WBT for USMC MOLLE Pack

The MOLLE pack was being distributed to Marines in the early 2000s, and was part of a pack system that had different configurations for rifleman, grenadier, SAW gunner, pistol bearer, and other equipment scenarios.

I worked as project manager and senior ID on this USMC technical program for Marines on new type of backpack with over 50 individual pieces. Seems simple, like it’s just a vest and backpack, but the different configurations were complex, and setting up the system correctly was key to comfort and accessibility. Many soldiers were just setting it up however they thought best, but then were having issues during deployment (back pain, overloads, etc.).

The program included simulated planning of loads per seven deployment scenarios (Rifleman, SAW Gunner, etc.). As an exercise at the end of each module, the soldier would be given a deployment scenario, then open a spreadsheet in Excel that would add up the weight of their selections, which they could adjust to meet specific parameters. 

I worked with more than 12 individuals across eight different departments and companies to gather, organize, and approve content for the course, and researched the MOLLE system in the field during foot movements, MOUT training, and live fire exercises.

This project was a real design challenge since, at the time, the Marines had severe technical restrictions on their software for security reasons, so bandwidth was extremely limited. Video was the most intuitive method to easily show complex procedures where the soldier is weaving straps in particular locations or making specific adjustments, but video was a no-go because of bandwidth limitations.

However, as on most projects, the thing that seems most challenging often leads to the most creative solutions. I decided to break out the steps with buttons that showed each step. Each step described the action and showed an image with callouts to identify key components, which I’d not seen before at the time. In 2000 it was becoming feasible to create WBT (and definitely CBT) that was heavier in video, Flash, 3D Max, etc. that could work with larger bandwidths. But with the restricted bandwidth we couldn’t use any of that. Today this click-for-step format is standard in many Storyline or Captivate formats and considered interactive.

I also worked with the graphic artist to create complete 3D photo images of the vest and pack setups that the users could select and rotate to view all angles. This was built in Flash but was packaged to be very light and thus acceptable with the limited bandwidth.

After development I worked with the IT department for the USMC through their standard process of deploying the program, then sending QA punch lists back for us to fix. We did two cycles of those and then the program was deployed.