USMC Military Police changing to Law Enforcement Battalions????

Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Military Police Company stand in formation for the last time Jan. 26 before de-activating during a ceremony at their headquarters building aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The company was activated on April 25, 2009 and comprised of a headquarters section and 4 platoons, located at Marine Corps Air Stations Beaufort, New River and Cherry Point. "This and all other MP Companies Marine Corps wide will be shutting down and consolidating in three large battalions that will be known as the 'Law Enforcement Battalion,'" said Capt. Jonathon C. Ajinga, the commanding officer of 2nd MAW MP Company. "Each of the Marine Expeditionary Forces will have a battalion of MP's. These Marines will be under the direct command of the MEF and will be assigned duties as seen fit."

OK.

Consider this tin foil hat time.

I don't even know if I care if you think I'm crazy but a name means something.

Why would the Marine Corps change the name of its Military Police units to Law Enforcement Battalions?

MP's have a battlefield role.  Convoy security.  Route security.  Airfield security.  POW handling.  And general grunt duties....or so they will tell you.

Talk to any MP and he'll tell you that they have "more firepower in a 3 vehicle section than a Rifle Company."

So if we're talking about an outfit that has a wartime function then why will they call themselves by a civilian moniker...Law Enforcement Battalion?

Because it'll be easier to use them for domestic missions.  The name is pure dee stupid.  And names mean something.

Another of Mike Sparks crazy ideas that I like...

Surfing the web and came across one of Mike Sparks old articles...

Hate the guy, luv the guy...whatever.  But he did his research on military history and found some fascinating concepts that were tried and discarded.

The idea of using subs and helicopters is one of them.  Of course he carried it a step too far but his foundation was solid.

The Japanese had submarine aircraft carriers and with our current state of technology the experiments carried out in the 50's might be workable today.  Imagine instead of carrying a SEAL Insertion Vehicle (or whatever they're calling their mini-subs these days) you instead carried a Night Stalker Little Bird? Or two? 

Sound crazy?  The Navy and Marine Corps didn't think so...at least during the 50's.  Perhaps they were bolder and more capable of thinking outside the box than we are today.

No news on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle?

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I've been reading the news on the defense budget today.

No mention of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle.  AAV upgrades.  Nothing.

Meanwhile we get clarity on the Army's Ground Combat Vehicle, the JLTV, the C-27, Carriers, Air Wings and end strength numbers (even cancellations provide clarity).

I find it amazing that the most important ground acquisition for the US Marine Corps has gotten no attention.

No mention.

We are lost in the woods when it comes to modernizing our ground component.

Say it out loud. 

The US Army has gone through the M-113 (with upgrades), the Bradley IFV (with upgrades), the Stryker IFV (with upgrades) and is embarking on getting the Ground Combat Vehicle.

The Marine Corps has been saddled with the AAV.

Now tell me something isn't broken in Marine land.

Are partnership missions the "meals on wheels" that Rush warned about????

The photos above are from Cobra Gold.

I'll spare you the captions.  They're not worth it in my opinion.  Understand I'm not getting on the Marines and Sailors that are sent on these missions...I am questioning our leadership.

Back during the 90's, Rush Limbaugh derided Clinton for sending the US Military on "meals on wheels" missions.  If you've taken a serious look at the current "exercises" you'll see that those fears of yesterday might be justified today.

Partnership missions appear to be glorified civics projects with little actual training taking place.

Marines playing patty cake with children.

Building schools/roads/villages.

Doing things that the Peace Corps should be doing...not the Marine Corps. 

If we are going to go back to being a force in readiness that arrives by the sea then we've got to get away from these types of programs.  If we are going to be smaller.  If we are going to have to do more with less...then we must focus on the missions at hand. 

I've never seen building villages as a critical skill for Marine Infantry.

Pic of the day. Mistral during LCAC certification.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Jan. 25, 2012) Landing Craft Air-Cushion (LCAC) 53 speeds from the French navy projection and command ship FS Mistral (L9013) to the shoreline during a well deck certification. Mistral will participate in Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years. The exercise will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 12. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael M. Scichilone/Released) 120125-N-CG436-056

JLTV? The Marine Corps is getting screwed!

The US Army is applying the big green d*ck to the Marine Corps.  How?  Well check out these two articles...the first from Marine Corps Times...

“If it comes in at the weight where it is right now, the Marine Corps simply cannot get involved [and] will not buy a joint light tactical vehicle that’s 20,000 pounds,” Conway said. “It doesn’t fit our expeditionary kind of capacity. We can’t carry it on our helicopters or even sling it.
“So, depending on what the evolution of the development looks like, we may have to depart ourselves from that buy and again [rehabilitate] what we’ve got to take us into the next decade.”

And then this from AOL Defense...

Senior service leaders, including Army Secretary John McHugh and Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, have repeatedly stated JLTV is the future of the Army's tactical vehicle fleet. The Army already decided to ramp down the MECV program -- from 50,000 to 100,000 vehicles down to roughly 6,000 for air assault ops -- to make way for the JLTV's entrance into the fleet. In 2010, service officials attempted to cancel the MECV program, until Capitol Hill forced the Army to pull it off the budget chopping block.

The closest Army units that match the Marine Corps when it comes to being expeditionary in nature are the 82nd Airborne and 101st Air Assault.

To think that the Army is going to forgo JLTV for those formations (Airborne/Air Assault) and attempt to push the JLTV on the Marine Corps is telling.

Bold Alligator prep