https://crsreports.congress.gov
August 25, 2022
The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
Background
On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)
announced a major force design initiative planned to occur
over the next 10 years referred to as “Force Design 2030.”
As part of this initiative, the Marine Corps aims to redesign
its force to place a stronger emphasis on naval
expeditionary warfare and to better align itself with the
National Defense Strategy, in particular, the strategy’s
focus on strategic competition with China and Russia. As
part of this redesign, the Marines plan to establish at least
three Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs) organized, trained,
and equipped to accomplish a number of missions within
contested maritime spaces.
MLR Missions
According to the Marines, the MLR is to be capable of the
following missions:
Conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
(EABO) which is a form of expeditionary warfare
involving the employment of naval expeditionary forces
with low electronic and physical signatures, which are
relatively easy to maintain/sustain. These forces are to
be arrayed in a series of austere, temporary locations
ashore within a contested or potentially contested
maritime area to conduct sea denial, support, sea
control, and fleet sustainment operations;
Conduct strike operations with a variety of systems;
Coordinate air and missile defense operations;
Support maritime domain awareness;
Support naval surface warfare operations; and
Support information operations.
The MLR’s Operational Environment
The Commandant of the Marine Corps’ May 2022 Force
Design 2030 Annual Update states:
The security environment is characterized by
proliferation of sophisticated sensors and precision
weapons coupled with growing strategic
competition. Potential adversaries employ systems
and tactics to hold the fleet and joint force at arm’s
length, allowing them to employ a strategy that uses
contested areas as a shield behind which they can
apply a range of coercive measures against our
allies and partners.
Operating in this environment, MLRs are envisioned to
serve as what the Marines call a “Stand-In Force (SIF),”
primarily to “help the fleet and joint force win the
reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance battle within a
contested area at the leading edge of a maritime defense-in-
depth.”
MLR Employment
According to a May 25, 2022 Marine Corps Association
article “Missions, MAGTFs, Force Design & Change,” by
Colonel Michael R. Kennedy, USMC (Retired), MLRs are
intended to:
Deploy to islands, coastlines, and observation posts
along chokepoints where their networked sensors
and weapons can surveil the air and surface (and,
potentially subsurface) waterways. The timing of
their insertion is implied to be in the “competition”
phase before hostilities start. The duration of their
stay is less clear, and potentially challenging as
resupply over long distances …will be challenging
… Host nation support (if it exists) will be critical
as will prepositioned supplies and even “foraging.”
The MLR’s purpose will be to observe and prevent
any “grey zone” activities that lead to fait accompli
actions. In some cases, it is presumed that they may
be the “trigger” that shifts the status from
competition to conflict if any premature hostile acts
are directed towards their positions.
Proposed MLR Organizational Structure
Marine Corps leadership states it needs further analysis and
experimentation to refine MLR organizational structure. As
currently envisioned, the MLR is planned to consist of
approximately 1,800 to 2,000 sailors and marines and
composed of four elements:
A Command Element;
A Littoral Combat Team consisting of an infantry
battalion and an anti-ship missile battery. The Littoral
Combat Team is to provide the basis for multiple
platoon reinforced-sized expeditionary advanced base
sites capable of conducting a variety of missions;
A Littoral Anti-Air Battalion designed to conduct air
defense, air surveillance and early warning, air control,
and forward rearming and refueling operations; and
A Combat Logistics Battalion designed to resupply
expeditionary advanced base sites, manage cache sites,
and connect with higher-level logistics providers. The
Combat Logistics Battalion is also to provide limited
purchasing authority, medical support, ammunition and
fuel distribution, and field maintenance.
