31st MEU trains for airfield seizure..

Rangers----82nd Airborne---watch out------we're training to do your mission....all photos by 2nd Lt. Dave Baugh

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, unload from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), also with the MEU, during a mock airfield seizure here, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st MEU for its upcoming deployment.

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to breach and secure a room during a mock airfield seizure here Sept. 9. This helicopter raid exercise, which integrates both the air combat element and the battalion landing team of the 31st MEU, is part of a series of training events to prepare the Marines for its upcoming deployment.

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are extracted by a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, part of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265(Reinforced) during a mock airfield seizure here, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit for upcoming deployment.

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, assault the airfield here during a mock seizure, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st MEU for its upcoming deployment.

Pic of the day. One wrong step and you're a medivac...

U.S. Army Soldiers begin their descent from the summit of "Big Nasty," a mountain in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 8, 2011. The soldiers are assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade. The unit was on a joint mission with the Afghan army and border patrol in the mountains near the Pakistan border. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ken Scar

 

 

Wow.

Terrible terrain. 

A challenging patrol problem.

Mountains suck but at least its not winter...

It feels....off....

Is it me or does something seem off about the remembrance events that are being held around the nation with regards to the 9/11 attack?

Its not political.

Its not regional.

Its not a statement about the times that we live in (at least I don't think that it is)...but something about it seems --- not real ---- almost artificial.

I won't forget the events of that day.  I will always remember where I was when I got word of the attack.

But I also can't shake the feeling that this is more of an orchestrated rather than heartfelt occasion.

I could easily be wrong though and if I am wrong then good.  But if I'm right...

*UPDATE*

Now I know why this feels off to me.  Its because the story as we're being told it, is incomplete.  There is alot more to be said about the events of that day...there are still people AND nations that should be held accountable and we haven't done it.

What do I mean?

Check out this article from BlackFive.

The public knows who the skyjackers were but knows little about their support teams in country nor the nations which sponsored them. All of that needs to be exposed and the people involved hunted down and killed. And that trail will lead back to Saudi Arabia, the author of this religious war of terror.

Am I saying that we should declare war on Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran?  No.  Am I saying that we can't have a proper remembrance event until we're honest with ourselves about who was behind these attacks?  Yes!  We need to have an adult conversation about this and we're not even close yet.

Combat Camera getting high speed...

Combat cameraman Cpl. Tripp Ainsworth descends 35 feet down a thick plaited roped rigged to a helicopter parked on the amphibious assault ship Makin Island at sea miles off Southern California’s coast Sept 8. The 23-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., native – who serves with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element – practiced insertion techniques with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the unit’s ground combat element. The unit is conducting a second sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine-air ground task force in May. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tommy Huynh)

Combat cameraman Cpl. Tripp Ainsworth descends 35 feet down a thick plaited rope rigged to a helicopter parked on the amphibious assault ship Makin Island at sea miles off Southern California’s coast Sept 8. The 23-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., native – who serves with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element – practiced insertion techniques with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the unit’s ground combat element. The unit is conducting a second sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine-air ground task force in May. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tommy Huynh)

MAGPUL Angled Foregrip on USMC Close Combat Tactics Course!

Click on the pic to expand it and I do believe you'll see the edges of the MAGPUL AFG on this weapon.

MAGPUL is taking over!  I can't believe it.  The most doctrine based, gear standardized organization in the US military is seeing a type of "wildcat" whatever makes you shoot better idea view creep into the very essence of the Corps.

Combat Marksmanship will never be the same.

Hey Gunners, you want to get a handle on this?  Instead of fixing what isn't broken (the SAW ... which you're gonna replace with the modern day BAR---the IAR) how about you get this under control?

Get a decent stock on the M4 and M16A4 family....while you're at it how about you decide whether we're going to go with a carbine (like the Army) or whether we're going to get a redone M16A4 with a shorter barrel, adjustable stock etc???

Until you Gunners do your darn jobs, Marines in the field will do it for you.  In the meantime, congratulations MAGPUL, seems to me like you've got fans in the Corps..from your Magazines, to your AFG, you guys are taking over!

Close Quarters Tactics Course

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines dash 25-yards before firing in the stand and kneeling in 11 seconds during the Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose Range. The course is part of a pipeline of courses, conducted by SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for the missions they may conduct while deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/31/2011 7:26 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-A Marine practices a speed reload during the Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose Range. The course is part of a pipeline of courses, conducted by SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for the missions they may conduct while deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/31/2011 6:16 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines fire their weapons during a timed drill as part of the Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose Range. The course is part of a pipeline of courses, conducted by SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for the missions they may conduct while deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/31/2011 4:51 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Lee Boujie, a special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman with the 24th MEU’s Force Reconnaissance Platoon, scans the area after shooting a drill during the Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose Range. The course is part of a pipeline of courses, conducted by SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for the missions they may conduct while deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/31/2011 4:54 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Private First Class Bobby Dale, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, waits to receive the command for the next set of drills during the Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose Range. The course is part of a pipeline of courses, conducted by SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for the missions they may conduct while deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/31/2011 5:11 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Private First Class Bobby Dale, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, fires during a timed drill, as part of the Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose Range. The course is part of a pipeline of courses, run by SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for the missions they may conduct while deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/31/2011 5:12 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines fire their weapons during a timed drill as part of the Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose Range. The course is part of a pipeline of courses, conducted by SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for the missions they may conduct while deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 8/31/2011 5:49 AM

Who's in the cross hairs of the accountants?

I've been wondering what units are in the cross hairs of the accountants because of an article I read over at Information Dissemination that recommends cutting the Army.

So who are the units that are probably on the chopping blocks---or rather who is probably going to get looked at real hard when it comes time to save money?  Below is my list....

1.  Stryker Brigades.
This one is easy.  The US Army is seeking to recapitalize these units with an up armored variant.  Limit the number of units and you need less vehicles.  Besides, with the move to procure the GCV its obvious that the US Army isn't quite sold on these vehicles.

2.  Carriers.
Another easy one.  The US Navy and Marines don't have enough aircraft to fully man the ships we do have.  At full capacity (about 90 airplanes), we're probably at a point of where we actually have 6 or 7 carriers anyway.  The Navy signaled the truth of this when they're voluntarily going down to 10 carriers.

3.  US Air Force Tac Air.
An all stealth fighter force is pushing this.  Precision weapons are another cause.  And the new Air-Sea Battle concept is the final nail in the coffin for Tac Air supremacy in the Air Force.  With everyone looking toward the pacific, you can't bet that the Bomber mafia is going to make a come back.  That means fewer tac air squadrons.

4.  USMC end strength.
The Marines are going to have to take their own ounce of pain so these hopeful figures of an end strength of 180,000 odd Marines is simply wishful thinking.  Ideas of establishing an air wing to support Marine Special Ops won't help stop the bleeding either.  That force (if its established) will come out of muscle.  Expect the end result to be around 150,000.

5.  US Army end strength.
I don't know the Army's current numbers but you can bet that even if ID hadn't brought it up, the results will be the same.  After these wars, the accountants will ravage Army end strength...if for no other reason as to prevent the possibility of having another war of choice(?).

Winners will be the following....

1.  Special Ops...for a while.
Special Ops will be the big winner in this equation...at least for a while.  Then the bean counters will begin to notice that it costs more to support a company of special operators than it does to support a regiment of conventional troops.  Special Ops has a chance to prevent a bad situation by getting costs under control but the Special Ops Mafia (in and out of uniform) will fight it which will see these forces shrink along with the rest of the military.

2.  Sub force.
The boats will be older but the missions more numerous.  Most of their activities are secret and with a rising Chinese Navy you can bet that they'll have more than enough work to keep them busy for decades.  Its back to the future for the sub force...the Soviets are gone but the Chinese will make a worthy replacement.

3.  Helicopter force.
These forces have been used hard in the current wars and the need to at least maintain the capability that we currently have will ensure rotary winged aviation across all the services remains well funded.  Add to it the swing role it plays even in peace time and this is a growth industry.

I could easily be wrong but these are my guesses.

No employment worries for Special Ops or CIA direct action teams...

Special Ops and CIA direct action teams are facing full employment thanks to the fruits of a poorly run, sloppily organized and totally mismanaged adventure in Libya.  This depressing story is from Defense Talk...

Al-Qaeda's north African branch has acquired a stockpile of weapons in Libya, including surface-to-air missiles that are threatening air travel, the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator said Monday.
Due to the turmoil in Libya, members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have "gained access to weapons, either small arms or machine-guns, or certain surface-to-air missiles which are extremely dangerous because they pose a risk to flights over the territory," said Gilles de Kerchove.

Amazing.

Seems like there will be no end to emerging terrorist threats.  Is it time to push this back into the law enforcement pile instead of the military one?  No opinion just putting it out there.

Helicopter raid training into 29 Palms with a day on range 400...

Hmmm.  A trip on a helicopter leaking hydraulic fluid on you the entire way...a trip thats going to take at least a couple of hours...and when you touch down you're in 110 degree heat?  Not fun training...11th MEU did it and the pics are below...Question though.  Where are all the IAR's that the Gunners and the Commandant been raving about.  Talk about a limited release and virtually no word on how they're performing from the fleet.  Interesting.

Could this be the illusive IAR?  Shorter than a standard M4 and it doesn't have the same type barrel, but it does sport a 'regular' M16A4 type stock (or appears to)  *Gabriel* says this isn't an IAR.  OK, but its the the same length as an M4 but doesn't have the "barrel cut" that you normally see on them.  I don't know what it is but its not standard.

Either this is a "sighting" of an IAR in the field or  they're allowing non-standard stocks to be used in the 11th MEU.  Don't know the CO or the SgtMaj of this outfit but I don't get the impression that they're big on that kind of thing...*Gabriel* also shot me down on this being an IAR but like I said, thats a nonstandard butt stock and this unit is supposedly equipped with IARs...my theory was that they would use the SAW for area targets and the IAR on point ones...in practice (according to my theory) you'd have either the Assault Gunner operating one of those weapons and his assistant operating the other...guess I was wrong again but I would so love to hear from this units to see how they're sorting this shit out.

South Korean LHD in action...