"The Marine Corps Science and Technology Strategic Plan" establishes the priorities and direction for science and technology (S & T) investment in the technologies that the nation needs for its future Marine Corps. This Plan addresses capability needs for all the elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The Plan is designed to complement the "Marine Corps Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare Capability List" by identifying as S & T objectives -- STOs -- the technology enhancements most needed to enable the warfighting capabilities of the nation's future Marine operating forces. The STOs are not intended to be all-inclusive. Instead, they identify the priority S & T objectives needed to implement the vision for the 21st century Marine Corps. This Plan is intentionally designed to mirror the warfighting functions contained in the "Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare Capability" list so as to clearly depict the linkages between the Marine Corp's capability needs and the science and technology pursuits that have been determined to be essential. However, the authors have added separate sections for Mine Counter Measures and Human Performance and Training in recognition of the specific S & T investment made in these critical enabling combat development areas. In addition, they have included Annexes that address the capability needs of a future sea-based, power projection Navy-Marine Corps team capable of implementing distributed operations and increasing their agility and speed in operations from cooperative security to major combat. One must not forget that it is the infantryman who is the centerpiece of the military institution, even though expertly supported by combat power of immense lethality from the air-ground team and superbly sustained by Marine logistics. Accordingly, this plan focuses on S & T capabilities that enhance small units that are more autonomous, more lethal, and better able to operate across the full spectrum of operations.

The Marine Corps Science and Technology Strategic Plan establishes the priorities and provides direction for investment in science and technology needed to enable our future Marine Corps. As you read this Plan, you will find that it addresses capability needs for all the elements of our Marine Air-Ground Task Force as well as key enabling needs resourced by the Navy to support the Sea Base, Naval Aviation, and Naval Medicine and Human Performance. The plan is designed to complement the Marine Corps Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare Capability List by identifying as science and technology objectives - STOs - the technology enhancements most needed to enable the warfighting capabilities of our future operating forces. The STOs are not intended to be all-inclusive. Instead, they identify the priority S & T objectives needed to implement our vision for the 21st century Marine Corps as articulated in Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025 and our capstone concepts for the future.

This plan establishes priorities and provides the combat developer's guidance and direction for investment in the science and technology (S & T) necessary to enable our future Marine Corps. It addresses capability needs for each of the elements of our Marine Air-Ground Task Force as well as key enabling needs resourced by the Navy; these include support to the Sea Base, Naval Aviation, and Naval Medicine and Human Performance. Recognizing the importance of reducing the demand for power and energy to our warfighters, we have included a Power & Energy section in this year's plan. This Plan identifies Science and Technology Objectives (STO) as those technology capability enhancements most needed to enable the warfighting capabilities of our future operating forces. The STOs are not all inclusive and neither are they an end in themselves. The STOs are the opening salvo in the engagement between the S & T 'three circles' (consisting of the combat developer, technology developer, and the materiel developer) in defining what is required, the 'art of the possible, ' and what can and will transition into a program of record. Only in this coordinated fashion can we ensure that our S & T dollars are spent wisely and effectively. While each of the participants in this process is important, requirements drive the S & T process.

This plan establishes priorities and provides the combat developer's guidance and direction for investment in the science and technology (S&T) necessary to enable our future Marine Corps. It addresses capability needs for each of the elements of our Marine Air-Ground Task Force as well as key enabling needs resourced by the Navy; these include support to the Sea Base, Naval Aviation, and Naval Medicine and Human Performance. Recognizing the importance of reducing the demand for power and energy to our warfighters, we have included a Power & Energy section in this year's plan. This Plan identifies Science and Technology Objectives (STO) as those technology capability enhancements most needed to enable the warfighting capabilities of our future operating forces. The STOs are not all inclusive and neither are they an end in themselves. The STOs are the opening salvo in the engagement between the S&T 'three circles' (consisting of the combat developer, technology developer, and the materiel developer) in defining what is required, the 'art of the possible,' and what can and will transition into a program of record. Only in this coordinated fashion can we ensure that our S&T dollars are spent wisely and effectively. While each of the participants in this process is important, requirements drive the S&T process.

The Naval Science and Technology (S & T) Strategic Plan describes how the Office of Naval Research sponsors scientific research efforts that will enable the future operational concepts of the Navy and the Marine Corps. This is a broad strategy that articulates a general direction for the future, while retaining sufficient flexibility and freedom of action to meet emerging challenges or alter course as directed by senior Naval leadership. The Navy and Marine Corps depend on S & T to discover, develop and demonstrate high-payoff, game-changing technologies to ensure the Fleet/Force retain a significant advantage over potential adversaries. This plan enables tomorrow's technologies for our warfighters across all domains.

This Naval Science and Technology (S & T) Strategic Plan describes how the Office of Naval Research (ONR) will enable the future operational concepts of the Navy and the Marine Corps. By design, it is a broad strategy that provides strong direction for the future, but it also retains sufficient flexibility and freedom of action to allow ONR to meet emerging challenges or alter course as directed by senior Naval leadership. ONR is the science and technology provider for the Department of the Navy (DON) and as such, is charged with providing the S & T products necessary for the operational concepts and visions for the Navy and Marine Corps of the future. While retaining an inherently long-term view, ONR can quickly redirect S & T resources to address high-priority short- or mid-term needs that emerge from our engaged Navy and Marine forces worldwide. As it has for sixty years, ONR will advance scientific knowledge to support the generation of naval technology with a vision focused on future capabilities, to hedge against the uncertainty of warfare. Development of this strategy was undertaken with a view to engaging agencies, partners, and customers both within and outside the naval domain. This effort included review of guidance documents and other agency strategies; review of Combatant Commander's priorities; and engagement with the Naval enterprises, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) and Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) staffs, as well as with the Naval S & T community, which includes ONR, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), senior systems commanders, the Naval Studies Board (NSB), and the Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC). This outreach and engagement has helped produce a balanced strategy that clearly points to the future and is aligned with naval missions and future warfighting needs.