Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jason Fudge | U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Douglas McCue, with Headquarters Marine Corps Next...... read more read more
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U.S. Marines are adopting innovative technologies to improve maintenance while forward-deployed. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 251, 2nd Marine Logistics Group-Forward, deployed an Expeditionary Fabrication Laboratory (X-FAB) to Norway in support of Exercise Trident Juncture 18,Oct. 25 to Nov. 7, 2018.
The exercise is the largest NATO exercise in more than 16 years, with more than 50,000 service members from 31 countries. Trident Juncture ensures NATO forces are trained, able to operate together, and ready to respond to any threat across the spectrum of military operations.
The X-FAB provides an in-field additive manufacturing (AM) capability designed to provide Marines with a means to supplement the supply chain by producing repair parts forward that may take weeks or months to receive from the rear. Additionally, AM allows Marines to fabricate items providing them a capability they may not have had before.
During the exercise, Marines partnered with Norwegian forces to advance AM capabilities. Gunnery Sgt. Brian Lerner, the CLB 251 X-FAB SNCOIC, hosted the Norwegian Primary Engineer while Sgt. Samuel Margarini, a machinist with 1st Maintenance Battalion, worked side-by-side with the Norwegian AM team.
“We have the same programs,” Margarini said about the software used in the design process. “They were able to teach me so I can go back and teach my Marines.”
The partnership between the Marines and the Norwegians will not end once the exercise is over.
“We all were able to gain a greater understanding of each other’s capabilities and we’ve set the stage for future cooperation, ”Gunnery Sgt. Lerner added.
“This relationship going to blossom with our NATO Allies,” said Master Sgt. Douglas McCue, with Headquarters Marine Corps Next Generation Logistics.
With additive manufacturing, there are no physical boundaries necessary to make parts, said McCue. A part can be designed in one place and then transmitted to a 3D-print lab anywhere in the world. The Marine Corps has even began testing blockchain technology to transfer files securely.
These new capabilities allow for printing a part while deployed, and reducing the time constraints within the supply process.
“It is not cheaper, but we can do it right away,” said Svein Hjelmtveit, a field service technician with the Norwegian military. “You don’t have to wait a few weeks or months for a part.”
As the logistics combat element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, 2nd MLG provides all functions of tactical level logistics to sustain warfighting effectiveness. Maintenance is a key function to ensure the force maintains readiness.
| Date Taken: | 10.31.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.12.2018 14:17 |
| Story ID: | 299592 |
| Location: | STJORDAL, NO |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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