U.S. National Security

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeremy M. Giacomino

As the world changes so does the nature and perception of warfare based upon threat conditions, military response requirements, and the political and social acceptability of warfighting concepts. Today, whether in traditional military operations (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM or Operation ENDURING FREEDOM) or Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) (Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia), military forces must be able to discriminate between belligerents and non-hostile civilians, to modulate the effects of weapons against personnel, and limit destruction to life, property and the environment.

The introduction of non-lethal systems into the U.S. military’s overall capabilities is not intended to replace lethal capability, but rather to provide military commanders greater flexibility in controlling threatening situations. In 1996, Congress directed the Department of Defense (DoD) in Public Law 104-106, Section 219, Non-Lethal Weapons, to establish a central coordinating agency responsible to oversee and provide the best non-lethal technologies and equipments to the services. The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) was designated DoD Executive Agent for Non-Lethal Weapons and chartered to establish the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program (JNLWP), which is responsible for the department’s integration of requirements and acquisition of non-lethal capabilities.

Since 1996, M2 Technologies, Inc. (M2) has supported the JNLWP in its efforts and initiatives, placing special emphasis on science and technology opportunities in development and acquisition, health and human effects studies, and concept and mission area analysis.

JNLWP programs address the following areas: