WEBVTT

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- [Narrator] Camp Pendleton Marines, sailors

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and civilians had a chance to preview the latest

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in military technology during the 2017

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Marine West Expo aboard Camp Pendleton.

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The exposition, now in its 25th year,

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showcases new gear, gadgets and equipment to Marines

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from hundreds of vendors from around the world.

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- When I was growing up as a young Marine

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^and I retired 24 years ago, we didn't have things like this.

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^We didn't have expos.

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We didn't have the knowledge that's

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being displayed today showing the advancement

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in equipment and what we can expect to see,

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what we can expect to wear,

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what we can expect to ride in.

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- [Narrator] One of the highlights of this year's expo

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is a version of the amphibious combat vehicle

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or ACV 1.1, which is slated to replace the

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current amphibious assault vehicle.

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For Marines like Sergeant Copleman

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with 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion,

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the event gives them an opportunity to provide feedback

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to manufacturers of their equipment.

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- Because they get to meet firsthand who's gonna

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^be operating these vehicles in the fleet,

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^we're the ones that are gonna be busting rust on them,

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operating them, taking them out to combat,

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taking them out to the field.

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We're the ones that are gonna be using these vehicles,

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so I think it's good for us to be able to give

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the makers the feedback and meet firsthand

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who is actually using their product.

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- We don't know exactly what environment we might

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find ourselves in tomorrow or 10 years from now,

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but to know what kind of equipment to expect,

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have a say so on whether or not we get this equipment.

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It's a really important link.

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- [Narrator] Marine West is one of three expositions

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hosted annually aboard Marine Corps installations.

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Marine Expo South is scheduled for April 12th

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through the 13th 2017 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.