Marine Adapts, Overcomes by 3D Printing Comms Part

March 19, 2026 – Innovation and problem-solving are helping improve readiness for U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, where a young Marine has developed a cost-saving fix for a widespread equipment issue.

Lance Cpl. Eirick Schule, assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force Innovation Campus, created a replacement mast for the Mobile User Objective System antenna after identifying a recurring problem. The original masts, made of fiberglass, had become brittle and unusable due to wear and environmental exposure, leaving dozens of systems out of service.

The communication failures impacted operational readiness across multiple units, as replacement parts were both expensive—costing more than $5,600 each—and slow to arrive, sometimes taking over 200 days.

Drawing on his background as a machine operator prior to joining the United States Marine Corps, Schule used 3D printing technology to design a more durable alternative. After early challenges with durability, he refined the process by adjusting how the part was printed, ultimately creating a stronger and more reliable mast.

The replacement parts underwent testing at the Innovation Campus before being fielded by Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. During a month-long field exercise, the components proved effective, holding up under real-world conditions.

Leaders say the innovation could save the Marine Corps thousands of dollars and significantly reduce downtime for critical communication systems. Officials also estimate that similar equipment issues across the force could total more than $1 million in damaged parts.

The success of the project highlights how individual Marines are contributing to modernization efforts, using new technology and hands-on problem solving to address longstanding logistical challenges.