FRIDAY FOTO (June 4, 2021)

The Modern Day Marine.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Brienna Tuck)

A Marine tests the connectivity of the Networking On-the-Move (NOTM) Airborne communications system during flight operations May 27, 2021 from the USS America, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship.

The NOTM Family of systems is a Satellite Communications (SATCOM)-based on-the-move, command and control (C2) combat capability for all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF).

A force multiplier on the battlefield, NOTM provides forward and main integrated C2 capabilities for bounding assaults to the edge of the battlespace; commanders are no longer geographically tethered to the COC. The NOTM capability is currently employed both in ground and air platforms, according to the Marine Corps.

You may have heard that the Marine Corps is divesting itself of heavy weapons platforms such as tanks and towed artillery to pay for new investments in cyber space, artificial intelligence and high mobility land and amphibious vehicles. Don’t worry the Marines will still have firepower, but it will be ground-based anti-ship missiles and high mobility rocket systems.

We outlined most of the major changes in this article for SEAPOWER magazine.

“The Marine Corps is redesigning the force for naval expeditionary warfare in actively contested spaces. Marine Corps readiness is focused on building a more lethal force by training for advanced and persisent threats; growing cyberspace activities,” according to Navy-Marine budget documents. “These efforts will help ensure the Marine Corps is prepared to operate inside actively contested maritime spaces in support of fleet and joint force operations,” they add.

The Marine Corps is increasing and maturing yber capabilities through Marine Forces Cyber Command with an expansion of cyber mission forces teams who support operations across the globe. Major information warfare program funding is also planned.