Hit ‘Em With a Combo Move: Combined Arms Challenges, Opportunities, and Sci-Fi Representations

The Joint Geeks of Staff

Ian and Eric are joined by NavyCon presenters Andy Rucker and Bill Prom for a discussion of combined arms in sci-fi! They explore the challenges of combined arms in reality, the challenges of writing about combined arms in sci-fi, the importance of communications to those issues, and how different platforms contribute to all of the above.

Also in this episode, Andy reveals the most accurate submarine movie ever, Eric talks about his latest Star Trek career field concept, Bill says what we’re all thinking, and Ian sends everyone into orbit…

For recommended reading this weeks, we have a ton of--what else?--doctrine! It’s a bit of a slog at times, but critical to understanding how the concepts we discussed are supposed to work. As always, though, your mileage may vary.

First, though, we have the Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual - for those that love the Aliens series, this is a fun one to have (and a free pdf is available!) https://ia801900.us.archive.org/9/items/aliens-colonial-marines-technical-manual/Aliens%20-%20Colonial%20Marines%20Technical%20Manual.pdf

JP 1: Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States

https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp1_ch1.pdf

JP 3-0: Joint Operations

https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp3_0ch1.pdf

ADP 3-0: Operations (2019) https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN18010-ADP_3-0-000-WEB-2.pdf

FM 3-0: Operations (2021 Edition being reviewed right now at the US Army Doctrine Directorate) https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN6687_FM%203-0%20C1%20Inc%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf

MCTP 3-10F Fire Support Coordination in the Ground Combat Element - The go-to pub for understanding fire support doctrine in the Marine Corps

https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/MCTP%203-10F.pdf?ver=2019-03-28-083848-523

Force Design 2030 - This speaks to some of the divestment/investment in Marine Corps Artillery that Bill mentioned: https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Portals/142/Docs/CMC38%20Force%20Design%202030%20Report%20Phase%20I%20and%20II.pdf?ver=2020-03-26-121328-460

Check out the brand-new individual videos for Andy and Bill’s presentations below!

Andy’s NavyCon presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXX7IEMzTjI

Bill’s NavyCon presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGSQrpbupb4

Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ

The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST) and Ian Boley (@IBBoley); our guests are Bill Prom (@wjprom) and Andy Rucker (@rucker_andy) of the Man Battlestations Podcast (https://manbattlestations.libsyn.com/).