Sunday, August 21, 2011

Recon Marines sharpen at-sea skills

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, enters a building and begins to secure it, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:03 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan-A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to breach and clear a building, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:05 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, engages multiple targets during an eight-week live-fire training course, August 18. Before the 31st MEU deploys to the Asia-Pacific region, the FRP conducts the training course to ensure they are prepared to respond to any situation that may arise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:02 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A team of Marines with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stack outside a door in preparation to breach and clear a building, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:0

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Bell D188A ingenuity and inspiration from the past.






RetroMechanix is continuing its series on the D188a.

I marvel at the imagination and ingenuity of those that came before.  Not only did they dream, but they designed machines that were truly ahead of their time.

Awesome.  More at RetroMechanix.

Humor. Explanation of the world economic situation in 3 minutes.

via ModernSurvivalOnline.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

NAVAIR AIRWAVES: 18 August 2011

31st MEU's Snipers and PSD's doin' it!

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, ejects a shell casing from an M40 sniper rifle during an unknown distance shooting competition, August 17. The Marines were competing against each other for a prize and bragging rights. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/16/2011 8:01 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, engages targets during an unknown distance shooting competition, August 17. The Marines were competing against each other for a prize and bragging rights. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/16/2011 8:00 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during an unknown distance shooting competition, August 17. The Marines were competing against each other for a prize and bragging rights. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/16/2011 8:01 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, engages targets during an unknown distance shooting competition, August 17. The Marines were competing against each other for a prize and bragging rights. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/16/2011 8:00 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, run to their firing positions during an unknown distance shooting competition, August 17. The Marines were competing against each other for a prize and bragging rights. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/16/2011 8:00 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, run to their firing positions during an unknown distance shooting competition, August 17. The Marines were competing against each other for a prize and bragging rights. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/16/2011 8:00 PM

Marine Air getting it done...

Marine Air.

As much as I slam the "fly guys" of the Corps, one thing is certain.  They're Marines...and they're getting the job done.

One of the untold stories of the conflicts that we're involved in that will only come out in Marine history journals is the work done with regards to the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) Missions that these Marines have performed.

I would be curious to know how many millions of dollars have been saved because these Marines were able to recover downed aircraft instead of destroying them in place.

Helo-borne assault.

Close air support.

Tactical resupply.

Medivac.

TRAP missions.

Special Ops work.

The list goes on.  I hammer the wing like a big brother hammers a little brother.  Its done with love, its probably unfair and its fun for the big brother and annoys the hell outta the little one.

Well  consider this post the "apology" to the wing.

You guys are doing good work. 

Stay safe and Semper Fi.