Closing the Inter-Agency Gap: Role of the Marine Infantry Battalion on the Future Battlefield

Abstract : The future battlefield will be molded by world demographics, globalization, and increased power of ascendant and rogue states. The result will be a battlefield characterized by conventional and irregular tactics, often transitioning during a particular conflict. The enemy will exploit gaps created by the lack of inter-agency participation at the tactical level on the battlefield by using diplomatic, informational, and economic tactics to counter Marine infantry operations. The role of the Marine infantry battalion the future battlefield will be to close the inter-agency gap by utilizing a comprehensive government approach to locate, close with, and destroy or defeat the enemy by fire, close combat, or other means in order to win decisively or shape the battlefield in such a manner as to allow other government agencies to cooperate for an appropriate end to the conflict.