Updated October 18, 2023
The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
Background
MLR Employment
On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)
According to a May 25, 2022 Marine Corps Association
announced a major force design initiative planned to occur
article “Missions, MAGTFs, Force Design & Change,” by
over the next 10 years referred to as “Force Design 2030.”
Colonel Michael R. Kennedy, USMC (Retired), MLRs are
As part of this initiative, the Marine Corps intends to
intended to
redesign forces to place a stronger emphasis on naval
Deploy to islands, coastlines, and observation posts
expeditionary warfare and to better align with the National
Defense Strategy, in particular, the strategy’s focus on
along chokepoints where their networked sensors
strategic competition with China and Russia. As part of this
and weapons can surveil the air and surface (and,
redesign, the Marines plan to establish at least three Marine
potentially subsurface) waterways. The timing of
Littoral Regiments (MLRs) organized, trained, and
their insertion is implied to be in the “competition”
equipped to accomplish a number of missions within
phase before hostilities start. The duration of their
contested maritime spaces.
stay is less clear, and potentially challenging as
resupply over long distances … will be
MLR Missions
challenging.… Host nation support (if it exists) will
According to the Marines, the MLR is to be capable of the
be critical as will prepositioned supplies and even
following missions:
“foraging. The MLR’s purpose will be to observe
•
and prevent any “grey zone” activities that lead to
Conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
fait accompli actions. In some cases, it is presumed
(EABO), a form of expeditionary warfare involving the
that they may be the “trigger” that shifts the status
employment of naval expeditionary forces with low
electronic and physical signatures, which are relatively
from competition to conflict if any premature
easy to maintain/sustain. These forces are to be arrayed
hostile acts are directed towards their positions.
in a series of austere, temporary locations ashore within
Proposed MLR Organizational Structure
a contested or potentially contested maritime area to
conduct sea denial, support, sea control, and fleet
Marine Corps leadership has stated it requires further
sustainment operations.
analysis and experimentation to refine MLR organizational
structure. As currently envisioned, the MLR is planned to
• Conduct strike operations with a variety of systems.
consist of approximately 1,800 to 2,000 Sailors and
• Coordinate air and missile defense operations.
Marines and composed of four elements:
•
•


Support maritime domain awareness.
A Command Element.
•
•
Support naval surface warfare operations.
A Littoral Combat Team consisting of an infantry
battalion and an anti-ship missile battery. The Littoral
• Support information operations.
Combat Team is to provide the basis for multiple
platoon reinforced-sized expeditionary advanced base
The MLR’s Operational Environment
sites capable of conducting a variety of missions.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps’ May 2022 Force
•
Design 2030 Annual Update states
A Littoral Anti-Air Battalion designed to conduct air
defense, air surveillance and early warning, air control,
The security environment is characterized by
and forward rearming and refueling operations.
proliferation of sophisticated sensors and precision
• A Combat Logistics Battalion designed to resupply
weapons
coupled
with
growing
strategic
expeditionary advanced base sites, manage cache sites,
competition. Potential adversaries employ systems
and tactics to hold the fleet and joint force at arm’s
and connect with higher-level logistics providers. The
Combat Logistics Battalion is also to provide limited
length, allowing them to employ a strategy that uses
purchasing authority, medical support, ammunition and
contested areas as a shield behind which they can
fuel distribution, and field maintenance.
apply a range of coercive measures against our
allies and partners.
Selected MLR Systems
Operating in this environment, MLRs are envisioned to
In order to accomplish the wide range of missions
serve as what the Marines call a “Stand-In Force (SIF),”
envisioned for the MLR, Marines Corps leadership cite four
primarily to “help the fleet and joint force win the
major essential systems.
reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance battle within a
contested area at the leading edge of a maritime defense-in-
depth.”
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The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction
Reportedly, the 12th Marine Artillery Regiment stationed in
System (NMESIS)
Okinawa is to be reorganized into the 12th MLR by 2025.
NMESIS consists of the Naval Strike Missile mounted on
The Marine Corps also reportedly plans to transfer the 4th
the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). It is a ground
Marine Regiment from Okinawa to Guam, where it is
based anti-ship capability intended to facilitate sea denial
scheduled to be reorganized into the 4th MLR in 2027.
and control.
Potential Issues for Congress
Figure 1. Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship
The Marine Corps Force Design 2030 and the creation of
Interdiction System (NMESIS)
MLRs raise a number of potential issues for Congress,
including but not limited to the following:
MLR Utility Outside the Indo-Pacific
While Marine leadership have noted MLRs are being
designed to operate in the Indo-Pacific region, the Marines
have global security responsibilities. Russia’s February
2022 invasion of Ukraine has arguably changed the global
security environment and raises potential questions about
what role MLRs might play outside of the Indo-Pacific
region. Are MLRs structured and equipped to successfully
Source: First Lieutenant James Winnefeld,” NMESIS Now,”
operate in support of U.S. NATO responsibilities if
Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, November 2021.
required? If three Indo-Pacific MLRs are needed to support
operations in the region, are there plans to develop MLRs
MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
for other regions? Congress might decide to examine MLR
The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-to-high altitude, long
structure and capabilities in regards to how MLRs might
endurance UAS. The MQ-9’s primary mission is to serve as
support potential NATO operations and if additional force
a persistent hunter-killer against enemy targets. The MQ-
structure and systems should be dedicated to create MLRs
9’s alternate mission is to act as an intelligence,
to support operations outside the Indo-Pacific region.
surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform by
employing sensors to provide real-time data to joint force
Role of the Navy Medium Landing Ship (LSM)
commanders. In May 2023, the Marines received the first of
The Marines have noted Stand-In Forces require organic
eight MQ-9 Reapers, which were delivered under a joint
operational mobility, such as the LSM, to deploy and
contract with the U.S. Air Force.
sustain MLR elements in support of EABO. The Navy
envisions procuring up to 35 LSMs and had planned
AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar
procuring the first LSM in FY2023, but deferred the
(G/ATOR)
procurement of the first LSM to FY2025. While Navy
Initially fielded in 2018, G/ATOR is an expeditionary,
leadership has stated procuring the LSM is a priority, press
multifunctional radar system, intended to enhance the
reports suggest the Marines and Navy have differing views
MLR’s ability to perform counterfire and air defense
about required LSM numbers and capabilities. Pending
missions, such as defending against cruise missiles and
delivery of the first LSMs, the Marines are now examining
UASs.
options for other platforms. Given uncertain and shifting
Navy Medium Landing Ship (LSM) (Previously
Navy shipbuilding plans and the Marine’s reliance on the
Light Amphibious Warship [LAW])
procurement of LSMs, Congress may examine risks
A Navy program, the LSM is intended to fill a capability
associated with MLR deployment and sustainment if fewer
gap between large, multipurpose amphibious warfare / L-
LSMs are procured or if fielding timelines are extended. If
class ships and smaller, short-range landing craft. The LSM
Congress deems such risks unacceptable, Congress might
is planned to be a low-signature, beaching, shore-to-shore
decide to reprioritize Navy shipbuilding plans or provide
vessel with intra-theater endurance capable of operating
additional funding for the LSM program.
independently or with other surface ships in contested
Additional Reading
environments in support of EABO.
• CRS Report R47614, U.S. Marine Corps Force Design
MLR Establishment
2030 Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress, by
On March 3, 2022, the Marines redesignated the 3rd Marine
Andrew Feickert.
Regiment as the 3rd MLR at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
• CRS Report R47096, U.S. Ground Forces in the Indo-
Reportedly, the 3rd MLR achieved Initial Operational
Pacific: Background and Issues for Congress, by
Capability (IOC) by the end of FY2023 following the
Andrew Feickert.
conclusion of a Force Design Integration Exercise
(September 25-28, 2023), where Pacific-based Marines,
• CRS Report R46374, Navy Medium Landing Ship
including the 3rd MLR, practiced distributed operations and
(LSM) (Previously Light Amphibious Warship [LAW])
other Stand-In Force capabilities around the Hawaiian
Program: Background and Issues for Congress, by
Islands. The 3rd MLR is expected to achieve Full
Ronald O'Rourke.
Operational Capability (FOC) in FY2025.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF12200
https://crsreports.congress.gov

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The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12200 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED

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