24th MEU practices airfield seizure.

31st MEU Helo Company in action (practice assault)

2nd F-35 (BF8) arrives at Eglin...

The second production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft to be delivered, BF-8, arrives at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. on Jan. 11, 2012. BF-8 was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 at Eglin. BF-8 followed the first production model STOVL, BF-6, which was delivered earlier the same day.

The second production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft to be delivered, BF-8, arrives at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. on Jan. 11, 2012. BF-8 was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 at Eglin. BF-8 followed the first production model STOVL, BF-6, which was delivered earlier the same day.

The second production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft to be delivered, BF-8, departs Fort Worth on Jan. 11, 2012, destined for Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. BF-8 was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 at Eglin. BF-8 followed the first production model STOVL, BF-6, which was delivered earlier the same day.

The second production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft to be delivered, BF-8, arrives at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. on Jan. 11, 2012. BF-8 was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 at Eglin. BF-8 followed the first production model STOVL, BF-6, which was delivered earlier the same day.

 

You're not getting it!

Terminal Lance says it best...

My initial reaction to the video was something along the lines of, “What? How stupid do you have to be to film something like this and put it up online?” Many people are reeling in disgust, the very idea that someone could do such a thing to another human being is outrageous to most Americans. But then again, most Americans have never stepped foot in a combat zone, let alone killed anyone.
My question for the average person then is what is the line? The powers of the United States government have given Marines not only a license, but a mission to kill the enemy overseas in brutal combat. You can’t simultaneously praise the legal killing of other human beings and then be angered when you see the reality of it. When it’s all said and done, what difference does it actually make? The Marine Corps isn’t upset that these Marines relieved themselves on a dead enemy, they’re upset they got caught.
I guess I look at it the same way I look at why I don’t give a shit about eating free-range chickens and grass-fed cows. These animals are being raised to be slaughtered and eaten, regardless of how good or bad their lives are. In the end, does it really make you feel better if the animal had a good life and then found its way onto your plate?
If there is a line, it is a line of ethereal and subjective principle, not fact.
I’m not saying it’s in any way right, or that I would have done it myself; but to condemn these Marines for this is somewhat of a moot point considering the reality of it.

So long story short.

Back the fuck off.  These Marines went places that few would dare go.  Did a mission that few would be brave enough to do and we have these arm chair quarterbacks deciding that they're the worst thing that God put on the planet.

How quickly we forget real evil.

The twin towers...people jumping off the building so they wouldn't burn....having to decide between death by flames or by the horrific stop at the end of a jump off a 100+ story building.

The Blackwater attrocity.  Our guys dragged through the streets and then hung up on a bridge.

The throat slicing of Mr. Pearl.  I only saw the video and will never forget his screams.

The suicide bombers that disguise themselves and walk into the middle of our compounds and blow themselves up.

The Afghan 'allies' that suddenly turn their weapons on their US trainers.

So oh brave, honorable and forth right critic.

Tell me how morally superior you are again.

EFV Program. A textbook example of how NOT to do it.

Hey!

If you think the F-35 program is jacked up because its taking too long then compare it to the EFV debacle.

A look at the program track shows a development cycle of 23 years!

Let that sink in.

23 years. 

That's just counting from 1988 to 2011 (when the vehicle was cancelled).  Also note that by the time table that wouldn't even get us to LRIP!

In the meantime while the US Marines are unable to field a replacement for the AAV, the US Army has been able to go through 3 generations of vehicles...the M-113, Bradley and Stryker...and now they're trying to field the Ground Combat Vehicle and to be honest I wouldn't bet against them succeeding.

While HQMC is focusing on Marines urinating on dead Taliban, perhaps they should turn their attention to the canary in the coal mine.  A broken procurement system and maybe a systemic over reach along with misguided priorities.

Hey Commandant.  Going sleeves down isn't going to fix the real problems facing our Corps.  Time to man up cowboy!

Cyber Command in the Marine Corps?  Why!  That's a mission set that the Navy can easily cover for the sea services!  Expanded Civil Affairs?  Why!  We can attach appropriate Army units!  Expanded Special Ops?  Unless you're talking about making the MEU(SOC) more robust then why?  To duplicate SEAL and Ranger mission sets?  Really?  Say all of the above out loud and ask yourself if our Corps is being properly served by some of the guidance that's coming down the pike.


I'm personally unimpressed but your mileage may vary.

AAV Crewmen refresh Infantry skills.

Photos by Pfc. Ian McMahon Members of Amphibious Assault Vehicle Company move through the jungle surrounding their objective near Camp Hansen’s Combat Town Jan. 9. The jungle is an important part of the Marines’ training. Normally, the company trains at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where there is no opportunity for jungle training. AAV Company is currently attached to Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Amphibious Assault Vehicle Company Marines stack up and begin to move on a building inside Combat Town located in the Central Training Area. Lessons learned the day prior allowed the Marines to move in an alert, rapid fashion between the buildings.

Norway backs the F-35, warns about a weak NATO.

Defense News has a story on the future of NATO by Norways Defense Minister but a tidbit of F-35 news was thrown in too....

"We're purchasing the F-35," Barth Eide said. "Hopefully, we'll get it."
Norway made a "complex set of simulations" which showed that while conventional non-stealthy aircraft like the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, and next generation Saab Gripen are perfectly adequate for wars like Afghanistan where there is a permissive threat environment, only the F-35 was suitable to fight a high-end adversary. Barth Eide, without mentioning a country by name, said that such a high-end threat existed in Norway's vicinity.
"There was only one aircraft that would do," he said.
Norway has made a "decision in principle" to buy four initial aircraft, and plans a fleet of 48.

and then this part about a weak NATO...

"I think we're getting worse at it because of the many cuts happening in a lot of European countries," the minister said. "If we're not smart, [defense cuts] may lead to a further weakening of the core ability to defend ourselves."
If NATO's core ability to defend itself is weakened, the alliance's ability to conduct out-of-area operations like Afghanistan will also wither away, Barth Eide said.
NATO has to strongly reassert Article 5 of the treaty and the decline of conventional capabilities has to stop, he said. The focus needs to shift away from large armies conducting stability operations to the air and sea, he added.

Wow.

Seems like Norway is signing on to an American two-fer...

First it's signing onto the F-35...and second, its appears that he's saying Air-Sea battle is the wave of the future.  Told you Counter Insurgency as conducted in Afghanistan is as dead as disco in the West.