CAMP KINSER, Japan — Marines with Regional Maintenance Operations Company North and Intermediate Repair Company, 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, completed an eight-day field user evaluation for the Advanced Intermediate Mobile Machine Shop on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 5, 2026.
The AIMMS is a group of manufacturing systems housed in two steel shipping containers designed to serve as an intermediate-level deployable machine shop capable of milling, printing metal, lathe work, welding, and plasma table cutting replacement parts. The AIMMS is intended to be a replacement for the currently fielded Shop Equipment Machine Shop, and as part of the overall U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command evaluation of this new system, 3rd Maint. Bn. is the Marine Corps’ AIMMS field testing unit.
“In future operations, I see the advanced manufacturing capabilities being used just shy of the battlefield, in a position where parts can be provided to Marines, getting them back in the fight,” said Michael Santivasci, an instructional systems specialist with MARCORSYSCOM.
Most of the AIMMS process starts on a computer. Following the multi-day classroom training package, the RMOC-N Marines design intended replacement parts using software before creating it with the fabrication machines inside the containers. By producing the exact piece needed for any replacement requirement, the system reduces waste, saves money, and cuts down the time it would normally take to order and receive replacement parts.
“The fact that this machine can produce vital pieces within minutes needed for gear is fascinating,” said Perez Sanchez a machinist with Regional Maintenance Operations Company North. “And that we can take these machines on deployment to create replacement parts in the field would be a huge benefit and time-saver.” One of the AIMMS systems is the Haas TL-1 control system, allowing them to create precision parts directly from digital designs, further speeding up the repair process.
Another piece of equipment the Marines trained on is a FastCut Computer Numerical Control plasma cutting table, which uses a plasma arc to cut through metal and create parts often used to repair military vehicles and other equipment. With these two specific machines working in concert, replacement parts are designed, cut, and lathed in a fraction of the time such a process would normally take.
“I can take a roll of material and essentially create what we need on demand,” said Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Angle, platoon commander for the Advanced Manufacturing Platoon, IRC, 3rd Maint. Bn. “It gives us more flexibility and helps close supply chain gaps in a forward-deployed environment.”
As 3rd Maint. Bn. was selected as the unit to learn and “stress-test” the AIMMS system, they will have the opportunity to deploy with it for further field testing ahead of an upcoming operation in Korea. The unit will use the systems in an operational setting and provide feedback on how the equipment performs in the field.
By using advanced manufacturing in a portable setup, Marines are finding faster and more efficient ways to immediately provide repair and replacement capabilities to assets in a deployed environment, keeping equipment up and running and further ensuring they are ready for the next mission.
“The AIMMS capability can provide III Marine Expeditionary Force additional means to mitigate operational culmination during a protracted fight,” said Col. Arnold Selvidge, director of operations, 3rd MLG.
3rd Marine Logistics Group provides responsive combat logistics support to III MEF and other Marine forces, and to joint, combined, and federal agencies as directed, through expeditionary means, forward basing, and global sourcing in order to sustain supported units during exercises and contingencies.