The US Marine Corps Wants New Skis For Its Troops
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U.S. soldiers training for winter warfare. U.S. Department of Defense photo.
After using aging ski systems for years, the U.S. Marine Corps issued a request for a new ski system to allow troops to fight and operate in cold mountainous environments. The report, published in March, details requirements for a new standard issue system that includes compatibility with a multifunction ski/walking boot, new poles and special bindings. According to the request, $12.75 million are up for grabs for a contractor.
Last year, the Marine Corps contracted the widely-used NATO ski system, but there were delays in procurement, so leadership started to look elsewhere, including a system the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division has used. The current NATO ski system is a lightweight touring ski designed in Norway. According to a report from Marine Corps System Command, the goal is to acquire a system with ski sets that are compatible with the existing Corps’ Extreme Cold Weather Vapor Barrier Boots and the Intermediate Cold Weather Boots, eliminating the need to purchase new specific ski boots.
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Currently Marines operating in winter mountain conditions carry a Marine Corps Cold Weather Infantry Kit, which comprises avalanche gear, hatchets, snow saws, cook sets, thermoses, and a tent. The kit serves up to four troops and is pulled on a sled behind Marines on skis.
As the Marine Corps transitions out of nearly two decades of desert combat into more diverse combat environments, particularly with units stationed in Norway, the need for better winter gear became apparent. “We are trying to do our due diligence with tax payers’ money to make sure we get the best value, while also pushing out capabilities as quickly as we can to Marines,” said Christopher Woodburn, Capabilities Development director of the Deputy Maneuver Branch at Combat Development and Integration in the MCSC report.
