NATO reps met with Marines at Quantico

NATO representatives recently gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, to share information and work toward common solutions across the force.

NATO's Land Capability Group on Dismounted Soldier Systems met with the Marine Corps' Gruntworks Squad Integration Facility located at Quantico, according to a service statement.

Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, head of Marine Corps Systems Command, led the three-day session with NATO's Army Armaments Group April 5-7.

"Our Marine Corps Operating Concept sets forth our commandant's four directives," Shrader said. "The future of the Corps is focused on being more capable, more networked, more resilient and more lethal. Those are the things I think about on a daily basis."

Shrader placed emphasis on the mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad which is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or to repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat.

Timothy Goddette, Army deputy program executive officer soldier, said the focus was on the "dismounted soldier."

"Every dollar we waste on something that doesn't work is a dollar we could have spent on a soldier or Marine," Goddette said. "We have to get it right the first time."