Recently Released NOC 10 Describes Means for the Maritime Strategy

From Defense Media Activity - Anacostia

May 25, 2010 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy director of Strategy and Policy Division (N51) spoke today at the Pentagon about the significance of the Naval Operations Concept (NOC 10), which was released yesterday.

Rear Adm. David B. Woods said that NOC 10 is the result of months of coordination between the nation's maritime services. The 2006 NOC, which this document supersedes, was a coordinated effort between the Navy and Marine Corps. In keeping with the current Maritime Strategy, NOC 10 also integrates the U.S. Coast Guard.

"To continue the conversation as to what the maritime services bring to the nation is the ultimate goal," said Woods.

NOC 10 is organized around the sea services' six core capabilities, which were identified in the Maritime Strategy: forward presence, sea control, power projection, deterrence maritime security, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response. NOC 10 also describes how the sea services will develop concepts and utilize their capabilities across the range of military operations.

"This document is less aspirational and much more focused in describing the ways we support the ends described in the Maritime Strategy," Wood said. "It's a good articulation of how the maritime forces can be brought to bear."

Another important aspect of the new NOC is the engagement of partner nations. According to Woods, the NOC formulation process involved consultation with partners and allies.

"We left [the Maritime Strategy] a bit short on how we were going to partner with others. [The NOC] is going to help to articulate that."

The NOC describes when, where and how naval forces will contribute to enhancing security, preventing conflict and prevailing in war. It is also congruent with the National Defense Strategy and the Quadrennial Defense Review.

"The NOC is aligned with the governing documents that guide our nation's strategy," said Woods. "It describes for the next 10 years what we believe the Maritime Strategy will deliver for the nation."