of "everyone matters and everyone contributes" can be seen in the selection process. While submissions are judged in the six areas of relevance, application, benefit, creativity, feasibility and collaboration, there is no name and rank on the ideas the selection board will see. Lukeman reiterated that all submissions will be judged by the content of the idea, not by the rank or status of the submitter.

Although the MARADMIN does not guarantee anything, it does state the "Commandant will personally recognize Challenge winners in May, and the winner(s) may have the opportunity to partner with the appropriate TECOM organization(s) for further concept development and/or implementation."

At the Small Unit Decision Making Workshop in January 2011, then-Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford declared "…this discussion about decision making. I think it’s critical and I think it’s probably, you could argue, the critical enabler for small unit leadership and I think small unit leadership is the critical enabler for success of the MAGTF (Marine Air-Ground Task Force)."

The latest CMC Innovation Challenge is also focused on small unit leadership and pushing decision making down to the tactical level, with the commandant’s own words in MARADMIN 110/17, "Our performance as an expeditionary force must be underpinned by the philosophy of maneuver warfare with a reliance on rapid and opportunistic decision-making and action, enabling distributed operations in all our tactical formations." This mindset demands that the training and education of small unit leaders be adequate, focused, useful and enhancing.

The Innovation Challenge is already underway and Lukeman said he has already seen 49 entries; however, they are only accepting submissions until March 31. This is an opportunity for all Marines, airmen, sailors, solders and their civilian counterparts to showcase the creative and resourceful thinking that helped the United States become the leader of the free world. www.mcwl.marines.mil/Innovation For more information and how to submit ideas, visit: www.mcwl.marines.mil/Innovation or submit ideas by direct email to: warfighting.challenge@usmc.mil.


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