“We need hardened computers that can withstand harsh environmental conditions while still offering commercial capabilities” for connectivity and productivity, says Jason Choi, the Marine Corps Systems Command’s team lead for IT infrastructure. “Marines use rugged computers in the field to download information directly from radios and other satellite-linked equipment wherever and whenever it’s needed.”

DOD’s growing Global Information Grid is networking many types of military equipment around the world, not only IT devices but also tanks and weapons systems. In mid-January, GSA announced the SatCom II procurement for commercial, worldwide satellite transport and engineering services.

Choi says the Marine Corps acquires its ruggedized computers through the Marine Corps Common Hardware Suite, which centrally manages procurement and logistical support for desktop and notebook PCs and servers, except those supplied by Navy-Marine Corps Intranet contractor EDS Corp.

In the past two years, MCHS has bought “nearly 700 rugged or semi-rugged notebooks and tablet PCs, more than 97 percent of them notebooks,” Choi says.

The Corps directly provides equipment warranty services to operational forces worldwide through blanket purchasing agreements with MCHS vendors, which are required to respond within 48 hours after being contacted by telephone or Internet. “Often this simply involves having authorized Marines replace unserviceable parts without having to return the equipment to the vendor’s service facility,” Choi says.

The Army repairs its malfunctioning computers under a warranty program at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pa., a unit of the Communications-Electronics Command, and 30 other forward repair activities worldwide. The repair activities operate under agreements with makers such as Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Itronix Corp. of Spokane, Wash., and MPC Computers LLC of Nampa, Idaho.

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