An examination of Marine Corps energy initiatives and the supporting manpower force structure

Abstract

This research is in response to a request from the United States Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office. The Marine Corps has identified its reliance on energy resources as a real threat to military security and a drag on the logistics tail of expeditionary operations. This research recommends that the Marine Corps prioritize development of the existing Unit Energy Manager program to address operational energy capability requirements. Long-term solutions require updating existing formal training and education standards and assignment of a new free military occupational specialty on the Marine Corps tables of organization. The Expeditionary Energy Office and Marine Corps Installations Command have stood up to centrally manage policy and directives for Marine Corps energy management; however, the organization has not institutionalized mission essential tasks nor developed personnel training in order to field operational energy managers to the fleet. This research identifies the federal and military policies and guidance in place to manage operational and installation energy issues, as well as the manpower billets in place to support centralized management. The research further examines the existing force structure that supports training of energy management professionals within the Marine Corps.