Diplomacy from the sea: taking cues from new administration, naval forces shift focus to soft power.

• Author: Jean, Grace V.
• Position: Naval Operations

The Navy and Marine Corps will be turning more attention to "soft power" missions in the coming years, officials said.

They are taking their cues from the Corps' former commandant, retired Gen. James L. Jones Jr., who will be President Barack Obama's national security advisor.

"We need to think of national security more holistically," Jones told National Defense in an October interview at a Navy expeditionary warfare conference in Panama City, Fla.

For naval forces, this means more emphasis on diplomacy and cooperation with allies, Jones said. "Expeditionary presence, expeditionary capability are key instruments in what I call a critical mission for the military to become more proactive in bringing about world peace, so you don't have to fight global conflicts.

"If you have a military that can't go anywhere, can't do anything except fight, then you're going to have more conflicts," Jones said. "If you have a military that's adaptable to helping other countries develop along the paths of democracy ... then you set the example, and you showcase all of those different alternatives."

The Navy two years ago began to step up efforts to strengthen maritime partnerships among nations through training and cooperation. So far, naval forces have participated in "security cooperation" initiatives in Africa, Asia and South America.

Marines also want to increase their participation in these missions, but that will be difficult as long as the Corps remains heavily engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Brig. Gen. Ronald Johnson, director of operations for the Marine Corps headquarters' policy, plans and operations directorate. "We need to allow the other combatant commanders to have the access to Marine forces," Johnson said.

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To illustrate the missions that naval forces will see more frequently in the future, he cited last year's deployment of the USS Kearsarge amphibious assault ship. The vessel made several port calls as it conducted exercises and delivered humanitarian aid and relief operations in the Caribbean and portions of Latin America. The ship was loaded with CH-53 helicopters and various federal and non-governmental agency representatives.

These operations will require a much closer cooperation between the Navy and the Marine Corps, Johnson said. "The Navy and Marine Corps have to do a much better job at synchronizing where they go." He lamented that on some of the deployments, there were missed opportunities. Mobile...