OCTOBER 2009

Unified Action Concept

Integration of civil-military coordination

By Maj Geoffrey Baum

>Maj Baum is assigned to the G–3/5 (Operations/Plans Division), Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

In 2007 the Marine Corps published A Concept for Interagency Campaign Design. At the time, this concept broke new ground by helping planners to better understand the dynamics of working with nonmilitary agencies in the design of comprehensive campaigns. Importantly, it recognized that the military may play a supporting role in future complex campaigns that promote our national security objectives. Current operations have prompted a resurgence of dialogue about such issues, and it was considered necessary to revise the earlier concept. On 3 June MarAdmin 0340/09 announced the publication of the concept paper for Unified Action Through Civil-Military Integration, which may be found at www.quantico.usmc.mil/activities/?
Section=CDI.

This new document is intended to further promote awareness, thought, and informed discussion of the requirement for integration of civil-military coordination. This new concept clarifies the Marine Corps’ desire to improve our knowledge and implementation of unified action, or that aspect of joint operations that integrates the activities of governmental and nongovernmental entities with military operations to achieve unity of effort. It also assists in directing Marines where to look for important information on this subject. Hoping to inspire a healthy and productive dialogue, it highlights the kinds of changes that both the military and our civilian partners can make in order to improve cooperation and teamwork in the complex security environment of the future. The concept proposes many doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities implications including the creation of a Marine air-ground task force unified action group that could function as the key integrator between civil-military organizations.

Commanders and leaders at all levels should read this document, think hard about its implications, and discuss it at professional military education sessions. As we seek to expand our awareness of, and institutional relevance for, the hybrid threats and complex environments of the future, this concept will prove valuable in helping to incorporate all instruments of national influence to achieve unified action at all levels. In doing so, we will ensure that our Corps is able to meet the demands of the complex conflicts of the future.