SureFire

Posts Tagged ‘NATO’

MARCORSYSCOM Hosts NATO Group – Focus ‘all about the Soldier, Sailor, Marine’

Thursday, April 13th, 2017

Defense experts from around the globe gathered at Marine Corps Systems Command April 5-7, to share information and work toward common solutions for complex issues across allied forces.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Land Capability Group on Dismounted Soldier Systems convened at MCSC’s Gruntworks Squad Integration Facility aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. Representatives from 20 countries and three continents discussed standardization of common capabilities and issues for coalition Marines and soldiers worldwide. LCG DSS is part of the NATO Army Armaments Group, one of the three main armaments groups subordinate to NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors. NAAG’s mission is to support nations in achieving the objectives of NATO land force armaments cooperation. It promotes interoperability of alliance and partner armed forces by means of information exchange, materiel standardization and cooperative activities.

IMG_0840
Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, speaks with leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Land Capability Group on Dismounted Soldier Systems during the group’s biannual meeting aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on April 5. LCG DSS is part of the NATO Army Armaments Group, one of the three main armaments groups subordinate to NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors. NAAG’s mission is to support nations in achieving the objectives of NATO land force armaments cooperation. It promotes interoperability of alliance and partner armed forces by means of information exchange, materiel standardization and cooperative activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Emily Greene)

Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, commander of MCSC, kicked off the three-day session with a warm welcome to attendees and provided a glimpse into the priorities of the Marine Corps.

“Our Marine Corps Operating Concept sets forth our commandant’s four directives,” said Shrader. “The future of the Corps is focused on being more capable, more networked, more resilient and more lethal. Those are the things I think about on a daily basis.”

Shrader placed emphasis on the mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad; which is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or to repel the enemy’s assault by fire and close combat. He said the question lies in how to continue accomplishing that mission as technology constantly develops, often adding to the load of the Marine even as it provides increased capability.

“Technology is a tremendous force multiplier, but it can also be a detractor,” Shrader said. “Additional technologies and capabilities often add weight and size to the load our Marines carry. What you are doing here this week is essential to the future success of our forces.”

Shrader was joined by Timothy Goddette, deputy program executive officer at the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier.

“This group is all about the soldier, the sailor, the Marine. And not just the soldier, but the dismounted soldier,” said Goddette. “The time you spend here this week, and throughout the year is all about lightening the load, making the soldier more lethal, and providing better protection. It’s like the old carpenter’s motto, ‘Measure twice, cut once.’”


Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Land Capability Group on Dismounted Soldier Systems examine a prototype for exoskeleton technology April 5, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. During the three-day session, representatives from 20 countries and three continents discussed standardization of common capabilities and issues for coalition Marines and soldiers worldwide. LCG DSS is part of the NATO Army Armaments Group, one of the three main armaments groups subordinate to NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Emily Greene)

Goddette said the group’s work served two important purposes: increasing the effectiveness of coalition forces and reducing defense costs.

“Every dollar we waste on something that doesn’t work is a dollar we could have spent on a soldier or Marine,” Goddette said. “We have to get it right the first time.”

LCG DSS members were also given opportunities to view new technologies that hold potential for future force enhancement and forums in which to share lessons learned and best practices.

“The LCG DSS meetings provide an important opportunity for us to come together as partner nations and share our hard-earned knowledge so that we all can benefit from it,” said Mark Richter, LCG DSS chairman and MCSC Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad director. “I think we can all agree that our aim is to create systems that will work together in a coalition environment. These meetings are a key factor in facilitating that cross-collaboration.”

Story from www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil

Welcome to the Layer Cake

Thursday, August 25th, 2016

This is how NATO planned to hold back the Soviet horde circa 1980s. Dubbed the “Layer Cake” defense, it relied upon full NATO commitment with the Americans doing some heavy lifting in the Central Army Group which expected to see the heaviest Warsaw Pact thrusts. You’ll also notice the lack of a French commitment.

Arc’teryx Gear Protects Norwegian SF During SAR

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012


Photo – Norrbotten Polis

There was a horrible plane crash during the NATO winter exercise earlier this year in Norway. A C-130 Hercules crashed into the highest mountain in Sweden in really bad weather conditions. Norwegian Special Forces, who are equipped with Arc’teryx clothing, assisted with the multi-day Search and Rescue effort. In the photo above you can see these troops wearing the Alpha Jacket and Pants.

leaf.arcteryx.com

NATO SOF HQ Website

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

The NSHQ is the primary point of development, direction and coordination for all NATO Special Operations-related activities in order to optimize employment of Special Operations Forces to include providing an operational command capability when directed by SACEUR.

As such, it is the centrepiece of the NATO SOF Transformation Initiative (NSTI). It provides focused Special Operations advice to the SACEUR and the NATO Chain of Command and provides on a collaborative, inter-dependent platform to enhance the Alliance SOF network. Through the NSHQ, NATO is transforming the current NATO SOF capability, i.e. leader education and development, doctrine, training and planning, information systems and infrastructure.

Plus, there are lots of resources available for NATO SOF partners.

www.nshq.nato.int

NATO Cold Weather Seminar

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Cold Weather Operations, the 2nd NATO cold weather seminar is from the 21st until the 23rd of November at the Norwegian Vinterskole in Oslo. This seminar’s theme is “Winter as a friend or foe.”

According the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces COE-CWO, “The main audience is military winter and mountain instructors and officers on the tactical/ operational level that need a wider perspective in winter operations.”

Both Arc’teryx LEAF and Vertx will be on hand showing their cold weather gear and collecting info for future product development.

Here is a link to the conference report from the first iteration, earlier this year.

NATO Camo Test

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

This is a little old but interesting nonetheless. Apparently in November, 2007 NATO’s international research and technology group conducted evaluations of several camouflage patterns at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

The article can be read here at the Arizona Daily Star. A slide show of the photos is here.

Due to copyright issues I will refrain from posting anything but the link here. However, it is well worth your time to check it out if you are even a little bit interested in camo.