MCA Hosts Leadership Conference in Okinawa on Risk Mitigation

Quantico, VA, Jun 10, 2024: The Marine Corps Association, in conjunction with III Marine Expeditionary Force hosted a Professional Leadership Conference on Risk Mitigation, on June 3, 2024, at Marine Corps Base Butler, Okinawa Japan.  

The conference highlighted the importance of rigorous planning, risk assessment, and clear communication to ensure the well-being of personnel and mission success. The intent was to educate Marines to recognize and mitigate risks using a variety of actual scenarios as teaching tools.  

Colonel Joel Schmidt, Chief of Staff for III MEF, oversaw the planning of the event, based on input from the MEF commands and staff. “Lethality and effectiveness in combat requires Marines and Sailors to intuitively recognize and mitigate risks,” shared Schmidt. “III MEF hosted, and MCA sponsored Marines from Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group to conduct professional military education to enhance tactical-level leaders’ abilities to recognize and mitigate risks under various conditions and situations. Th PME contributed to the overall lethality of III MEF by focusing on small unit leaders’ abilities to safely conduct tough realistic training in preparation for combat.”   

The TTECG team, led by Col David Hart used case studies and interactive workshops, to teach practical strategies for balancing mission objectives and risk management.,  “From my position, the value of hosting and executing this risk mitigation summit is to convince leaders at all echelons in the MAGTF that ‘The more effective you (and your teams) manage risk, the better you optimize the generation of combat readiness and lethality in your respective formations across the MAGTF’.”  said Hart. “The main thing is the generation of quality combat readiness and lethality in our formations. Risk management and the generation of combat readiness and lethality are inseparable and complementary in all actions. Every day we either get better or worse and taking an intentional and disciplined approach to generating combat readiness and lethality while effectively managing risk ensures we get better every day.”   

Lieutenant General Charles Chiarotti (Ret), President and CEO of MCA, also attended the event. “We understand that risk mitigation is a crucial aspect of training. It’s great that we were able to help provide resources and information to III MEF leaders at every level to cultivate this mindset,” said Chiarotti. “We hope to continue to facilitate events like this for Marine Corps leaders. One of the most important things MCA provides the Marine Corps are opportunities like this that set our Marines up for success.” 

Featured Photo: U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force attend the Marine Corps Association III MEF Professional Leadership Conference at the Camp Butler Officers’ Club, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, June 3, 2024. The leadership conference provides Marines the opportunity to discuss topics relevant to today’s issues and provides networking, education, mentorship, and personal and professional development programs for all Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Manuel Alvarado)

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