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MARSOC: Automated Armory Collaboration Event

Friday, July 31st, 2026

Picture Perfect Accountability

SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), will host a collaboration event on 17 September 2026, to identify innovative technologies and technical approaches that modernize serialized ground ordnance accountability. The event will focus on reducing manual administrative processes through secure digital inventory management, automated documentation, and integrated identification/scanning capabilities while improving accountability, audit readiness, and operational efficiency.

MARSOC armories maintain thousands of serialized weapons, optics, lasers, night vision devices, communications equipment, and other controlled assets that routinely transfer custody among operators, maintenance activities, and storage locations. Current accountability processes rely heavily on manual inventories, handwritten forms, repetitive data entry, and multiple independent records. These processes are labor intensive, susceptible to human error, and consume significant man-hours while increasing accountability risk.

MARSOC seeks commercially available technologies or innovative solutions capable of digitizing armory operations while remaining compatible with existing accountability requirements. Desired capabilities include secure Common Access Card (CAC-enabled user) authentication, automated equipment issue and recovery, inventory tracking, documentation, audit logging, equipment location management, and integrated scanning technologies that reduce administrative burden without compromising accountability. 

The purpose of this collaboration event is to partner with industry innovators to design a secure, zero-signature automated armory that relies exclusively on optical recognition and computer vision. To maintain strict operational security and eliminate detectable RF signals, this initiative prohibits the use of RFID, active Bluetooth, or radiating digital transmitters. Instead, this event challenges industry partners to develop a passive, image-based inventory system where weapons, gear, and serial numbers are automatically tracked, verified, and logged simply by taking a digital photo or scanning an optical image as items enter or exit the facility. This approach will eliminate slow, legacy paper-based workflows and human-error bottlenecks while guaranteeing absolute property accountability without exposing our facilities to electronic detection. 

Request to Attend NLT 16 August 2026 11:59 PM ET

Learn more here.

Recon Marines Provide Critical Feedback for ARV Development

Friday, July 31st, 2026

DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. —

It is crucial that the capabilities our warfighters receive to fight and survive meet the current threat environment. Their input in the development of such systems can help lead to a capability that meets their needs when they need it. With that in mind, Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps Program Manager Light Armored Vehicles (PM LAV) conducted an Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) Marine Touch Point (MTP) at the Ground Vehicle Systems Center in Detroit Arsenal, Mich., June 10 – 11, 2026. 

The ARV program is executing under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) pathway for rapid prototyping, and to support this accelerated timeline, PM LAV is conducting a series of early operational assessments with the Textron and General Dynamics Land Systems prototype ARV-30 variant. These events are designed to place these systems directly in the hands of experienced Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Marines to capture high-pedigree, actionable feedback, which will lead to reducing program risk prior to major design reviews and potentially influence future design changes. 

“This Marine touchpoint puts experienced LAR operators in the driver’s seat of prototypes, providing an early fleet feedback loop to refine designs and optimize combat capabilities before the baseline is locked. It allows us to directly translate Marine prototype feedback into concrete design refinements—ensuring the final platform is built for operators.” 

– Col. Douglas Peterson, program manager, LAV

Marines with 1st LAR, 2d LAR, 3d LAR, and LAR Training Company, conducted gunnery and vehicle familiarization operations designed to familiarize the Marines with the prototype vehicle’s layout and turret operations through hands-on interaction. Additionally, they performed driver training and practical application on a test track. Using a concurrent execution model, the Marines split into groups with one conducting driver familiarization and practical application on one vendor’s vehicle, the other group simultaneously conducting gunnery and vehicle familiarization on the other vendor’s platform. The groups “flip-flopped” roles at points, ensuring all Marines interacted with all systems. Using this approach, PM LAV was able to maintain data integrity by ensuring all Marines provide feedback on both vehicles independently. 

“From my perspective, this Marine Touch Point was a phenomenal success and a textbook example of our ‘Shift Left’ strategy in action,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. John Farrell, PM LAV operations chief. “By putting our most seasoned, highly experienced LAR Marines face-to-face with vendor engineers, we captured high-pedigree, actionable feedback on the physical hull ergonomics and turret controls of the ARV-30 prototypes early in the cycle. This direct collaboration is incredibly beneficial for both the USMC and our industry partners; it allows us to identify necessary design refinements, mitigate program risks, and shape future tactics well before the Critical Design Review, ensuring we ultimately deliver the most lethal and operationally suitable platform to the fleet.” 

“This [Marine Touch Point] is integral to the future of the Marine Corps,” said Staff Sgt. Dominic Rosado, Light Armored platoon sergeant and master gunner for 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. “We have maintenance chiefs here, we have master gunners here, we have O311 scouts that ride in the back of the vehicles and not necessarily operate it. I think bringing the Marines here to tell the contractors, ‘hey, this is what we’re looking for – hey, this is something that you might run into if we are to get this vehicle today and you kept this piece of gear on here.’ We’re here to basically shape what we want and tell them. We’re integrated in the process and the building of these new weapon systems, these new vehicles, and everything that the Marine Corps is turning into for this new force design.” 

The ARV is built for the mission ahead. With open architecture, modular payloads, and clear upgrade paths, the system is designed to evolve. It gives the future Mobile Reconnaissance Battalion (MRB) a platform that is more survivable, more mobile, and more connected. Helping Marines see first, understand faster, and stay in the fight. 

“The ARV is the critical enabler for the LAR-to-MRB transition. It fundamentally redefines the mission by sensing, fusing, and sharing actionable intelligence across the entire (Marine Air-Ground Task Force). The capabilities the ARV delivers are highly suitable for the near-term fight, while its open-architecture design guarantees scalable capability growth for years to come.”  

– Col. Douglas Peterson, program manager, LAV

“It creates more of a situational awareness,” said Rosado. “Not only for just like the individual crewmen, but as a whole with the different variants that they’re coming out with. Situational awareness down from the crewmen level all the way to the company and battalion level is going to serve dividends going and reporting to the [Marine Expeditionary Unit], reporting to a division, or whoever is that higher echelon of command that we report to the situational awareness of the battlefield. That’s what we do and shaping that is going to be greatly improved based off these vehicles.” 

PM LAV is planning to conduct additional MTP’s throughout the ARV’s pre-production development phase to continue to receive feedback on design updates. The program continues to deliver on schedule, apply rigorous cost controls, and reduce risk early, utilizing events such as this to do so.

By David Jordan | Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps

2nd Marine Regiment Tests First-Ever Group 3 UAS Capabilities at the Conventional Level

Tuesday, July 28th, 2026

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Amidst the remote sands and sweltering heat of the California desert, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, embarks on the U.S. Marine Corps’ pioneer test of the JUMP 20-X equipped with the Switchblade 300 Block 20 at the conventional level during Service Level Training Exercise 4-26.

JUMP 20-X is a Group 3 unmanned aircraft system possessing capabilities of 12 hours in-air flight time, electro-optical infrared camera payloads, a 115-mile operational range, and up to 30-pounds of payload capacity—leading to one of Jump 20-X’s biggest assets: the Switchblade 300 Block 20, a loitering munition released from the undercarriage of the JUMP 20-X.

On July 16th and 17th, 2nd Marines experimented JUMP 20-X equipped with the Switchblade 300 Block 20 munition alongside developer, AeroVironment. In a groundbreaking success for the regiment, they accurately engaged a target 25 kilometers into the battlespace.

“[Switchblade 300 Block 20] can be launched, go into a holding pattern as you look for your adversary and you can directly fly some organic precision fires that are tube launched from Marines on the ground,” said CWO2 Christopher Leone, the 2nd Marine Regiment intel operations and fusion officer; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tactical controller. “For the JUMP 20-X experiment that we’re doing, AeroVironment has tested its capabilities to launch that same ground loitering munition from the belly of the bird itself.”

Incorporating the Switchblade 300 Block 20 into the battlefield gives the Marine Corps an additional loitering munition that organically incorporates with troops on the ground–similar to Organic Precision Fires-Light that is currently used by infantry units–and provides fires at the regiment level to engage the adversary.

“We at 2nd Marines are the first ones testing a Group 3 asset at the Regimental level,” Leone said. “[The Marine Corps has] the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadrons 1, 2, and 3 that fly the MQ-9s in the Group 5 level of assets, but it would be great for the Regiment because we’re outside of the [air] wings. We’re supporting the Ground Combat Element that doesn’t have an asset that can fly as far as the Group 5, so this is something that hasn’t been tested before.”

2nd Marines realizes the positive impact this Group 3 asset will have in future operations as it provides capabilities not found in the Marine Corps’ other assets.

2nd Marine Regiment has only USMC Group 1 Program of Record in their arsenal to include the Puma AE, and quadcopters such as SkyDio X2D and Sky Raider, stated Leone.

With Group 1 assets having small duration flight times ranging from 30 minutes to an hour and a half and limited flight distance, the JUMP 20-X stands out for its longevity and ability to travel miles into deep battlespace.

“[JUMP 20-X] is big for us, and to fly it into the regimental deep space as we’re looking to shape fires in the environment for our battalions to keep moving towards the next objective–none of our current PORs that are Group 1 would be able to go that far,” Leone said. JUMP 20-X is a product of AeroVironment, who is also the producer of the Marine Corps’ Puma AE. Having that working relationship with the company, 2nd Marines reached out in February of this year, interested in their Group 3 capabilities.

“As the [2nd Marine] Regiment, this is the first conventional unit to at least test and do a combat research and development agreement with AeroVironment,” Leone said, referring to the predominant units working with AeroVironment being special forces across the Department of War. “We invited AeroVironment out here for our mid-planning conference, all in support of SLTE 4-26, and they agreed upon it and are in direct support of the regiment to give us this capability.”

As of now, 2nd Marines does not have any Small Unmanned Aircraft System Operators, MOS 7316, who have the training to fly Group 3 assets.

We’re trying to fix the lack of pilots for Group 3 through this week’s testing, experimentation and research, Leone said. Currently, MOS 7300 Marines fly the Group 2 Stalker and Group 5 assets.

Through learning side-by-side with AeroVironment contractors, who operate JUMP 20-X for the Marines at SLTE 4-26, 2nd Marines is confident that with their support through MDMX and MWX force-on-force later this August, they’ll be ahead of the curve in targeting the adversary–advancing the Marine Corps’ future of UAS capabilities deep into the ever-changing battlefield.

Story by Sgt Alexis French, 2nd Marine Division

Allen Control Systems Selected for US Marine Corps Ground Based Air Defense Program

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026

Bullfrog Autonomous Weapon Station to Be Integrated Into Marine Corps Formations for Counter-Drone Missions
AUSTIN, TexasAllen Control Systems (ACS) today announced that the U.S. Marine Corps has selected its Bullfrog™ autonomous weapon system under the service’s Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) program to counter the growing threat of low-cost weaponized drones. The GBAD program equips Marines with fully integrated air defense solutions that detect, track, and defeat airborne threats, including drones, missiles, and aircraft.

The Marine Corps will integrate Bullfrog into the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (L-MADIS), the service’s most expeditionary counter-drone platform, through a prototype Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), increasing lethality and restoring maneuver for Marines on contested battlefields.

“The Marine Corps requires the most sophisticated and accurate possible capabilities to carry out its critical missions,” said Mike Wior, co-founder and CEO, ACS. “We are honored to support Marines with fast, scalable, and cost-effective counter-drone solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing platforms.”

Already deployed with the U.S. Army and Navy and validated through Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and allied military customers, Bullfrog combines AI, computer vision, and precision robotics to enable any legacy or modern firearm to detect, track, and defeat incoming threats at a fraction of the cost of even the least expensive kinetic interceptors.

The proliferation of drone warfare from Ukraine to the Middle East has exposed the enormous cost asymmetry of modern conflict, where militaries have relied on million-dollar missiles to neutralize low-cost threats. ACS directly addresses that gap, delivering autonomous precision at scale.

New Marine Corps Uniform App

Sunday, July 19th, 2026

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.

U.S. Marine Corps Education Command has launched the official Marine Corps Uniform App, a free mobile application that provides Marines with convenient, on-the-go access to uniform and grooming guidance, June 29, 2026.

The app announced in MARADMIN 299/26, is developed as a companion to Marine Corps Order 1020.34,Marine Corps Uniform Regulations, providing a streamlined reference for Marines to quickly locate commonly used uniform and grooming guidance while away from the official publication.

The application organizes uniform regulations by officer and enlisted personnel, as well as by sex. It also includes basic grooming standards, allowing Marines to quickly reference appearance requirements while traveling or preparing for official duties.

“The Marine Corps Uniform App gives Marines immediate access to the guidance they use most often. It is designed to make existing standards more accessible while reinforcing the professionalism and attention to detail that define our Corps.”

Brig Gen Matthew W. Tracy, commanding general, Education Command

The application is intended to supplement, not replace, MCO 1020.34. While it answers many of the most common questions regarding uniforms and grooming, Marines should continue to consult the order for comprehensive policy and detailed guidance.

By placing essential information in a mobile format, the Marine Corps is improving access to resources that help Marines maintain the highest standards of military appearance and discipline, regardless of location.

The Marine Corps Uniform App is available free of charge through the Apple App Store. An Android version is expected to be released during Department of War Fiscal Year 2027.

Users are encouraged to submit feedback through the Marine Corps Uniform Board organizational mailbox identified within the MARADMIN.

By Maj Hector Infante | Marine Corps Training and Education Command

TECOM Establishes Marine Corps Robotics Integration Group and Counter Drone Team

Friday, July 10th, 2026

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.— The Marine Corps has established theMarine Corps Robotics Integration Groupas its service-level organization responsible for integrating, standardizing, and institutionalizing training for Group 1 and Group 2 small unmanned aircraft systems and counter-small unmanned aircraft systems across the Total Force, as announced inMARADMIN 307/26.

Assigned under Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, MCRIG serves as the Marine Corps’ focal point for unmanned systems training integration, curriculum development, and education. The organization ensures emerging drone capabilities are transformed into standardized programs of instruction, instructor certifications, and enduring training products that can be delivered consistently throughout the Marine Corps.

“The battlefield continues to demonstrate that small unmanned aircraft systems are no longer niche capabilities; they are indispensable tools for reconnaissance, precision strike, force protection and survivability,” said Maj. Gen. Mark H. Clingan, commanding general, MAGTFTC, MCAGCC. “The Marine Corps Robotics Integration Group provides the institutional framework necessary to rapidly integrate validated capabilities into standardized training, ensuring Marines across the Total Force are prepared to employ and defeat these systems in future conflicts.”

The establishment of MCRIG reflects the Marine Corps’ continued effort to adapt to the rapidly evolving character of warfare, where inexpensive, commercially available unmanned aircraft have fundamentally changed how modern militaries detect, target, maneuver, and fight. MCRIG also establishes a deliberate process for transitioning emerging capabilities into formal Marine Corps training.

As the service-level integrator, MCRIG receives validated capability packages, including tactics, techniques and procedures, pilot courses and training requirements, from specialized organizations responsible for experimentation and operational assessment. Once validated, MCRIG develops curriculum, training support packages, and certification standards before distributing them through designated regional hubs that execute standardized instruction across the Fleet Marine Force.

Central to this process are two complementary organizations: the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team and the newly established Marine Corps Counter Drone Team.

“The Marine Corps Attack Drone Team and the Marine Corps Counter Drone Team are designed to move at the speed of technology. Through the analysis of exercises, operations, and purposely designed events we gain critical information about how systems should be employed or defeated,” said Col. Charles Anklam III, commanding officer, Weapons Training Battalion. “Our responsibility is to rigorously test ideas, validate capabilities, and rapidly transition those findings to MCRIG, where they become standardized training that benefits every Marine. This partnership allows us to remain agile to the constantly changing threat, innovate quickly, and provide the fleet with consistently reliable, credible, and operationally relevant information to increase lethality and survivability.”

The Marine Corps established MCCDT to accelerate counter-drone training development in the same way MCADT has supported and advanced attack drone capability development, experimentation, research, testing, and evaluation. Together, the two organizations provide Training Command a focused capability to study both sides of the unmanned systems fight: employment and defeat.

As an organic element of Weapons Training Battalion at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, MCCDT serves as Training Command’s dedicated counter-drone training development cell. Not designed to deploy as an operational force provider, MCCDT’s role is to identify the threat, test emerging solutions, validate practical tactics, and transition those findings to MCRIG for service-wide implementation.

MCCDT integrates lessons from MCWL, MAGTFTC, MCRIG, government partners, industry, and the Fleet Marine Force to ensure counter-drone tactics and training remain operationally relevant. This approach allows the Marine Corps to rapidly assess emerging threats, evaluate available technologies, and convert battlefield lessons into practical training requirements.

Using established Marine Corps guidance and approved training standards as its baseline, MCCDT conducts operational assessments and force-on-force evaluations to refine C-sUAS best practices. Once validated, those recommendations are provided to MCRIG for incorporation into institutional doctrine, curriculum, instructor certifications, and standardized training products.

This relationship creates a disciplined innovation pathway. MCADT and MCCDT move quickly to support the experimentation, assessment, and validation of tactics against emerging unmanned systems challenges, while MCRIG ensures those lessons become consistent, repeatable, and enduring training across the Marine Corps.

Together, these organizations create a continuous cycle of innovation and institutional learning, rapidly identifying and validating lessons through operational assessment, and incorporating them into formal Marine Corps training.

Designated TECOM regional hubs will execute MCRIG-approved courses throughout the Marine Corps, providing geographically distributed training while also returning operational observations and lessons learned to support continuous improvement of curriculum and tactics. The integrated training enterprise provides the Marine Corps with a sustainable framework capable of rapidly adapting as unmanned technologies evolve, ensuring Marines receive standardized, current, and operationally relevant instruction regardless of where they train.

The Marine Corps is also seeking motivated, technically proficient, and innovative Marines to help build this emerging capability. Marines interested in serving in select C-sUAS billets within MCRIG are encouraged to review MARADMIN 307/26 for eligibility requirements and application procedures.

The establishment of MCRIG and MCCDT represents another significant milestone in the Marine Corps’ broader modernization efforts, ensuring Marines remain prepared to employ and counter rapidly evolving unmanned systems while preserving the agility, lethality, and survivability required on tomorrow’s battlefield.

Story by Maj Hector Infante 

U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command

USMC Announces 0315 Scout MOS

Wednesday, July 1st, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC —

MARADMIN 296/26 announced the creation of a new primary military occupational specialty (PMOS), 0315 Scout, to provide infantry battalions and light armored reconnaissance battalions with a dedicated, all-weather reconnaissance and surveillance capability. This change, effective 1 October 2026, is part of the Marine Corps’ broader Force Design modernization efforts to create a more agile and lethal force prepared for future operating environments.

U.S. Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team Scout Platoon, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, add vegetation to their ghillie suits for company attacks during exercise Bougainville III at Pohakuloa Training Area, Feb. 10, 2024. Bougainville III is a 3d LCT live-fire exercise focused on decentralized operations to prepare the battalion to command and control forces from dispersed locations. Scout platoons provide precision marksmanship and increased reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities to infantry companies and battalions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Grace Gerlach)

The new 0315 Scouts will populate a 26-Marine Scout Platoon within each infantry battalion and the Scout Teams within the light armored reconnaissance battalion. This purpose-built force is optimized for ground-based reconnaissance, surveillance, and battlespace shaping, providing battalion commanders with a dedicated, multidomain sensing platoon. The creation of this specialized MOS was driven by extensive live-force experimentation, which highlighted the need for a dedicated formation at the battalion level to collect timely and accurate information on the enemy and the operating environment.

“The establishment of the 0315 Scout MOS is a critical step in the modernization of our infantry battalions,” said Lt. Gen. Jay M. Bargeron, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations. “This professional, purpose-built force will provide commanders with the organic reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities essential for success on the future battlefield. These Scouts will be our eyes and ears, extending our sensing capabilities and enabling commanders to make faster, more effective decisions to win our nation’s battles.”

Scout Platoons are equipped with advanced optics, communications suites, sensors, and unmanned systems to extend their observation range and persist in the battlespace. Each team within the platoon includes a Joint Fires Observer (JFO) trained to coordinate and control surface-to-surface and air-delivered fires, enabling the platoon to shape the battlefield and enhance the battalion’s lethality and resilience.

The training for 0315 Scouts is rigorous, building upon foundational infantry skills with a specialized course in ground reconnaissance, surveillance, and communications. This dedicated career path ensures the Marine Corps can deliberately manage, develop, and retain talent, creating a community of experts with the advanced skills required for complex scouting missions.

US Marine Corps Places First Polaris MRZR Alpha Order on New ULTV Contract

Friday, June 26th, 2026

Minneapolis – June 24, 2026 – The United States Marine Corps (USMC) has placed its first delivery order to Polaris Government and Defense on the new Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle (ULTV) contract, ordering more than 70 MRZR Alphas and numerous accessories vital to mission success. More than half the vehicles ordered were the new 5kW export power variant and the remaining were the standard, 1kW version – all are green, four-seat vehicles.

Polaris accessories included in the order have been commonly incorporated on MRZR Alpha ULTVs for the Marines and include:

Roof Kit – reversible roof kit with multicam-patterned camouflage on one side and olive drab on the other for mission planning flexibility while protecting occupants from exposure to the elements.

Road March Kit – turn signals, horn, rear view and side mirrors to provide operators enhanced auditory and visual situation awareness during off-road administrative movements.

Modular Cargo System – siderails and tailgate enclose the rear deck to contain cargo and provide many attachment points for securing gear and other vehicle accessories. The heavy-duty tailgate can also drop down for additional cargo space in the down position. Aircraft rails are built in for optional accessories, like integration of litter mounts.

Fire Extinguisher – Class 5-BC fire extinguisher can be mounted to the roll cage in various spots, using a vinyl mount secured by two heavy duty Velcro straps with special rubber attached to ensure mount is securely fastened.

Towbar Mount – specifically designed clamps mount a towbar provision for storage during non-use.

“Polaris engineering and development efforts resulted in expanded accessories developed specifically for MRZR Alpha customers, like the Marines,” said Erin Telander, Defense program manager, Polaris Government and Defense. “That includes the ability to export 5kW of power directly from the vehicle itself, which the Marines will be able to leverage with their latest order.”

The MRZR Alpha is Polaris’ most advanced light tactical vehicle, engineered to meet the evolving demands of expeditionary forces. Designed for enhanced payload capacity, tactical air transport and off-road performance, the MRZR Alpha enables rapid unit deployment and exceptional maneuverability across difficult terrain while reducing logistical demand due to the vehicle’s superior durability.

The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract was awarded May 22, 2026, through Program Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE-MC) and has a ceiling of up to $98M, with an order period of up to five years. This contract reinforces the value that Polaris brings to the warfighter – a responsive and engaged team with off-road engineering expertise, world-class manufacturing and a built-in global support network.

Commercial platforms like the Polaris MRZR Alpha have been instrumental in accelerating delivery of highly mobile systems to the field. Polaris provides global parts availability through its existing worldwide network of dealers and distributors, empowering greater self-sufficiency for distributed forces.