During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Juliet H. Calvin took command of the Marine Corps’ newest battalion and made history as the first Marine to command a unit of this type, which will ensure a resilient network that enables mission execution in the face of persistent cyber threats.
The MCEN is the Marine Corps’ communications backbone that connects computers, people, and related devices. The network provides robust, seamless and secure end‐to‐end communications for all Marines; from the supporting establishment to forward deployed forces.
“In this era of communication and technology, each Marine, Civilian, and Sailor uses their respective C2 system or laptop as a key enabler of coordination and mission performance…”
Lt. Col. Juliet H. Calvin, commanding officer of 1st Network Battalion
“MCEN C2 has been discussed for years, but now we are taking the first critical step to make this a reality,” said Col. Edward J. Debish, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group. “This decision creates unity of command for the security, defense, and operation of the Marine Corps Enterprise Networks.”
“Lt. Col. Calvin’s battalion is empowered to decisively take action at the lowest level to quickly respond to the warfighter’s needs,” said Debish. “Her battalion will work closely with I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Installations West, and the training commands to seamlessly deliver enterprise services to our Marines.”
1st Network Battalion provides visibility down to the individual user’s desktop device and enhances the Marine Corps’ ability to report, monitor, and improve the readiness of its network.
“1st Network Battalion is the unit responsible for providing all aspects of security, operations, and protection for Department of Defense Information Network from the enterprise at the service level, down to each individual warfighter throughout the entire Western Region,” said Calvin.
In today’s technology filled information environment, Marines rely on their workstations and the ability to connect to the MCEN in any clime and any place. 1st Network Battalion is the first step in ensuring the warfighter has this access and leads the way to further innovation and successful defense of the MCEN.
“In this era of communication and technology, each Marine, Civilian, and Sailor uses their respective C2 system or laptop as a key enabler of coordination and mission performance,” said Calvin. “Providing operationalized unified command and control will enable resilience, agility, and responsiveness, down to the tactical edge.”
In order to provide a technical advantage, the battalion relies on highly skilled Marines and civilians who work together to operate and defend the network capability. They equally share the common goal of creating agility through increased situational awareness and integration of cyber capabilities into the full spectrum of military operations.
“1st Network Battalion conducts Department of Defense Information Network operations and defensive cyberspace operations in general support of I MEF, MCI West, and other tenant activities in order to enhance freedom of action across warfighting domains, while denying the efforts of adversaries to degrade or disrupt this advantage through cyberspace,” said Calvin. “Our daily posture in cyber must be up to task for the modern adversarial threats in cyber.”
The battalion’s activation is the first step in a two-year process for MCEN C2 modernization. Later this year, two Network Activities are slated to stand up: National Capitol Region and Europe/Africa Region. In 2021, MCCOG plans to stand up additional network battalions in Camp Lejeune and Camp Foster; as well as a Network Activity for Marine Force Reserve in New Orleans.
The end state is a seamless command and control construct from U.S. Cyber Command, through Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command and Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group to the three network battalions and three network activities. This empowers commanders with the permissions they need to respond in a way the Marine Corps has not been able to do in the past.
Gunnery Sgt. Charles McKelvey
Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command