30th Anniversary Edition of Marine Military Expo Set for Quantico, Virginia, September 28 - 30

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The 30th Anniversary edition of the world's largest military exposition focusing on enhanced capabilities for expeditionary forces will be presented at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia, September 28 - 30.

The Modern Day Marine Military Exposition will celebrate that anniversary by continuing a proud tradition of leadership in the defense trade show industry with a number of special programs and events. Among them: a new "Warfighters Corner"; meetings between industry officials and the Marine Corps' foremost authorities on the service's equipment requirements; a colorful parade; award ceremonies honoring outstanding members of Marine commands and two distinguished Americans; and presentation of a major financial donation to a youth group by a prominent defense company exhibiting at the exposition.

The expo is sponsored by the Marine Corps League and co-sponsored by Marine Corps Base, Quantico, and Marine Corps Systems Command. The League is a 70,000-member Marine Corps veteran's organization. Marine Corps Systems Command develops Marine warfighting concepts and determines the Corps' capability requirements for doctrine, equipment, organization, training, education and support. Marine Corps Base, Quantico, located in Northern Virginia and known as the "Crossroads of the Corps," is home to the Marine Corps University as well as other major training professional education organizations.

Beginning with the First Modern Day Marine Expo, in Arizona 30 years ago, the annual event has grown in renown for innovative defense-related presentations and special events. For example, the opening ceremony for the initial edition of the expo, on August 18, 1981, took place after light poles were removed from the parking lot in order to land a fixed-wing aircraft in Tucson's downtown Community Center.

From about 40 companies exhibiting at the first exposition in Tucson, the event has grown into the largest exposition of expeditionary warfare equipment in the world, earning distinction as one of the top-rated productions in the trade show industry, with more than 400 exhibitors slated for this 30th Anniversary edition. Around 8,000 attendees are expected to visit the exhibits showcasing equipment and systems that support air, land and sea operations.

Much of the equipment used by America's Marines and other U.S. and allied forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world in the continuing fight against terrorism was first seen by military leaders, operations planners and acquisition managers at Marine Expos in past years. Exhibits at this year's exposition will fill three large display tents as well as outdoor exhibit areas.

A new feature for this year's exposition will be "Warfighters Corner," a venue in which Marines recently back from service in combat zones will describe what equipment and systems worked best for them, and also provide suggestions and recommendations for how improvements, modifications or replacements might be made to better help Marines survive and win on the battlefield, in seaborne operations and in aerial engagements.

Defense manufacturers will have representatives on hand to discuss their companies' products and services, respond to questions and exchange information with the Marine warfighters concerning their recent forward deployments.

Another of the most important activities at the annual exposition is a special Report to Industry presented by Marine general officers closely associated with all aspects of the Corps' equipment and systems research, development, testing and acquisition programs and policies. The 2010 Report to Industry is by invitation only, for exhibiting companies, and will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 30th at the expo site. On that same morning, Program Director Briefings will be held, in which members of the defense industry will be able to gather information, directly, from the men and women who manage the programs through which Marines acquire and field weapons and equipment for the Corps' expeditionary missions on the ground, in the air and at sea.

At 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 28th, Mr. Josh Dorsey, Vice President of GLOCK, Inc., one of the exhibiting companies, will present a check for $50,000 to the Young Marines program, an education and service organization for boys and girls, which promotes mental, moral and physical development among its members. GLOCK is a leading global manufacturer of pistols and accessories.

Another major event on September 28th, the Modern Day Marine Military Exposition's Grand Banquet and Awards Dinner will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the Crystal City section of Arlington, VA. During the Awards Dinner, the Commandant of the Marine Corps will present the Marine Corps League's top awards -- the Military Order of the Iron Mike and the Dickey Chapelle Award -- to two distinguished Americans for outstanding service to the nation, and to the Marine Corps in particular. The Iron Mike is named for a statue at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC, which is famous among Marines as a symbol of service, sacrifice and valor. The Dickey Chapelle Award is named for a woman war correspondent who covered the Marines in several wars and was killed on a combat patrol with Marines in Vietnam. The 2010 recipient of the Military Order of the Iron Mike Award will be retired Marine Lieutenant General G. R. "Ron" Christmas, a hero of the Battle of Hue, during the Vietnam War, and now President and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The Dickey Chapelle Award recipient will be Mrs. Debra Dunham, mother of U.S. Marine Corporal Jason L. Dunham, who was posthumously awarded this nation's highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor, for heroic actions in Iraq.

One of the exposition's most popular events is the Enlisted Awards Parade. This year, the parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 29th. The colorful ceremony features the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon from Marine Barracks, Washington, DC. Awards will be presented, for superior service, to enlisted Marines and Sailors from Marine Corps units around the world. The awards are sponsored by the Capital Marines Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Because of the large number of visitors who attend the parade, car-pooling is encouraged to reduce traffic congestion at the center of the base.

Once again this year, the Modern Day Marine Military Exposition will have a "Family Day," during which family members of Department of Defense military and civilian personnel can tour the exhibits. Family Day is Thursday, September 30th.

The 2010 expo will draw not only U.S. Marine Corps military and civilian personnel but also members of the other U.S. services, foreign military attaches, and corporate representatives from throughout the United States and several allied nations. News media representatives desiring to cover any portion of the exposition must have their press credentials upon arrival at the exposition site for registration. Due to heightened security, all attendees are required to have picture identification available when entering the base at Quantico. Uniformed Marines may enter exhibit halls without a special registration badge. All other attendees and industry representatives must register on site and obtain a registration badge during registration hours.

Exhibit areas will open at 10:00 a.m. each day. The areas will close at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Additional information on the exposition is available at http://www.marinemilitaryexpos.com.

Photos:

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The landing of a fixed-wing aircraft in downtown Tucson, in August 1981, opened the First Edition of the Modern Day Marine Military Expositions. During 28-30 September 2010, the 30th Anniversary Edition will continue the proud tradition of innovation as over 420 exhibitors fill the expo site at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA.

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Much of their advanced expeditionary warfare equipment, now used in combat and training operations around the world, was first seen in exhibit hall demonstrations, static displays and video presentations at Modern Day Marine Military Expositions over the past 30 years.

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Modern Day Marine Military Exposition