Marines get a YouTube channel for training

The Marine Corps Systems Command has hit on a convenient way to help Marines become familiar with their ever-more complicated gear, launching a YouTube channel devoted to training videos and other information.

“As technology increases, so does complexity, and so does capability,” Lt. Col. Daryl Crane, product manager for the command’s Infantry Combat Equipment, said in an announcement of the launch. “We wanted to give Marines a [training] mechanism that doesn’t require someone to come to them, but instead they can do it at their convenience.”

The channels kicked off with two videos, an 11-plus minute clip on the Enhanced Combat Helmet that will soon be issued to Marines being deployed, and a 19-minute tutorial on the Marine Corps Sleep System, which is already being used in cold-weather situations.

The Enhanced Combat Helmet, or ECH, uses lightweight materials to increase protection against small-arms fire; the video explains such aspects as proper sizing, wear, care and the attachment of gear such as a mount for night vision goggles. The video on the Sleep System — formally the Three Season Sleep System and Extreme Cold Weather Bag — shows how to get the most out of the system, which is effective to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit.

A YouTube channel in the military is nothing new — the Defense Department, military services and various components each have their own. To date, they’ve mostly focused on news and features from units around the world, but dedicating a channel to help personnel understand their new gear is an idea that might catch on.

“Gear is getting more complex,” Crane said. “We’re asking it to do more. And because it is becoming more and more complex, Marines require a better understanding of how to use it.”