"Deception": U.S. Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication on Tactical Deception ( -)

Key Chapter Title List

1. Foundation: Deception as a Capability
2. Method: Deception as a Process
3. Tactical Deception Planning
4. Tactical Deception Execution
5. Deception in Support of Operations Security
6. Deception Assessment
7. Organization, Roles, Responsibilities, and Related Authorities

Document Introduction

This document is the U.S. Marine Corps' doctrine on "Deception" (MCTP 3-32F). It serves as the authoritative doctrinal publication guiding Marine Corps units at all levels in planning, preparing, executing, and assessing deception operations across the competition and conflict continuum. This doctrine aims to clarify the core value of deception as a critical military capability, elucidate its significant role in achieving operational objectives and reducing operational risks. It is applicable to all Marine Corps military and civilian personnel, with particular focus on tactical-level commanders and deception planners.

The doctrine first defines the core concept of military deception, describing it as specialized activities designed to deliberately mislead adversary decision-makers, inducing them to take actions or inactions favorable to the accomplishment of friendly missions. It categorizes deception into three core activities: Joint Military Deception (MILDEC), Tactical Deception (TAC-D), and Deception in Support of Operations Security (DISO). Furthermore, it systematically elaborates on the three core objectives for the Marine Corps' use of deception: protecting operations security, achieving surprise, and reducing operational risk. It clarifies deception's role as a key component of the information operations function and its synergistic relationships with areas such as intelligence support, civil affairs, and electromagnetic spectrum operations.

In the methodology section, the doctrine establishes a deception process framework of "conceal reality - present falsehoods - mislead perception" and proposes six fundamental principles: focus, objective, centralized planning and control, security, timeliness, and integration. It details the three major categories of deception means (physical, technical, administrative), the four major tactics (feint, demonstration, ruse, display), and the two core deception types (ambiguity-increasing, ambiguity-decreasing/misdirection). It also defines the legal and policy boundaries for deception operations, emphasizing compliance with U.S. domestic law, the Law of Armed Conflict, and relevant international treaties.

The planning and execution chapters form the core of the doctrine. They respectively detail the specific implementation steps for tactical deception within the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) and the Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2), forming a complete cycle from mission analysis, concept development, and course of action approval to plan development and review. The execution phase clarifies critical elements such as dynamic adjustment, internal and external coordination, intelligence collection, and risk monitoring, emphasizing strict security controls and authority delineation. Additionally, the doctrine specifically discusses the application of deception in support of operations security, methods for assessing deception effectiveness, and the roles and responsibilities of various organizations and personnel in deception operations, forming a comprehensive system covering theory, methodology, and practice.

This doctrine is based on relevant policy documents from the Department of Defense and the Joint Staff, integrating the Marine Corps' operational experience in the information environment. It provides a standardized, actionable guidance framework for tactical-level deception operations, holding significant practical value for enhancing unit survivability and operational effectiveness in complex battlefield environments.