Prepositioning Programs Handbook

The Marine Corps' Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) and Marine Corps Prepositioning Program - Norway (MCPP-N) have been operationally invaluable in supporting our Nation's interests across the world. These two unique programs provide the essential elements needed to support and executive crisis response, global reach, and forward presence. The Marine Corps' Prepositioning Programs enable the rapid deployment of Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs) and/or augment individual Marine units forward deployed. These forces are uniquely capable of strengthening alliances, securing strategic access, and defeating hostile adversaries. MPF and MCPP-N are keystones in the Marine Corps' capability for setting the conditions for national security. The prepositioning of equipment and supplies to support MAGTFs from Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MED), to Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) level employment, enables Marine forces to fulfill their role and responsibility as our Nation's force in readiness. Our prepositioning programs will continue to enable operations across the Joint Operational continuum - including shaping, deterrence, seizing the initiative, domination, stabilization, and enabling civilian authorities. When combined with the forces and their equipment arriving in the fly-in echelon (FIE), prepositioning programs provide forward deployed equipment and supplies needed to sustain a MEB-sized MAGTF for 30 days of operations; thus reducing total strategic lift requirements. Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm (Southwest Asia), Restore Hope (Somalia), and Iraqi Freedom have proven the value of our prepositioning programs. By prepositioning key warfighting equipment and supplies in support of forward presence, global reach, and crisis response, we have significantly reduced the time and strategic lift required to complete force closure of powerful and integrated warfighting capabilities for employment by Combatant Commanders. In turn, the successes and lessons learned from our past operations ultimately drive improvements for the future. Information in handbook provides an overview of our prepositioning programs.