Case for Employing the Mobile Assault Company Concept Through the Spectrum of Warfare

The Mobile Assault Company (MAC) concept--the technique of employing the Marine Infantry Battalion's Weapons Company as a fourth maneuver element--is currently being employed successfully during counterinsurgency and Stability Operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Employing the MAC concept, however, alters the doctrinal mission profile of the Weapons Company and strains its traditional supporting role to the Rifle Companies. On the other hand, the Infantry Battalion lacks a capable organic combined arms reconnaissance and security force for MIC-HIC operations, which the MAC can provide. Research consisting of survey data from Marine operating forces, Army and Marine doctrinal, historical, and comparative techniques will demonstrate that the Weapons Company needs to permanently modify its Table of Organization and Equipment to support the MAC concept. This thesis justifies two courses of actions to facilitate permanent future employment of the MAC concept through full spectrum operations.