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Developing Problem-Solving Marines
by U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tyler Andrews
February
20,
2023
III Marine Expeditionary Force Information
Group is rapidly adopting 21st-century technologies to maintain
readiness for future conflicts that may arise. To facilitate this,
III MIG established a relationship with Building Momentum, a
subsidiary of the Marine Corps Systems Command’s “Marine Maker”
program in 2019.
Building Momentum offers Innovation Boot
Camp to test the creative limits of members of the Department of
Defense, and help them expand their capabilities with technology by
conducting hands-on skills training. The students learn 3D printing,
computer-aided design (CAD), soldering, circuit design, solar power,
drone development, and GPS tracking using scenarios taken from
actual conflicts and case studies. Nearly 6,500 Marines have
attended IBC with the overall goal of developing better
problem-solving skills and returning to their military occupational
specialties as better critical thinkers.
”Leaders should
send their Marines to Innovation Boot Camp, because Building
Momentum teaches valuable skill sets,” said Sgt. Zachery Nirk, a
water support technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. “For example, I now understand the
basics of 3D printing software and coding. These skills I’ve learned
will enable my shop to make adapters to keep camouflage netting
rolled on vehicles.”
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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Zachery Nirk, a water support technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, sets up a 3D printer during Innovation Boot Camp on Sea Glass Beach, Okinawa, Japan
on February 8, 2023. IBC was designed to teach Marines skills such as soldering, 3D printing, coding, and programming to create innovative products for the Marine Corps and to test Marines’ critical thinking skills. Nirk is a native of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Andrews)
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“Building Momentum’s goal with
Innovation Boot Camp is not only to develop problem-solving skills
within service members,” said Brad Halsey, chief executive officer
and co-founder of Building Momentum. “But also to instill a sense of
urgency so they are effective when it matters most.”
Halsey and Henry
Sullivan, the senior director of education and training logistics
for Building Momentum, observed the use of technology in their
recent experience on the front lines of Ukraine’s “technology war”
with Russia. The effectiveness of drone technologies in the Ukraine
conflict, led Halsey and Sullivan to incorporate a more in-depth
workshop designing, building, and piloting drones into IBC’s
curriculum.
“In a future conflict, especially one against a
peer competitor in a contested logistics environment, Marines will
innovate and think critically using these skills to increase
survivability and resilience, reducing the sustainment burden in
such challenging terrain,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 James
Bergeron, a utilities officer with III MEF G-4 Engineer Branch.
Sullivan stated the mindset that Marines take away from this
technology training is the most important part. They may find
themselves in a situation without all of the tools and technology,
but following IBC can quickly create simple, effective solutions
having developed a creative perspective.
“My unit put me on
this training to develop my skills with CAD, which ultimately I will
apply the CAD skills I’m learning at IBC and become a better welder
and machinist,” said Lance Cpl. Benjamin Lundin, a metal worker with
III MEF.
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Henry Sullivan, senior director of education and training logistics with Building Momentum, sets up a mobile lab during Innovation Boot Camp on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan
on February 7, 2023. IBC employees taught Marines skills such as soldering, 3D printing, coding, and programming to create innovative products for the Marine Corps and to test Marines’ critical thinking skills. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Andrews)
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During past iterations, IBC taught technology
skills to conceptualize and create innovative technology solutions
when presented with different scenarios. Marines with different
ranks and military occupational specialties have worked together to
create technology as small as a GPS tracker, from scratch to track a
vehicle’s live coordinates, to sophisticated drone technology that
could carry six vials of medicine with the capability to
individually release vials at different locations.
Bergeron
stated all of the skills students have learned could be applied to
drastically impact the effectiveness and success of future field
training exercises across III MEF. These skills could enhance units’
mission accomplishment in simulated Expeditionary Advanced Base
environments, allowing Marines to think critically at the forward
edge of the fleet to solve today's problems.
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