Expeditionary Force 21

According to Joint Publication 3-02, Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations, over-the-horizon operations are defined as those outside 25 nautical miles.9 EF 21 describes the need to develop equipment that can produce a low signature and conduct maneuvers from 65 nautical miles offshore.10 In addition, EF 21 describes that meeting all GCCs' demands for amphibious forces requires an inventory of over 40 amphibious ships. According to Gen James F. Amos, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, with a force that size, almost all Marine combat units will maintain a deployment-to-dwell of approximately 1:1.6 to 1.7.