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Marine Expo showcases the newest Military tech

From armored vehicles to medical mannequins, the Marine Expo displays cutting-edge technology to better equip our service members.

SAN DIEGO — Behind every man and woman who serves in the United States Marine Core, there is top-notch training and state of the art equipment to better protect our service members.

At the Marine West Expo on Camp Pendleton, "America's Finest" got a glimpse of the newest training and technology helping our troops on the front lines. 

"Make sure you find every asset that will not only save your life, but future lives," said Yovany Tietze-Torres to a handful of Marines huddled around computer screens.

At first glance the service members look to be playing the popular video game "Call of Duty", but it becomes clear that they are actually engaged in a training exercise. The "game" is VBS 4, a military training simulation, where the commander can run through missions virtually before engaging in the actual mission.

"We can conduct that convoy without spending a single cent," said Torres.

Outside the exhibit hall, a handful of robotic targets with faces and machine guns taped to them roll around in various directions in the parking lot. 

"Its no longer about shooting static targets at fixed ranges," said Alex Hetherington, a spokesperson for Marine West Expo. "It's not only a target to shoot, but the Marines have to make decisions." 

T.O.M.M., or Tactical Operational Medical Mannequin, is a training dummy with realistic injuries.

"He's designed to recreate common injuries seen in theater," said Adam Reading, a sales representative from North American Rescue. "Complete amputations, partial amputations, burns, penetrating wounds, [and] blast injuries. It talks, it breaths, [and] it bleeds."

The purpose of the mannequin is to give trainees a real sense of what gruesome injuries look like, coupled with the sound of a screaming patient.

 "This provides a very immersive environment where its screaming and calling for help," said Reading. "It forces the student to fall back on the skills that they've learned." 

The Expo is only open to members of the Military and their families.  

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