173rd Airborne Brigade's Commander is relieved.

There aren't many US Army units that I consider shit hot. 

Fewer still that I think can actually hump with or fight as well as Marines.  The 173rd Airborne is one of those units.  When I first heard this story a couple of days ago, I decided to wait...I wanted to see more info.  It wasn't to be.  The Army is mum and the only thing that exists is rumors. 

On a sad side note, have you noticed an increase in the number of Commanders being relieved?  I don't have exact numbers but it appears to be higher than normal.  This story is from Stars and Stripes.

173rd Airborne Commander Relieved

by Kevin Dougherty

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- The Army has relieved Col. James H. Johnson III of command of the 173rd Airborne Brigade for serious allegations “that were substantiated” following an extensive review, said the deputy commander of V Corps.

The Army announced its decision on Johnson late Friday. Col. Kyle Lear is serving as the acting commander until Johnson’s replacement arrives this summer. However, it didn’t go into any detail about Johnson’s transgressions, or whether he will be court-martialed.

Brig. Gen. Allen W. Batschelet, Johnson’s direct supervisor, said in a telephone interview that Johnson faced “a number of allegations that were (later) substantiated.” Commanders need to be held to the highest standards, he said.

“Once this is compromised, we have an obligation to take action,” Batschelet said. “These sorts of things can become a distraction.”

While the Army says it can’t elaborate on the allegations against Johnson, talk of the colonel’s troubles are the grist of rumors, particularly in the communities where the brigade is based.

“It’s a pretty grave decision we had to make,” Batschelet said of relieving Johnson. “We hold commanders to the highest standards.”

Based in Vicenza, Italy, the brigade includes six battalions. Two battalions are in Vicenza, and four are in Germany, with three of them in Bamberg. The fourth battalion is based in Schweinfurt.

Johnson assumed command of the brigade in October 2008. He led it on a yearlong tour of Afghanistan, with the brigade returning to Europe late last year. The Army suspended Johnson as commander Feb. 17. On Friday, the suspension was lifted.

“He’s officially relieved of command at this point,” said Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green, a spokeswoman for U.S. Army Europe.

Canadian F-35 Cost.

CBCNew has a report out on the cost of the F-35 to the Canadian Government...

But Mike Sullivan, director of acquisition management at the US General Accountability Office, said he doesn't know where that estimate comes from.
"That's not a number that I am familiar with at all," he said in an interview Tuesday with CBC's Power & Politics with Evan Solomon, cautioning he hasn't seen the methodology behind the numbers.
Sullivan said the estimated cost of the F-35A model that Canada is buying is "in the low 100 millions."
"Probably somewhere between $110-115 million," he said.

110 Million for a stealthy, high performance cutting edge airplane?  High.  Above projected costs.  But still a bargain.  And that's if Carter isn't able to drive the price point lower. 

The critics keep losing.

Pegasus Supports Operations in Southern Afghanistan

Is it just me or does the vid seem to repeat the take-off sequence mid stream?

F-35C heads to the Corps.

F-35 News...Acceptance flights...7 Test flights in one day...

The F-35 flight test program completed a record seven flights in one day on 29 March 2011. Four of the flights occurred at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, where F-35B BF-1 completed two flights and BF-2 and CF-1 completed one flight each. Three more occurred at Edwards AFB, California, where F-35A AF-1, AF-2, and AF-3 completed one flight each. AF-1’s mission, its 109th, was the longest of the seven flights at 3.1 hours.

USAF Maj. Matthew Hayden is at the controls for the third flight of AF-7 for the first government acceptance flight of an F-35A on 28 March 2011. The 1.1-hour flight originated from NAS Fort Worth JRB. After government acceptance, AF-7 will head to Edwards AFB, California, to support development testing.

RAF's death spiral continues.

via the Telegraph ....

The situation is so serious that the RAF has halted the teaching of trainee Typhoon pilots so instructors can be drafted on to the front line, according to air force sources. The handful of pilots used for air shows will also be withdrawn from displays this summer.

The shortage has arisen because cuts to the defence budget over the past decade have limited the number of pilots who have been trained to fly the new Typhoon.

There are also fewer newly qualified pilots coming through after the RAF was forced to cut a quarter of its trainee places due to cuts announced in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Read the whole thing but the death spiral of an Air Force is occurring right before our eyes.  It will be years...maybe decades before the erosion in air power can be reversed.  I think its safe to say that militarily the British are no longer a leading power in Europe.

Think about it.  The Germans arguably have the most powerful Army.  Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands have navies that are equal to or more powerful than the Royal Navy.  And when it comes to air power its even more dire.

USS Bataan

Once more into action...Emphasis mine...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployed from Norfolk and Little Creek, Va., in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, March 23.

The decision to deploy the Bataan ARG/22nd MEU ahead of its previously scheduled deployment date was made based on continuing urgent needs in Libya and the region.

"Amphibious ships are optimally suited for executing a wide range of missions, from humanitarian assistance to theater and maritime security operations," said Capt. Steven J. Yoder, Bataan ARG commander. "There is no doubt in my mind that our Sailors and Marines will excel at whatever task we are called upon to perform."

Sailors and Marines of the Bataan ARG/22nd MEU successfully completed months of unit level training to ensure they can operate effectively and safely. During the next few days, the Bataan ARG will transit to Camp LeJeune, N.C., to complete on-load of the 22nd MEU and will continue to conduct integrated blue/green training until they arrive in the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility.

The Bataan ARG/22nd MEU will provide the combatant commander a versatile sea-based force that can be tailored to a variety of missions, including quick reaction crisis response options and humanitarian assistance in maritime, littoral and inland environments, in support of the Navy's Maritime Strategy.

"This team is extremely well prepared to execute whatever mission our nation calls upon us to do," said Capt. Steve Koehler, USS Bataan (LHD 5) commanding officer. "Our Sailors and Marines have worked extremely hard over the last year to make sure we were on time throughout our training cycle, so when the time came, we'd be ready for any tasking. It's why we're here."

Following their assignment in the Mediterranean, the Bataan ARG/22nd MEU will continue with its scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations (MSO) and theater security cooperation (TSC) efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

The Bataan ARG includes Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6; Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22; Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28; and Naval Beach Group (NBG); which includes Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU-4 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2.

ARG ships include the Norfolk-based Bataan, USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), homeported aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story, Va.

The 22nd MEU is comprised of its Command Element; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced); and Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 22.

I bet you a bottle of your favorite alcohol that these men will be setting foot in Libya whether the Service Chiefs like it or not.  Three Middle East Wars at the same time.  Whose brilliant idea was this?

Lejeune Marines prepare to deploy off Libyan coast