Modern warfare, modern weapons
Latest military gear displayed during expo
April 3, 2008 - 2:39AM
AMANDA HICKEY
THE DAILY NEWS

Cpl. Nicholas Cleys saw equipment Wednesday he hadn't seen since returning from Iraq four months ago.

The 2008 Marine South Military Exposition, held at Goettge Memorial Field House aboard Camp Lejeune, also gave Cleys an opportunity to see new gear.

"They're coming out with a lot of new stuff to make our job easier," Cleys said.

The expo, in its 16th year, housed hundreds of defense industry exhibits.

The expo is an opportunity for Marines to tell the industry how they've done and how they can improve, said Maj. Gen. John Allen, deputy commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

"This is an opportunity for the Marines who've had contact with American weapons ... to have direct interaction with those people who produce those weapons and provide feedback," Allen said.

One product Marines have asked for is a way out of their seatbelts in case an improvised explosive device flipped their vehicle, he said. A tool that allows Marines cut themselves out of the seatbelt were implemented after the suggestion.

"It's that kind of low-level contact in an exhibit that can save hundreds of lives," Allen said.

Among the items available for viewing were helmets, vests, weapons, rifle mounts, computers, bulletproof ceramics and vehicles.

Master Sgt. Trenton Widdis, with Marine Corps System Command in Quantico, Va., was showing guests the JLIST suit.

JLIST - which stands for joint service lightweight integrated system - includes new gloves, new boots and a new mask to protect during any chemical, bio-hazardous or nuclear incident, he said. The new mask has two filters and a single screen, compared to a separate screen per eye.

"It's going to be a drastic change," Widdis said.

At another exhibit, Jacksonville-based Advanced Vehicle Systems displayed an improved infrared light.

The light will enhance night vision for drivers, said Kevin Kogot, who served in the Marine Corps for 23 years.

"It does not modify the vehicle at all. ... It's a plug and place system," he said.

The light, sales assistant Grant Caraway said, is making a difference.

"That's saving more lives than anything else we have," he said.

Advanced Vehicle Systems also showed it's G-Wagon Interim Fast Attack Vehicle, which has been in use by the Marine Corps since 1999.

The vehicle is made by Mercedes Benz, but all additions to it, including weapon mounts, are done by Advanced Vehicle Systems.

"It can go from zero to 60 in 13 seconds, which makes for a fast assault vehicle," Kogot said.

The Marine Corps works with the Marine Corps League in planning the expo, which will be open today for service members and civilian Department of Defense employees.

For more information, visit www.marinemilitaryexpos.com.

Contact Jacksonville and Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at ahickey@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8463.

Ellie