Created in direct response to 9/11, the Anti-Terrorism (AT) Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), 2D Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is a one-of-a-kind readiness force in the global war on terror. As a new unit with no existing storage equipment, the Battalion was faced with the challenge of constructing and outfitting a storage facility to meet their operational needs. Limited space, with two moves anticipated in the future, was also an issue.
Capt. Corbin T. Williamson was the ordnance officer charged with the responsibility. A storage solution with superior organization was mandatory to assure quick issue and recovery of weapons for his Marines.
“The Battalion Company size is very robust when it comes to optics and weapons,” said Capt. Williamson. “The amount of weapons, optics and specialty gear we possess is unlike any other standard infantry battalion.”
Ben McCollum of Patterson Pope, the Spacesaver Area Contractor, was brought in to develop storage solutions for weapons and a multitude of optics, including night vision goggles, laser aiming lights and thermal weapons sights.
“They needed a highly organized, space-efficient and secure method of storing these very expensive pieces of equipment,” said McCollum. “Spacesaver’s Universal™ Weapons Rack (UWR™ storage system) mounted on stationary and high-density mobile storage systems, proved the ideal solution for many of the armory’s evolving needs.”
The UWR storage system offers great flexibility in the configuration of shelves and bins, allowing optics to be stored right on the weapons, which saves the armorers’ time. The UWR features built-in, retractable doors and locking bars that meet physical security requirements. Doors, sides and backs of cabinets are diamond-perforated to allow quick assessment of inventory. Spacesaver developed special support brackets for the MK-153 SMAW anti-armor rocket launchers, which are stored horizontally in similar cabinets.
In another area,our optics storage solution for night-vision goggles are stored with their cases on 4-post shelving, customized with doors similar to the UWR and bin dividers that provide a high degree of organization. Doors were fabricated by Delta Designs Ltd. to meet specific objectives of the AT Battalion. Although only a portion of the armory storage is currently on high-density mobile systems, everything was designed for potential mobilization in the future.
“Ben was a genius when it came to presenting options and developing storage products to meet our requirements,” said Williamson. “He’s been an integral part of the whole process, even visiting the future facility and designing our current 4-post stationary shelving to be mobile-ready when the time comes. This forethought will minimize the cost associated with the next armory move.”
As for efficiency, Williamson said his Staff Sergeant can now complete a site count 10 times faster than with the old system. “Site counts that used to take hours can now be done in 35 minutes,” he said. And since these happen at least twice a day, more if there are visitors in the armory, it frees up more time for the armorers to concentrate on weapons and optics management.
“I can sum it up in one word — organization,” said Williamson.
“The system itself has been a tremendous saver of time and effort.”
Learn more about Spacesaver armory storage solutions!
"I can sum it up in one word – organization. The system itself has been a tremendous saver of time and effort." – Capt. Williamson, 4th MEB (Anti-Terrorism), Camp Lejeune
If you would like to be contacted by one of our reps to learn more about our storage solutions please go to our contact form.