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thedrifter
08-27-09, 06:36 AM
The Long War: an evolution of combat design

8/26/2009 By Lance Cpl. Lucas G. Lowe , Marine Corps Base Quantico

The global conflict popularly called the War on Terrorism has been given many names. And as the war enters its eighth year, the name the Long War seems appropriate. Just as the name applied to the war has changed, so has the gear Marines use in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Marines in country now look much different than those in 2001. New tactics and strategy changes have to be implemented whenever a new country is invaded. A complete makeover in the individual combat load is often necessary. But adapting to different environments is something Marines specialize in.

Marine Corps Systems Command hosted an exhibition on Aug. 20 that showcased the differences between how the Marine of 2001 was equipped and the Marine of today is equipped at the new Gruntworks Squad Integration Facility in Stafford.

Gruntworks’ mission focuses on improving the efficiency and lethality of a basic rifle squad composed of 13 Marines, the smallest combat unit capable of independent operation.
“The gear we use now offers much better protection than when we first went [to the Middle East],” said Sgt. Garrett Farris, who was a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, during a 2004 deployment.

Flank protection is one of the improvements that developed as a result of MCSC’s research of what deployed Marines need in the field. This improvement came in the form of a scalable plate carrier, a type of upper body armor that features small arms protective insert plates on both sides.

“[Our equipment] worked for us,” said Sgt. Paul Peacock, who was deployed during the last part of 2004 and the beginning of 2005 as an assistant team leader with a scout sniper platoon in 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

“It’s important to trust your gear, because it’s all you have,” said Peacock.

Other innovations ushered in by MCSC in conjunction with Gruntworks include improved load-bearing equipment, the integrated intra-squad radio, enhanced night vision optics and Flame Resistant Organizational Gear.

The construction of an Infantry Immersive Trainer inside the Gruntworks facility will aid MCSC in the evaluation of the gear used by Marines downrange. The only similar battle simulator in the Marine Corps is located in Camp Pendleton, Calif. The ITT replicates an urban combat environment in Iraq or Afghanistan, complete with holograms of the local population from insurgents to innocent civilians. Live actors are employed in some cases to interact with Marines in training.

“This is good because it forces Marines to interface with the local populace and overcome language barriers,” said Mark Richter, the Marine expeditionary rifle squad program manager at Gruntworks.

Achieving victory in the Long War is at the top of our commandant’s list of priorities. Research and development at facilities like Gruntworks figures prominently in the war effort. The focus of improving the Corps’ warfighting capabilities remains the individual Marine.

Correspondent: lucas.lowe@usmc.mil

Ellie