MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines and sailors took time out of their schedules to provide valuable input regarding conceptual Marine Corps equipment at the Goettge Memorial Field House aboard Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 4, 2012.
Approximately 150 Marines and sailors throughout Camp Lejeune evaluated gear from vendors during Experimental Forward Operating Base 2012-01. Leaders, with the Expeditionary Energy Office, Headquarters, Marine Corps, conducted this event to receive input from Marines of different skills on equipment they may use in the future and suggestions for changes before gear is purchased. Gathering input from Marines and sailors in operational units helps to identify needs and requirements, making the Marine Corps more efficient.
“This is the first time we’ve had Marines come through and evaluate some of the gear seen today,” said Maj. Sean Sadlier, a logistics analyst with the Expeditionary Energy Office, HQMC.
Receiving information from the Marines and sailors at the small unit levels would close the information gap between leaders in charge of acquisition and the servicemembers using the equipment, Sadlier added.
This ExFOB focused on water and energy efficiency at the small unit level. In expeditionary operations when Marines are establishing a FOB, these two things are vital to unit readiness.
Participants observed demonstrations of water purification systems and energy efficient equipment to keep Marines and sailors operational inside a FOB.
Water filtration systems keep Marines hydrated with minimal risk of illness. Vendors displayed filters that could be attached to a servicemember’s hydration system, or lightweight equipment to provide clean water for a platoon over extended periods of time.
The energy conservation systems ranged from solar energy to adapters on steroids, mitigating the need to carry several extra batteries. These systems, some using lightweight portable solar panels to collect energy, can help to lessen the Marine Corps’ dependence on gas guzzling generators and shrink the Marine Corps’ carbon footprint.
Participants were then asked to evaluate everything they saw and make suggestions for improvement.
“We saw a lot of useful gear and upgrades,” said Cpl. Kristofer McFate, an embark clerk with the 22nd MEU. “It’s nice to have a say in the gear we could deploy with and use on a day-to-day basis.”