SEABEEINDC
01-05-2009, 09:33 AM
The right tools for the job
Better equipment allows for better performance
By Rob Kruger
Have you ever wondered why it takes so long for the Corps to issue gear that works exactly as it’s advertised? I think of all the times I either deployed or went to the field and ended up purchasing my own equipment that was either lighter or more efficient than its military counterpart. I mean, how many of us bought a minipenlight to carry in theater instead of the clunky L-shaped “moonbeam” that has been issued for more than 20 years? I am sure you can think of many more examples.
Even before the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began, it was all too common to see Marines spending large amounts of their pay on high-speed-low-drag tactical equipment that was more functional than what we were issued. It was frustrating, to say the least. But now, it seems, the Corps is finally doing a better job delivering the top-of-the-line equipment we need and deserve.
When I attended the Modern Day Marine exposition this fall at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., I was impressed by all the products that solve some of the simple problems associated with our military-issue gear. For example, there was a new flashlight on display that is currently being fielded to the Corps. It is about the size of a deck of cards and has a halogen light with four LED lights, including infrared.
It was built for the Marines and tested so the end product is as Marine-proof as it could be. It can be clipped on any piece of gear or worn on a helmet and allowed to rotate, shining light in any position a Marine requires.
Certainly, this flashlight is better than even that minipenlight, which most of us would hold in our mouths when we needed to use both hands. But why did it take all these years to get a light that works as we need it to?
I regard this light as a metaphor for the old days, when we were rarely issued good gear. Most of us who have been in the service for a few years will remember the old field jacket and rain gear: Neither worked as they should have, but we had no better options at the time.
We now have GORE-TEX gear that is lighter and works better. Too bad it took so long to get this superior replacement.
But since the wars began, more products have been fielded in a shorter amount of time. During my time at I Marine Expeditionary Force, for example, there were many “urgency of need” requests that circumvented the normal time frame for fielding. And while these items might have been specific to a particular unit or major command, it seemed like the sky was the limit. We identified civilian products that worked better than what we were using, and in many cases received better gear through the UNNs process.
I was joined at the expo this fall by my chief warrant officer. As we looked at certain items, many of which dealt with improvised-explosives detection, I was amazed at how “common sense” they were — I wished we had them when I was deployed to Iraq with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in 2003. He told me that his unit had many of the items and that they worked really well. That validated for me how the system seems to be working better than before.
As the warfighter is weighed down with more and more equipment, lighter gear that functions better should be the norm. And while a flashlight might be one of the smaller items Marines need to worry about in combat, it sets a precedent. I hope we Marines — and those who support us both internally and externally — continue to improve all the tools we need to fight.
———
The writer, a master sergeant, is the maintenance management chief at The Basic School.
I agree with this article, we must seek out the best equipment for the job and not get stuck in a rut with the "we have done it this way or years" attitude, but we must also not jump on the bandwagon and procure items that fill a need but are not fine tuned. A good example of this would be the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV), the Seabees got them but are they really the best solution, fitting the needs of the Seabee community? Uniformity in equipment is a good thing for supply, it reduces the supply chain, but equipment also needs to fit the person and job. Not everyone can fit one size of rucksack for example, some Sailors and Marines are taller and shorter than the norm. The suck it up attidude only takes things so far before injuries can occur.
Thoughts on this article?
Better equipment allows for better performance
By Rob Kruger
Have you ever wondered why it takes so long for the Corps to issue gear that works exactly as it’s advertised? I think of all the times I either deployed or went to the field and ended up purchasing my own equipment that was either lighter or more efficient than its military counterpart. I mean, how many of us bought a minipenlight to carry in theater instead of the clunky L-shaped “moonbeam” that has been issued for more than 20 years? I am sure you can think of many more examples.
Even before the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began, it was all too common to see Marines spending large amounts of their pay on high-speed-low-drag tactical equipment that was more functional than what we were issued. It was frustrating, to say the least. But now, it seems, the Corps is finally doing a better job delivering the top-of-the-line equipment we need and deserve.
When I attended the Modern Day Marine exposition this fall at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., I was impressed by all the products that solve some of the simple problems associated with our military-issue gear. For example, there was a new flashlight on display that is currently being fielded to the Corps. It is about the size of a deck of cards and has a halogen light with four LED lights, including infrared.
It was built for the Marines and tested so the end product is as Marine-proof as it could be. It can be clipped on any piece of gear or worn on a helmet and allowed to rotate, shining light in any position a Marine requires.
Certainly, this flashlight is better than even that minipenlight, which most of us would hold in our mouths when we needed to use both hands. But why did it take all these years to get a light that works as we need it to?
I regard this light as a metaphor for the old days, when we were rarely issued good gear. Most of us who have been in the service for a few years will remember the old field jacket and rain gear: Neither worked as they should have, but we had no better options at the time.
We now have GORE-TEX gear that is lighter and works better. Too bad it took so long to get this superior replacement.
But since the wars began, more products have been fielded in a shorter amount of time. During my time at I Marine Expeditionary Force, for example, there were many “urgency of need” requests that circumvented the normal time frame for fielding. And while these items might have been specific to a particular unit or major command, it seemed like the sky was the limit. We identified civilian products that worked better than what we were using, and in many cases received better gear through the UNNs process.
I was joined at the expo this fall by my chief warrant officer. As we looked at certain items, many of which dealt with improvised-explosives detection, I was amazed at how “common sense” they were — I wished we had them when I was deployed to Iraq with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in 2003. He told me that his unit had many of the items and that they worked really well. That validated for me how the system seems to be working better than before.
As the warfighter is weighed down with more and more equipment, lighter gear that functions better should be the norm. And while a flashlight might be one of the smaller items Marines need to worry about in combat, it sets a precedent. I hope we Marines — and those who support us both internally and externally — continue to improve all the tools we need to fight.
———
The writer, a master sergeant, is the maintenance management chief at The Basic School.
I agree with this article, we must seek out the best equipment for the job and not get stuck in a rut with the "we have done it this way or years" attitude, but we must also not jump on the bandwagon and procure items that fill a need but are not fine tuned. A good example of this would be the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV), the Seabees got them but are they really the best solution, fitting the needs of the Seabee community? Uniformity in equipment is a good thing for supply, it reduces the supply chain, but equipment also needs to fit the person and job. Not everyone can fit one size of rucksack for example, some Sailors and Marines are taller and shorter than the norm. The suck it up attidude only takes things so far before injuries can occur.
Thoughts on this article?