Soldier/Marine Enhancement

Abstract

Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) mission is to manage the infantry squad, "squad as a system", by conducting integration, systems engineering, human factors, and modernization efforts across all the products that are worn, carried, and consumed by the rifle squad. Physical integration, capability analysis, modeling and simulation, ergonomics, and usability assessments are facilitated by this program in working with the various program managers and project officers in the development of their unique items that contribute to the squads overall capabilities. MERS operates and manages the Gruntworks Squad Integration Facility, including facilities sustainment, restoration and modernization of the facility, to meet mission requirements in order to support integration and assessments of equipment. MERS is engaging industry and academia in search of innovative technologies that can enhance infantry capabilities via a Partnership Intermediary Agreement. Weight and volume management are fundamental considerations in the insertion or modernization of any squad equipment. MERS works with Joint and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) soldier modernization programs to harvest new technologies to increase the capability of the rifle squad. The program also ensures the integration of the rifle squad into the various mobility platforms currently in service and being developed to ensure a Marine and his equipment can operate effectively. The Marine Corps anthropometry survey will be initiated in FY20 for completion in FY21. This program is essential to ensure the combined synergistic equipment effects enhance the war-fighting functions of the Marine rifle squad towards the strategic Marine Corps war fighting vision for the future. Ammunition Life Cycle Management Program responsibility for Total Life Cycle Management for ground conventional munitions. Accordingly, PM Ammo is a member of the joint services Ammunition Logistics Research and Development integrated product team (ALR&D IPT). Each year the IPT solicits R&D projects from all of the services. The IPT looks for innovative ideas to enhance logistical support for munitions. Approximately 20 Ammo Logistics R&D projects are voted on each year by the IPT. They are prioritized by voting actions of the Senior Review Board and funding sources are identified. Since the funding for ammunition procurement is outpaced by annual expenditures, ammunition logistics R&D projects designed to extend the shelf life of our current inventory, provide enhanced packaging to "lighten the load" of our munitions, and other such projects will go a long way to ensure the Marine Corps can maintain combat readiness with a reliable conventional ammunition inventory into the future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2021
Source ID
2086_0206623M_7_1319_PB_2021

Tags

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering

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