Military

I MEF goes to consolidated facility to issue 782 gear
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20024413476
Story by Sgt. Matthew Shaw

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(April 4, 2002) -- By the end of May, all supply sections from units under I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Base will downsize their gear stocks as standard-issue combat gear comes under one roof to offer Marines an experience similar to warehouse grocery shopping.

I MEF's consolidated issue facility, Building 2230, a government-owned, civilian-contracted supply point, will take over issuing, tracking, maintaining and recovering individual combat clothing and equipment, also known as 782 gear.

The consolidated issue facility is part of a Corps-wide program aimed at saving time and money while providing quality gear to Marines and sailors. The II MEF's CIF, in Camp Lejeune, N.C., has been in operation for two years.

"We feel the Marine Corps can be more efficient with the gear in one location, rather than dealing with 27 separate units," said Lt. Col. Joseph Bryant, contracting officer representative for I MEF consolidated issue facility.

Unit-level supply offices generally aren't capable of repairing damaged equipment. It's expensive and time-consuming to mail gear for repair, Bryant said, so many items are sent to the Defense Reutilization Management Office, where they're either auctioned off, donated or discarded.

Now, some of those items will be repaired here - with the prospect of sizable savings to the Marine Corps.

In a 10-year contract with Lion-Vallen Industries, based in Dayton, Ohio, CIFs launder and repair gear in-house. Based on figures from Camp Lejeune, I MEF expects to save $371,000 in one year by repairing rather than replacing gear. Additionally, MEF hopes to save as much as $12,000 in cleaning costs.

The CIF is currently operational for units who have turned in their gear.

"We're using the supermarket concept," Bryant said.

Upon entering the facility, a Marine shows his identification card. Using a fully automated filing system, a civilian clerk prints a receipt of items the Marine is authorized to check out, based on command requirements.

Next, the Marine can use a shopping cart to gather gear from neatly sorted bins on shelves. Once the Marine has chosen all his gear, he proceeds to the checkout counter, where he signs an electronic pad and receives a printout of his items.

When Marines return their gear, civilian employees inspect the items and sort them based on their condition. Serviceable items are cleaned and placed in storage bins. Unserviceable items are sent to the rear of the building for further inspection and repair, if possible.

While Building 2230 is the I MEF consolidated issuing facility, four satellite branches are scheduled to open, including a Camp Horno branch later this month. Others include Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command in Twentynine Palms by July, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar by June 2003, and MCAS Yuma, Ariz., by August 2003.