If you remember THULS then you’re already familiar with the concept of the new Marine Basic Module from Mission Essential Gear.
It’s been revised for FY2021 with updated information from various sources. It might have been written for Marines, but it’s a great aide memoire for any ground combat force.
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.—This fiscal year, Marine Corps Systems Command plans to begin fielding a new boot that protects Marines in cold-weather climates.
The Marine Corps Intense Cold Weather Boot is a full-grain, leather boot designed foruse in temperatures as cold as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The ICWB allows Marines to complete various missions that might involve hiking or skiing in arduous, cold weather environments without having to change boots.
“In order to effectively conduct your mission in a cold weather environment, you need to be warm,” said Todd Towles, project officer of Cold Weather Gear with the Program Manager for Infantry Combat Equipment at MCSC. “This boot helps to accomplish this goal.”
The Marine Corps currently employs a temperate and an extreme cold weather boot. The Temperate Weather Marine Corps Combat Boot is designed for employment in conditions between 20 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Extreme Cold Weather Vapor Barrier Boot is intended for use in environments between -65 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, Marines have said the TWMCCB does not provide enough warmth in sub-zero temperatures because the boot is not designed for such environments. They often have to switch to the Vapor Barrier boot, which can cause excessive sweating if worn extensively in environments above -20 degrees Fahrenheit, said Towles.
The ICWB fills a capability gap left by these two boots. The ICWB will be used in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Towles said the boot can last up to 18 months or longer if cared and maintained correctly.
“The Intense Cold Weather Boot is not going to have the same insulation capabilities that the Extreme Cold Weather Boot provides, so the foot shouldn’t sweat as much,” said Towles. “It’s also less bulky than the Extreme Cold Weather Boot.”
From 2018 to 2020, MCSC held several user evaluations involving an early version of the ICWB, made of suede, in Iceland, Norway, Alaska and Montana, as well as at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. Curtis Johnson, a logistics management specialist with MCSC, said Marines felt that the suede boot was well-constructed and durable but also thought it was bulky and did not dry well once wet.
Leveraging this feedback, MCSC then acquired a full-grain boot in 2020. Marines indicated the full-grain boot dried well but didn’t provide enough warmth in below-zero temperatures. CWO2 Christopher Latham, an infantry weapons officer for 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, assessed the updated boot at Bridgeport earlier this year.
“When the temperature dipped into the negative-degree range, your feet became very cold,” said Latham. “I believe that we need more insulation in the boot to get down into the negative temperatures.”
The program office then added an additional 200 grams of insulation to the boot. If a Marine is wearing the boot for extended periods of time in sub-zero temperatures, MCSC provides a protective overboot for additional warmth if needed. The improved ICWB is also less bulky than the earlier prototype and comprises a black, leather boot to repel moisture.
“The first prototype ICWB we tested received mixed reviews, but the second prototype with the added insulation has been well-received by Marines thus far,” said Johnson. “The boot is similar to the boots they wear every day.”
The program office expects the ICWB to begin fielding in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. Towles believes the ICWB will serve the warfighter well in the coming years.
“The ICWB lightens the load for the Marines by their needing only one boot for fighting and ski missions, as opposed to in the past when Marines had to maintain two boots,” said Towles. “I believe these boots will further support Marines in cold weather environments and help them achieve mission success.”
Photo by Matt Gonzales, Marine Corps Systems Command
Story by Marine Corps Systems Command
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton hosted a Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition for the first time in seven years.
The competition at Pendleton is the first part in a series of events for the 2021 Competition-In-Arms Program, which will end with a championship match in April at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
As part of the program, the Marine Corps Shooting Team is coordinating and supervising five regional MCMCs held on Marine Corps bases across the world. Marines of all different trades are being encouraged to volunteer to participate in the event.
“We had operators, vehicle operators, engineers, infantrymen, intelligence Marines, and others,” said U.S. Marine Col. Carlos Jackson, the commanding officer of Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, who hosted the completion aboard Pendleton. “They will be able to take back the skills they learned here and train others, which is all we can really hope for.”
Participants received a total of 12 training days over a two week period where they were given instruction on advanced pistol and rifle positions, firing while moving, dynamic target engagement and more.
“My biggest take away is learning how to run stages, think critically under stress and engage multiple targets in a dynamic environment.”
Sgt Evan Nicholas, a Combat Logistics Regiment 45 metal worker
“Marines who participate will not only get their annual pistol and rifle qualification taken care of but they’ll also learn how to use their weapons in an environment like they’ve never done before,” said Sgt. Evan Nicholas, a metal worker with Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group. “It’s unlike any other course of fire that you’ll experience in the Marine Corps.”
The program is designed to significantly enhance participants’ proficiency in the use of individual small arms by refining fundamental marksmanship skills, learning marksmanship techniques, and pushing through mental and physical boundaries in a competitive forum.
According to Jackson, the goal of the MCMC is to make a more confident, more competent, more capable and lethal Marine to send rounds downrange, and that’s exactly what the Marines did on Pendleton over the last two weeks.
At the end of the competition, Marines were awarded for their hard work. The top 10 percent for rifle and pistol stages earned a MCMC medal, and the best performing rifle and pistol teams were awarded a trophy.
The next competition is slated to be at MCB Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan, December 6-8.
Story by LCpl Kerstin Roberts, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Photo by Sgt Jeremy Laboy
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment zeroed their weapon optics as one of the first training exercises they will be conducting with Marine Rotational Force Europe 21.1. Marines are preparing for arctic cold weather, mountain warfare training, and enhancing interoperability with our Norwegian Allies.
U.S. Marine Corps photos by 2nd Lt. Kayla Olsen and Lance Cpl. Patrick King
The story goes that by 1918, the US Marines were fully employed putting foot to Central Power ass, but when the Germans saw how hard the Devil Dogs partied on their birthday, they promptly surrendered the next morning. That’s right, the service that was founded in a Tavern is why we celebrate Armistice Day on 11 November.
Thanks for keeping the world safe Marines!
CAMP BUTLER, Japan —
Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, the III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, launched the first Big Ideas Challenge last August to unleash the creativity and ingenuity of III MEF Marines and sailors against the most pressing challenges facing the Marine Corps.
Over 70 submissions were received from Marines and sailors of all ranks and military occupational specialties. Included in those submissions were inputs from Army and Air Force personnel, spouses and even non-SOFA status personnel.
“The submissions surpassed my expectations both in quantity received and in the quality of ideas that were submitted, especially due to the short time window for the challenge,” said Maj. Stephen Kent, action officer for the Big Ideas Challenge.
Proposals touched on a wide variety of topics, including administration, equipment, logistics, tactics, and quality of life.
“We received ideas for equipment modification, data tools, commercial off-the-shelf applications, education-based solutions and ideas to facilitate the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ vision, to name a few,” said Kent.
“We are looking forward to seeing some of these ideas get incorporated and are excited to see what kind of solutions our community comes up with…”
Maj Stephen Kent, action officer for the Big Ideas Challenge
The Marine Corps is constantly striving to enhance its force as a whole by implementing innovation challenges throughout the Corps. The 2nd Marine Logistics Group and 3rd MLG recently hosted events with notable results.
In those challenges, Marines of all ranks and backgrounds were encouraged to submit. One lance corporal received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for using 3-D printing equipment at the unit to manufacture a $0.50 part to salvage damaged radio equipment.
Good ideas could come from any member of the command, so Lt. Gen. Clardy opened up the challenge to people throughout U.S. Forces Japan. In order to review and study the many submissions, the commanding general assigned an action officer to collect, review, sort, and present all submissions through a review board of Marines.
“My job is to ensure these ideas get routed to the staff and then ultimately the commanding general for final decision,” Kent explained. “We will strive to incorporate all of the good ideas within our means, regardless if they were selected as the top five.”
III MEF plans to announce the results of the challenge at the end of the month via social media. Marines are optimistic about the results.
“Because of the success of this event, we plan to hold it again this time next year,” Kent said. “We are looking forward to seeing some of these ideas get incorporated and are excited to see what kind of solutions our community comes up with in the future.”
Marines and Sailors with Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division participate in a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, from Aug. 20 – 27, 2020. The Company completed multiple training events in order to show its units readiness and combat effectiveness throughout the exercise for their upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (US Marine Corps video by Cpl Israel Chincio)
