Getting a Bigger Bang for Our Buck: Reducing Training Costs for New Equipment

Throughout the war in Iraq, the Marine Corps has been paying millions of dollars to outside contractors for training that Marines are just as, if not more capable of, providing. The contractors provide training on new equipment procured through the Urgent Universal Needs Statement Urgent UNS process. Firms contracted to provide training typically hire retired or recently separated armed forces personnel, train them on the new equipment, and deploy them to Iraq to train Marines in theater. While training on the various new equipment items is an absolute necessity, the high monetary costs, the excessive time required to carry out training execution, and the additional burdens placed on in-theater units receiving the training, are not. Contracted trainers for most Urgent UNS equipment should be replaced with a new equipment training team NETT cell staffed by active duty Marines.