Expeditionary Strike Group: Command Structure Design Support

Abstract

An Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is a new capability mix that combines the combat power of three surface combatants and one submarine with an Amphibious Readiness Group/ Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (ARG/MEU(SOC)). ESGs provide Combatant Commanders with more flexible, robust, and distributed offensive combat capability and enhance Naval expeditionary force survivability. Beginning in 2002, the Navy and Marine Corps began an experiment to explore the offensive and defensive capabilities of the ESG as well as different command structure options. This paper describes the initial effort by the Adaptive Architectures for Command and Control research program to support the analysis and design of ESG-1 command structures through modeling and analysis.