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Watch the complete FIVE + ONE video with Colonel Reynolds
Marine Corps Systems Command’s Program Manager for Training Systems (PM TRASYS), Colonel Marcus Reynolds, was promoted during a ceremony on Feb. 1, 2023. As the leader for PM TRASYS, he oversees their support of two of the Commandant’s Title 10 authorities — equipping and training the Corps.
“Our programs of record build upon the fundamental principles that each Marine attains from the training pipeline and a key tenant of training is to train as you fight,” he said. “Our nonstandard training systems such as our marksmanship and driver trainers allow Marines to get as many sets and repetitions as possible before they get to the fight. This maximizes their expeditionary readiness and combat effectiveness by allowing them to train in simulated environments that enable them to fight and win in any place at any time.”
As Reynolds looks to strategize for the future, his number one, and “most important” priority for PM TRASYS is that it remains a warfighter-focused organization. “We work to provide warfighters with the most innovative training technologies. If we keep the warfighter at the forefront of our efforts, we will have a better understanding of what they need, which will allow us to provide the best possible service to the Marine Corps.”
Reynolds explained that during his thirty years in the Corps, he has been an end user of training systems, and as a sergeant and later platoon commander, he had to train Marines and overcome the shortfalls of some of the training systems used at the time.
“Those experiences gave me a personal understanding of the direct impact our training systems have on the warfighter,” he said. “We must ensure our systems meet the requirements to ensure the warfighter is able to train with minimal detractors.”
The ability to work with sister services, as well as international allies and partners, in the quest for interoperability is an important objective for the Marines Corps in which PM TRASYS plays a key role.
“The multi-service environment that exists within Team Orlando is ideal for fostering collaborative relationships without the requirements of maintaining a joint base,” Reynolds said. “As the smallest of the branches, except for the Space Force, our budget is very limited, so leveraging relationships as often as possible can increase acquisition efficiency while simultaneously reducing overhead.”
Prior to assuming this position, Reynolds said he never fully understood the impact of Team Orlando. “I’ve served in joint commands before, but the collaboration here is the best I’ve seen,” he said. “COVID put a damper on some things, but as we are adjusting to a post-pandemic work environment, I am adamant about bolstering our collaboration to deliver capabilities to the Warfighter more rapidly with reduced cost.”
When considering the battlefields of tomorrow and how different they will be from today, Reynolds said, “The battlefield of tomorrow is already here. If we are still training for the battlefield of yesterday, we’ll be in trouble.”
In preparing Marines for future conflicts, multidomain operations are critical to their success as the Corps moves forward.
“Gone are the days of a battle of a single service,” Reynolds said. “Our next battle will be a battle for all of the services and the key to preparing for the pending threats is the use of collaborative training systems. Understanding the capabilities that Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Guardians bring to the fight and implementing them into interactive training systems, will help us better anticipate how to posture to meet whatever threat arises.”
Reynolds is quick to say his number one mission is the Marine Corps. But his priority is his family.
“I’m very passionate about doing everything I can to make sure they’re taken care of,” he said of his family. “My typical weekend is centered around doing something fun with them. If you look around my office, you will see plenty of pictures and keepsakes of my wife and my sons. They are my biggest motivators and support system.”
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