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Building better structures for field use that are both less expensive and more durable would seem to be beneficial for the Corps.
The Roman legions dominated the ancient world with their ability to quickly construct expeditionary base camps and close combat power to the farthest reaches of their empire. At Camp Wilson, Marine Corps AirGround Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, a 21st century expeditionary base camp is taking form. Combat engineers from the 7th Engineer Support Battalion and Marine wing support squadrons from the 2d and 3d Marine Aircraft Wings are constructing expeditionary steel structures called "KSpans." Over the next 3 years, K-Spans will replace all D-Huts and strongback tents at Camp Wilson. KSpans have also been built or are planned for the Mountain Warfare Training Center at Bridgeport; the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar; the Marine Expeditionary Camp in Pohang, South Korea; and Marine Corps air stations at Beaufort and Cherry Point. K-Span expeditionary base camps enable a Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) to rapidly close into an area and build up combat power. KSpans offer the following benefits to the Marine Corps: Savings of significant amounts of money; provision of better training, storage, and maintenance facilities; and rapid closure of the MAGTF in a warfighting scenario. The purpose of this article is to educate the general Marine audience on the basic elements of K-Span construction and to explain how K-Spans can help support warfighting.
K-Spans are constructed using a process called "reverse construction," which means that the structure is actually built before its concrete foundation is poured. The first step in constructing a K-Span is to properly survey and level the ground where it will stand. Next, reusable steel forms are assembled with pieces of angle-iron welded between each form; these angle-irons will support the weight of the structure until the concrete foundation is poured.
Sheet steel, that comes in...