Experiment Division plans and executes experiments based on strategic leader guidance, approved operational concepts, and ideas coming from Marines in the operating forces. In addition, we learn from every experiment we conduct and aggressively incorporate those lessons in shaping future events. We do not validate concepts; we assess them, identify capability gaps, and ideally modify some of the concept’s precepts. Experiment Division understands that change is inevitable. This is especially true for warfighting, as new tactics, techniques and procedures must be melded with innovative technologies to give our Marines an asymmetric advantage in their role as the Combatant Commanders’ force of choice for future immediate response operations throughout the world.
The Warfighting Lab is unique in that it uses the operating forces as its experiment force. We do this because we want an educated customer and unvarnished input from the men and women who have the highest stake in our products. The quality of today’s Marine ensures a high level of intellectual engagement and thoughtful, clearly articulated feedback – at all levels.
Experiments take multiple forms and use a combination of methods to come to a conclusion. These include seminars, wargames, modeling, simulation, technical assessments, and ultimately live-force operations. With larger, more encompassing concepts, a series of limited objective experiments is used to examine specific aspects of a designated concept(s), often times culminating in what we call an Advanced Warfighting Experiment that ties together the result of previous years’ experimentation in a single, large-scale event.
Close collaboration among the four branches of Experiment Division is essential to success. Each plays a role in moving each experiment from beginning to end.