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Posts Tagged ‘USMC’

USMC Seeking New Skis

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

The US Marine Corps is looking to field a new military ski system consisting of Skis, Boots and Bindings. Oddly, MARCORSYSCOM has released three separate RFIs instead of a consolidated version. Considering they are all supposed to work together, this is a little silly. However, the biggest issue here is Berry compliance and I’d say the boots will be the most troublesome.

Right now, they are just performing “market research to seek potential sources and best practice information towards designing, developing, and buying components for a new Ski System.”

Interested parties have until 4:00 p.m. EST, on Thursday, March 15, 2012 to submit their response.
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USMC Rugged All Terrain Combat Boot

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Currently, the US Marine Corps issues the Rugged All Terrain (RAT) Combat Boot in both Hot and Temperate Weather variants produced by several manufacturers including Wellco. AFMO currently has a smoking deal on the Hot Weather version of these boots which have become very popular due to their “shark skin” capped toe and heel. They feature a lace to toe upper with nylon sides to help combat the heat paired with a Vibram sole.

Get yours from www.afmo.com.

USMC Seeking Modular Armor System

Monday, November 21st, 2011

The Marine Corps posted a Sources Sought Notice late last week for a new “Modular Armor System” to replace both Plate Carrier and Improved Modular Tactical Vest which hasn’t even been fielded yet.

Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is conducting market research, and identifying potential sources and best practice information towards designing, developing, and procuring a Modular Armor System. The system will allow the individual Marine to configure and tailor the armor level based on mission requirements.

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) envisions at this time a single system that will be capable of providing the area of coverage of the current USMC Plate Carrier and expanding to a soft armor area of coverage equal to the USMC Improved Modular Tactical Vest (IMTV) with the Pelvic Protective System Protective Overgarment (POG). The system will be able to provide supplemental armor protection to the extremities.

The envisioned system will either integrate with current hard armor ballistic plates or a new hard armor plate design. There are no constraints on symmetry or materiel for soft and hard armor. Hard Armor threat defeat capability equal to that of the XSAPI is required with a desired maximum allowable areal density of 7.0 pounds per square foot. The soft armor performance within the torso and extremity regions is required to possess performance equal to the OTV CO-PD-00-2G with a desired maximum allowable areal density of .85 pounds per square foot. The carrier will possess the Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing for the mounting of modular pouches, have a single pull emergency release located on the center of the vest below the neckline and integrate with the USMC Chest Rig without impeding the quick release of the carrier.

The desired system will not exceed the cumulative weight of the IMTV with torso and flank plates. This suite will enable the individual Marine to configure components to best meet specific mission requirements by optimizing/balancing human factors engineering (e.g. comfort and usability), integration with fielded Load Carriage Equipment (LCE) and cost (production and maintenance).

It is important to note that the RFI states that “Modular Armor System’s attributes have not yet been finalized” so this is your chance to help influence the writing of the final requirement.

Potential sources of supply have until 30 December, 2011 to notify the Marines of their concept. Additionally, the Program Management Office (PMO) will have representatives attending the January 2012 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Veagas. Look for a separate posting on FedBizOpps with details on how to arrange a visit.

US Purchasing UK Harrier Fleet

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

According to a story in the UK Guardian, the US Department of the Navy is purchasing the entire fleet of 74 UK Harriers removed from service as part of their controversial Strategic Defence and Security Review.

The USMC plans on keeping the Harrier in service through 2025 so this is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of available aircraft. In an interview with Navy Times, Chief of the US Navy Supply Corps, Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich said, “We’re taking advantage of all the money the Brits have spent on them. It’s like we’re buying a car with maybe 15,000 miles on it. These are very good platforms. And we’ve already got trained pilots.”

This is a good use of resources.

Today We Remember Warriors Lost in The Lebanon

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

On October 23, 1983 at 6:22 AM, a large delivery truck drove to the Beirut International Airport where US Marines, serving as part of a multinational force were billeted. They were in Lebanon to help keep the peace in a land torn asunder by internal strife, fueled by outside influence.

The truck contained 12,000 lbs of TNT. The driver detonated the truck bomb and in this cowardly act killed 220 Marines 18 Navy personnel and three Soldiers, along with sixty Americans injured.

Unfortunately, the deaths did not end there. Two minutes later, the barracks of the French contingent was attacked with a bomb killing 58 paratroopers from the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment and wounding another 15.

To make the day even more tragic, the Lebanese janitor of the American barracks as well as the wife and four children of a Lebanese janitor at the French building were also killed.

Remember all of them and their sacrifice today.

Marine Corps Directs Sleeves Down All Year Round

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Yesterday, the Marine Corps released a message directing that the entire Marine Corps wear their sleeves down on the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform all year-round beginning 24 October.

R 181719Z OCT 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 621/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM POLICY CHANGE//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MCUB/31MAR2003//
AMPN/A IS MCO P1020.34G, MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS.//
POC/XXX/CIV/UNIT:MCUB/-/TEL: XXX/TEL:DSN XXX /EMAIL:XXX//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS MARADMIN ANNOUNCES THE COMMANDANT’S DECISION TO CHANGE THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM (MCCUU) WEAR POLICY.
2. EFFECTIVE 24 OCTOBER 2011, THE MCCUU WILL BE WORN WITH THE SLEEVES DOWN, YEAR ROUND. THIS CHANGE DOES NOT AFFECT TIMING OF THE SEASONAL UNIFORM CHANGE, WHICH WILL BE ADDRESSED AND ANNOUNCED IN A FUTURE MARADMIN.
3. REFERENCE (A) WILL BE UPDATED TO REFLECT THIS CHANGE.
4. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN W. J. WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR, MARINE CORPS STAFF.//

Any Questions?

USMC Purchase Additional 8750 Extreme Cold Weather Systems

Monday, October 17th, 2011

PrimaLoft® Insulation Technology™, announced that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has purchased 8,750 additional sets of the USMC Extreme Cold Weather System, which consist of parkas, trousers and booties insulated with PrimaLoft®.

The USMC Extreme Cold Weather System (ECWS) is currently used by thousands of Marines stationed in the coldest areas of Afghanistan and across the globe. This new purchase brings the total number of ECWS currently fielded by the Marines to 58,750.

Developed to allow Marines to maintain the tactical edge during challenging high altitude, cold, and wet weather conditions, ECWS includes a parka, trouser and booties insulated with PrimaLoft®. As you know from previous coverage, PrimaLoft® is packable, lightweight, weather resistant, and very warm.

“PrimaLoft® takes great pride in our work to provide the best possible insulation technology to meet the U.S. Marine Corps mission readiness needs,” said PrimaLoft® Vice President and General Manager Joe Rumiesz in a press release. “We began working with the DoD 25 years ago, and we continue to advance our unique technology to address the specialized gear needs of our men and women in uniform.”

PrimaLoft® was originally developed at the request of the US Army by Albany International Corp as a water resistant synthetic alternative to down. Now known as PrimaLoft® it is used by the United States Army, Marine Corps and Special Operations Forces.

www.PrimaLoft.com

Source One Distributors Sponsors Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Source One Distributors Inc., a leader in tactical gear distribution, recently announced support for the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MC-LEF). Source One CEO & President Mark Llano and Director of Operations Lori Stanek both attended the foundation’s Sixteenth Annual Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City following a donation of $3000.00 to MC-LEF.

MC-LEF’s mission is to encourage the spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical development of children through education. Founded by former Marines and law enforcement personnel, MC-LEF provides scholarships to children of Marines and federal law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. To date, the MC-LEF has distributed aid with a value of more than $50,000,000.00 to eligible children.

This is great and we are happy to see Source One Distributors support MC-LEF. It’s an organization that bridges both military and LE.