Experiment may lighten Marines’ load

An infantryman with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) carries a full combat load into a security position in Afghanistan.

The Corps will soon conduct an experiment aimed at improving battlefield logistics, which could also help lighten grunts’ combat load, according to a top official at the service’s Warfighting Lab...

"The days of a CH-53 dropping off a load of stuff — you can’t do that with a rifle squad," he said.

"There’s paranoia-based planning going on right now," Goulding said, explaining that Marines often stuff their pockets with extras like batteries and canteens. "It's because at the small-unit level, they’re concerned that they aren’t going to be resupplied. It’s probably a legitimate concern sometimes."

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