These large exercises, then, are perfectly in keeping with statements made last year by 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H. Berger, who told reporters that he needs Marine leaders that can “think on their feet,” in order to win in a conflict with a nation-level opponent like China or Russia. While neither of these nations can match America’s global military capabilities, each represent significant threats to global stability, as well as regional threats to American interests and forces.

“MWX will be a true test of the Division’s ability to deploy and to operate at scale against a peer threat in a command-and-control denied and degraded environment – an environment where a thinking enemy is working hard to subvert all our efforts,” General Furness said.

Marines will be utilizing laser equipment that will notify them when they’re hit during these drills. Once hit, the Marine goes down as a casualty and will need to be treated and potentially transported by medical personnel also taking part in the exercises. In a very real sense, the intent behind these drills are to pit Marines against an equally capable force with similar technologies at their disposal. Using lasers to indicate hits will allow the troops and their leaders to see how Marines fair under these conditions, after decades of training to engage in a very different style of warfare.

Earlier this month, the Marine Corps released this video directed at the American public to better show how the Corps can be leveraged in a new era of peer level conflicts.