CHERRY POINT, N.C. –
Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) hosted Marines from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (2nd MLG) Feb. 12 for a deep dive into the depot’s expanded advanced and additive manufacturing capabilities, an area both organizations see as key to future fleet readiness.
During the visit, Marines toured FRCE’s additive manufacturing spaces, cold spray booth and aircraft production lines, gaining an in-depth, firsthand look at how the depot integrates emerging innovative technologies into maintenance operations to support the fleet.
Randall Lewis, Advanced Technology and Innovation team lead, said the visit highlighted how closely the two commands are in mission and mindset.
“It was exciting to show the Marines what FRC East has to offer in terms of advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing and advanced technology integration,” Lewis said. “Our command exists to serve as a readiness enabler and force multiplier for the warfighter and that’s the same mission served by our counterparts at 2nd MLG, so we have a lot in common.”
Lewis’ team oversees many of the initiatives showcased during the visit, including FRCE’s polymer and metal additive manufacturing programs and the Innovation Lab, a digital maker space supporting 3D printing across the depot.
As an Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence within Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, FRCE continues to expand its role in developing and fielding advanced manufacturing solutions for the fleet. Lewis noted that the visit gave Marines a model for how they might expand their own programs and identify areas for future collaboration and coordination with FRCE.
Based at Camp Lejeune, the 2nd Marine Logistics Group provides tactical logistic support to II Marine Expeditionary Force and task-organized logistics combat elements in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. Leaders said the scale and wide variety of FRCE’s capabilities exceeded their expectations.
“Before today’s visit, I was not aware of just how many capabilities FRC East provides to the Marine Corps, the other services and the Department of War— the scale of it is pretty incredible,” said 2nd MLG Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics (G4) Col. Joel Schumacher. “This command has an incredible impact on the fleet.”
Schumacher said the group is focused on building its own advanced additive manufacturing capability while developing its relationships with allies and partners pursuing similar goals.
“When FRC East is just an hour’s drive from us, we should be working as partners rather than trying to reinvent the wheel and do it all on our own,” he said. “This has been a phenomenal visit with phenomenal people, and we’re excited to see how collaboration can work to our mutual benefit moving forward.”
