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Offensive Air Support: Marine Corps Warfighting Publication 3-23
Offensive Air Support Marine Corps Warfighting Publication 323 Author:United States Marine Corps Marine aviation traces its origin to 1912, when First Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham reported for naval aviation training. By 1914 Marines had started using aircraft and would see Marine aviation flying its first combat missions during the ending months of World War I. Through operations in Nicaragua, Haiti, China, World War II, Korea, Vietnam,... more » and Southwest Asia, Marine aviation has distinguished itself as a formidable contributor to the Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) combined arms team. This publication focuses on the Marine Corps philosophy of command and control, planning, operations, and emerging concepts and capabilities for commanders and staff officers who are responsible for planning and executing offensive air support operations. Offensive air support doctrine first began within the Marine Corps in 1935 when the Tentative Landing Operations Manual was published and has developed over the past 65 years into today's Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-23, Offensive Air Support. This doctrine does not discuss the specifics of unit-level tactics and procedures. It provides insight as to how Marine aviation is used to shape the deep, close, and rear battlespace as an integrated combat arm of the MAGTF. This publication supersedes Fleet Marine Force Manual (FMFM) 5-40, Offensive Air Support, dated 27 March 1992.« less