Marine Bangs Drum for Investing in Nonlethal Weapons

Enhancing “lethality” has become a buzzword at the Pentagon and a mantra among force modernizers as the U.S. military gears up for great power competition. But the Defense Department needs to invest more in nonlethal capabilities to expand the range of options for commanders and troops when killing people isn’t the best course of action, the director of the Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office said Oct. 20. Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE.

MARFORPAC Force Protection Newsletter Includes Active Denial Technology Article

The Marine Forces Pacific Quarterly Newsletter for 3rd quarter2021 included an article on ADT. See the full newsletter HERE. The article appears on p.3.

NSWC IHD Wargaming Event Ushers In a New Phase of Warfighting

Marine Col. Wendell Leimbach, Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office director, stressed innovation in his brief on intermediate force capabilities (IFC): strategic risk mitigation investments that provide warfighters tools to seize initiative while competing below the level of armed conflict. Examples of IFCs are dazzling lasers and acoustic hailing devices, active denial systems, and counter unmanned aerial systems. Airports already employ a minor version of IFC technology in airport terminal safety screenings. Teams were asked to incorporate IFCs into their final concepts.

“We have to think differently about war because the nature of war has moved on. Our traditional deterrent effect is no longer effective,” said Leimbach. “IFCs enable you to push back. It’s a minor investment that can enable our entire force. This technology is a safe, effective way to deter.”

“IFCs enable the warfighter to compete across the competition continuum without losing in the information space,” continued Leimbach. “The goal is to avoid unnecessary destruction that initiates or prolongs expensive hostilities.”

Read the full article HERE.

Brutecast, S2 E14: Col Wendell Leimbach, “Intermediate Force Capabilities”

Col Wendell Leimbach, Jr.; JIFCO director, joined the U.S. Marine Corps University’s #BruteCast webcast to discuss some of the IFCs becoming available to Marines as they position themselves as the stand-in force for strategic competition. See his presentation on YouTube at: IFC BRUTECAST LINK

Beyond Bean Bags and Rubber Bullets: Intermediate Force Capabilities Across the Competition Continuum

Nonlethal weapons technological advancements could provide a variety of counter personnel and countermateriel effects without destruction. Could this new generation of capabilities provide senior leaders and operational commanders intermediate force options that support the full spectrum of military objectives? If so, how do they fit in the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) focus on increased lethality?  Read the full article HERE.

Deter in Competition, Deescalate in Crisis, and Defeat in Conflict

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), both located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, are two distinct commands, bound together and united in a common purpose—charged with the resolute mission of defending North America. NORAD defends the United States and Canada against threats in the air domain and provides aerospace and maritime warning. Founded in 2002 in the wake of 9/11, USNORTHCOM defends the United States against threats across all domains, conducts cooperative defense activities with our allies and partners in North America, and, when required, supports Federal, state, and local agencies with unique military capabilities to conduct defense support of civil authorities. Read the full article by General VanHerck HERE.

Active Denial Technology Computational Human Effects End-to-End Hypermodel (ADT CHEETEH) 

The ADT CHEETEH is a computational model simulating the response of a human target to Active Denial Technology (ADT). ADT is a counterpersonnel, nonlethal weapon system developed for military use. ADT subjects a target to pulses of focused 95-GHz electromagnetic energy. This diffuses approximately 400 microns into the target’s skin, producing no skin damage (within a known range of doses) while still causing a burning sensation strong enough to repel the target. ADT CHEETEH estimates the physical output of the ADT system and its effect on the target’s physiology, cognition, and behavior. Each model run completes in a few minutes on a standard laptop computer and quantifies the ADT system’s main measure of effectiveness (repel or not) as well as its intermediate measures of performance (dose on target, temperature and damage in skin, perceived pain level, etc.).

You can view a video of the webinar HERE.

Directed Energy Intermediate Force Capabilities: Relevant Across the Range of Military Operations

Directed energy weapons are key to addressing the Joint Force’s capability gaps. The Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO), located at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, develops IFCs between presence and lethal effects in support of the Joint Force. JIFCO provides programmatic recommendations and facilitates joint non-lethal weapons procurement by ensuring that funding supports the development of highly relevant, next-generation IFCs that the U.S. Department of Defense or combatant commands have identified as needs.

To view a PDF of the Webinar, click HERE. Click HERE for link to the DSIAC page where the webinar can be viewed on video.

Director and Principal Deputy for Policy and Strategy Write Article for

the National Institute for Public Policy

“War is both timeless and ever-changing.”  This edict is among the first sentences in Warfighting, the doctrinal publication every U.S. Marine Corps second lieutenant receives at The Basic School as a cargo pocket-sized combat Bible.[1]  Beyond basic training, this imperative to adapt to change in combat environments is recognized at the Pentagon’s highest levels.  “The Nation must field sufficient, capable forces to defeat enemies and achieve sustainable outcomes that protect the American people and our vital interests,” states the 2018 National Defense Strategy.  “Our aim is a Joint Force that possesses decisive advantages for any likely conflict, while remaining proficient across the entire spectrum of conflict.”[2]  To maintain that decisive advantage, in addition to the lethal force that is the hallmark of the U.S. military, the Joint Force needs a toolset of “Intermediate Force Capabilities” (IFCs) that include non-lethal weapons as well as other non-lethal tools.  IFCs will bridge the gap that exists between a mission of mere presence and the use of lethal effects, allowing active measures when presence alone is insufficient to deter malign activities or when the use of lethal or destructive force is neither desired nor appropriate.

Read the full article here.

Welcome to the new Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO)!

The Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) as you know it, is no longer. 

The Commandant of the Marine Corps’ 2020 Executive Agent’s Planning Guidance outlines the mission and vision for the new Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO).  This milestone in the DOD NLW Program’s history ensures that the Department of Defense mainstreams the use of the vital and relevant tools known as Intermediate Force Capabilities (IFCs).  IFCs, which exist between presence and lethal effects, enable U.S. and allied forces to deliver accurate, tailorable, and compelling effects in complex and ambiguous scenarios while preventing unintended escalation of hostilities, unnecessary loss of life, or destruction of critical infrastructure. 

Team JIFCO looks forward to serving the Joint Force and its strategic partners. [Click on the image to read the full planning guidance]

Reports on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

United Nations Assistance Mission: Afghanistan (UNAMA) prepares regular reports in accordance with its UN Security Council mandate, undertaking a range of activities aimed at minimizing the impact of the armed conflict on civilians. Since 2012, the reports have been prepared jointly with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Reports using a consistent methodology have been maintained since 2009. Note that earlier reports from 2007 and 2008 follow a previous reporting system and are included here for reference purposes only.

Third Quarter, 2020 Report

FOR POINTS OF CONTACT FOR EACH SERVICE REGARDING INTERMEDIATE FORCE CAPABILITIES, CLICK THE LINKS ABOVE OR CLICK THE CONTACT TAB AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE. 

Click on the Image or the link below for the latest information about ADS.

Active Denial System "Fast Facts" Sheet

Intermediate Force Capabilities (IFCs) deliver discriminate and reversible effects without causing unnecessary destruction or loss of life.  Skilled application of IFCs supports mission objectives by complementing lethal force without unintentionally initiating, escalating, or prolonging extensive (and expensive) hostilities.
Mission, Vision, Definition      

VIDEO: Intermediate Force Capabilities: Bringing the Fight to the Gray Zone

Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program
Science and Technology Strategic Plan