NEWBURGH- The first-ever U.S. Marine Innovation Unit was formally activated on Friday at the Stewart Air National Guard Base.
The unit, part of the U.S Marine Corps Reserve, is expected to accelerate advanced capabilities, so the Department of the Navy, which includes the U.S. Marine Corps, can modernize to retain personnel capable to support an initiative known as Force Design 2030.
“It’s to keep us expeditionary and ready to operate at a moment’s notice,” said First Lt. Kevin Stapleton, a Marine Corps spokesperson for the unit. “A lot of that is a response around the world. As we came out of Afghanistan and Iraq, there was a real challenge around the Marine Corps to keep innovating and to make sure staying relevant to face our adversaries.”
Stapleton said the innovation unit, like a consultancy firm, is expected to help throughout the corps with matters such as logistics, infantry and branch’s flying capabilities.
“We’re an enabler and a critical capability provider of our customers around the Marine Corps. They will come to us and say we have a problem with X operational activity or with our unit or whatever the case is, we want some advice or professional consultation,” said Stapleton. “And our Marines are uniquely equipped, based on their civilian expertise as well as their military experience as reservists. They’ll come in from several areas around industry, with their industry background, come to those active duty partners and customers and say hey, based on our knowledge and whatever your problem is and recommend to you and help implement a solution.”
