Sea Control Sea Control 580: Building Resilient Kill Chains
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Jun 27, 2025 Sean Harper, a Major and infantry officer with a background in operations research, and Captain Pat Riley, an expert in operations analysis, dive into the future of the Marine Corps. They discuss the concept of 'stand-in forces' and the critical need for resilient kill chains in modern warfare. The conversation highlights strategies to counter adversaries, particularly in the Western Pacific, and emphasizes joint interoperability and innovative battlefield technologies. Their insights on adapting to evolving threats and enhancing operational resilience are both timely and thought-provoking.
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Houthis Show Kill Chain Vulnerabilities
- Houthis' success with simple, minimal land-based attacks validate the stand-in force concept for sea denial.
- If less capable actors can shoot down key assets, near-peer adversaries could pose grave threats to current kill chains.
Force Design Focus on Stand-In Force
- Force design debate has shifted from debate to evaluating if Marine Corps is progressing towards stand-in force goals.
- The stand-in force’s value proposition centers on maritime kill chains and countering adversary sea denial.
Transforming Under Pressure
- The Marine Corps must transform under pressure amidst simultaneous global conflicts and force redesign.
- Maintaining crisis response while preparing for major combat operations is a complex, urgent challenge.