Marine Corps Launches Software Factory
by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gregory Carroll Deputy Commandant for Information March
19,
2023
The U.S. Marine Corps established the
Marine Corps Software Factory (MCSWF) to create a world-class
Marine-led software development capability today, March 10, 2023.
The future operating environment will require Marines to
scope and implement software-based solutions at the edges of the
battlefield without connectivity or assistance from centralized or
contracted support.

Larger Image
The
U.S. Marine Corps established the Marine Corps Software Factory (MCSWF) pilot program to create a world-class Marine-led software development capability
on March 10, 2023. The future operating environment will require Marines to scope and implement software-based solutions at the edges of the battlefield without connectivity or assistance from centralized or contracted support. The MCSWF enhances Marine Corps modernization efforts by empowering Marines to develop applications for commanders at the speed of relevance. (U.S. Marine Corps graphic by Maj. Gregory Carroll, Deputy Commandant for Information)
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The MCSWF enhances Marine Corps
modernization efforts by empowering Marines to develop applications
for commanders at the speed of relevance.
“Our Marines have
an amazing capacity for understanding complex technologies. We must
empower our Marines to use that technological know-how to create a
more lethal force," stated Gen. David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of
the Marine Corps. “The Marine Corps is fielding more complex systems
and platforms right now, and we must invest in our Marines’ and
Civilian Marines' capacity to advance in parallel.”
The MCSWF will
leverage recent endeavors in talent management, partnerships with
industry, and innovations in cloud technology. The MCSWF will work
closely with Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA) to ensure ease of
career implications for program participants and to ensure software
factory outcomes are optimized across the modernization enterprise.
As the Marine Corps’ Chief Information Officer, Lt. Gen. Matthew
Glavy, Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I), will serve as the
executive sponsor for the MCSWF.
“The Marine Corps Software
Factory is about outcomes, creating advantage for Marines at the
tactical edge, today”, stated Glavy. “The MCSWF will provide viable
capabilities to enhance mission readiness through the power of
information.”
MCSWF is a three-year pilot to demonstrate a
scalable, Marine-led software development capability. The three-year
pilot will evaluate the demand from the fleet to better understand
overall requirements.
March 25, 2021, MARADMIN 164/21 was
released via Information, Command, Control, Communications, and
Computers (IC4) division soliciting participation in the inaugural
Marine Corps Micro-Application Development Innovation Challenge. The
Innovation Challenge yielded promising results and proved that given
the right resources, talented Marines across the MOS spectrum can
design and deliver software capabilities from the tactical to
strategic levels. Subsequent micro-application innovation challenges
consistently revealed untapped technical talent and a demand signal
for organically developed software solutions within the Marine
Corps.
The initial MCSWF cohort was sourced from the
Communications Occupational Field. Future candidates will be
solicited across the service from any MOS.
Marines selected
to attend the MCSWF will undergo a three-year program consisting of
three phases: a technical accelerator, one-to-one pairing
enablement, and employment utilization. For the first three months,
Marines will attend a technical accelerator to establish a baseline
skillset. Then, Marines will work one-to-one with technical experts
from industry while solving real Marine problem sets.
Marines who successfully complete the enablement phase will receive
the 0673 Necessary MOS (Application Developer). Marines will spend
the final 24 months in a utilization tour building Marine Corps
software solutions while continuing to advance their skillsets.
The MCSWF is co-located with the Army Software Factory (ASWF) in
Austin, Texas. The MCSWF has established a formal agreement with the
ASWF showcasing the first collaborative software development effort
in the DoD. Partnering with ASWF will accelerate Marine Corps
software development modernization efforts at a significantly
reduced cost.
Learn
More About The MCSWF
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