thedrifter
04-21-06, 02:34 PM
CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan(April 21, 2006) -- Technology plays a big role in today's military, especially when advances in design bring speed and comfort into deployments.
Marines with 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, began a weeklong training evolution April 10, to learn how to set up and use a state-of-the-art tent system, which will replace the general-purpose tents.
The new Base-X Expedition Shelters provide many advantages to both the Marines using them and those emplacing the shelters, according to Sgt. Shawn Cottrell, a technical controller Marine with 7th Communications Bn.
"Base-X requires fewer people and less coordination," he said. "It's lighter and easier to transport because everything is built in. It's much more efficient."
The Marine Corps has adopted the Base-X system to replace all general-purpose tents as individual units' budgets allow, according to Ken Duncan, the West Coast lead trainer for Northrop Grumman Corporation's Marine Corps Support Team.
Members of Ocean Systems Engineering Corporation taught the Marines how to set up and operate a command operations center using the Base-X.
"Our classes are developed from three years of experience," said Brian Gorgas, the West Coast training team leader for OSEC. "We've learned (through this experience) what they need to know but might not think about until they actually get out to the field."
The classes were split into two main sections, according to Gorgas. One was designed for Marines who would be working in a command operations center and the other designed for those responsible for the technical aspects of the COC. This way, the classes correspond to the Marines' occupational specialties.
The Base-X tents are prewired and the air ducts are built in. The tents poles are collapsible and expandable, unlike the older tents. The poles are also attached to the tent itself.
"The new tents greatly reduce man hours," said Gunnery Sgt. Jose Lopez, the nuclear, biological and chemical defense chief with III MEF Headquarters Group. "The old tents took 10 men approximately 20 minutes to set up. The new one takes five men about 15 minutes to set up."
The civilian trainers will be in Okinawa for nearly a month providing Base-X training for Marines with three different units.
For more information about the Base-X tent, visit the Base-X Web site at www.base-x.com.
Ellie
Marines with 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, began a weeklong training evolution April 10, to learn how to set up and use a state-of-the-art tent system, which will replace the general-purpose tents.
The new Base-X Expedition Shelters provide many advantages to both the Marines using them and those emplacing the shelters, according to Sgt. Shawn Cottrell, a technical controller Marine with 7th Communications Bn.
"Base-X requires fewer people and less coordination," he said. "It's lighter and easier to transport because everything is built in. It's much more efficient."
The Marine Corps has adopted the Base-X system to replace all general-purpose tents as individual units' budgets allow, according to Ken Duncan, the West Coast lead trainer for Northrop Grumman Corporation's Marine Corps Support Team.
Members of Ocean Systems Engineering Corporation taught the Marines how to set up and operate a command operations center using the Base-X.
"Our classes are developed from three years of experience," said Brian Gorgas, the West Coast training team leader for OSEC. "We've learned (through this experience) what they need to know but might not think about until they actually get out to the field."
The classes were split into two main sections, according to Gorgas. One was designed for Marines who would be working in a command operations center and the other designed for those responsible for the technical aspects of the COC. This way, the classes correspond to the Marines' occupational specialties.
The Base-X tents are prewired and the air ducts are built in. The tents poles are collapsible and expandable, unlike the older tents. The poles are also attached to the tent itself.
"The new tents greatly reduce man hours," said Gunnery Sgt. Jose Lopez, the nuclear, biological and chemical defense chief with III MEF Headquarters Group. "The old tents took 10 men approximately 20 minutes to set up. The new one takes five men about 15 minutes to set up."
The civilian trainers will be in Okinawa for nearly a month providing Base-X training for Marines with three different units.
For more information about the Base-X tent, visit the Base-X Web site at www.base-x.com.
Ellie