Blast from the past. 22nd MEU (Special Operations Capable) in Afghanistan circa 2004...

Afghanistan (June 2, 2004) � U.S. Marines assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) wait for the word to move toward a mountain from which Taliban snipers are engaging the lead elements of their convoy. The Marines were near the village of Siah Chub Kalay, while participating in Operation Asbury Park. The intense fighting between the Marines and Taliban lasted for eight days and more than 80 Taliban fighters were killed while eight Marines were wounded in the most intense clashes during their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). U.S. Navy photo by USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks (RELEASED)

Afghanistan (June 2, 2004) � U.S. Marines assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) wait for the word to move toward a mountain from which Taliban snipers are engaging the lead elements of their convoy. The Marines were near the village of Siah Chub Kalay, while participating in Operation Asbury Park. The intense fighting between the Marines and Taliban lasted for eight days and more than 80 Taliban fighters were killed while eight Marines were wounded in the most intense clashes during their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). U.S. Navy photo by USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks (RELEASED)

Afghanistan (June 2, 2004) � U.S. Marines assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) wait for the word to move toward a mountain from which Taliban snipers are engaging the lead elements of their convoy. The Marines were near the village of Siah Chub Kalay, while participating in Operation Asbury Park. The intense fighting between the Marines and Taliban lasted for eight days and more than 80 Taliban fighters were killed while eight Marines were wounded in the most intense clashes during their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). U.S. Navy photo by USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks (RELEASED)

) move toward a mountain from which Taliban snipers are engaging the lead elements of their convoy. The Marines were near the village of Siah Chub Kalay, while participating in Operation Asbury Park. The intense fighting between the Marines and Taliban lasted for eight days and more than 80 Taliban fighters were killed while eight Marines were wounded in the most intense clashes during their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). U.S. Navy photo by USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks (RELEASED)

Notice how lightly equipped the Marines are.  Notice the lack of optics on rifles and how Marines are equipped while pursuing the enemy.  That is the hallmark of warriors on the offense.  Today, we're so encumbered with bodyarmor, snivel gear and other doodads that we've lost mobility.

Marine Corps WarFighting Lab needs to fix that!

Avatar...the laaaate review.

An entertaining little film once you got past all the mythical "mother" planet nonsense.  Paganism....a certain kind of Paganism is still around...at least on the movie screen.

Utah State Aggies win challenge issued by USAF Special Ops.

Interesting.

Not DARPA hard but interesting non-the-less...Full story here.

What is Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012 ?

Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012 is comprised of multiple bilateral exercises, which are conducted alongside the Naval and Marine/Army forces of partner Southeast Asian nations.  The exercises constitute significant theater security cooperation events for the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet, Marine Forces Pacific, and the U.S. Pacific Command. 
   The primary exercising force is a Naval Task Force, which has been designated by Command Seventh Fleet. Included are embarked Marine Corps forces, which compose the landing force.  The landing force conducts tailored exercises with counterpart armed force elements, alongside adjacent Naval exercises conducted concurrently.  The scope, size, and details of each exercise varies depending on individual tailoring in the host nation's request for subject matter exchange.

    For the 2012 exercise, the landing force is composed of an Infantry Rifle Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, and Headquarters. 4th Marine Regiment is the operational command element. The landing force is embarked throughout the exercise.

Aweome.


By the very nature of these exercises, the Marine Corps will be coming into contact with Army Special Forces teams more and more.


And I find that interesting.


Outside of Army SF, the rest of SOCOM is basically dedicated to direct action missions and direct action missions only.  The Rangers can easily revert back to a swing role of being the nations Rapid Response Force (they'll get competition from Marine Expeditionary Units and the 82nd's Division Ready Brigades) and generally example to the Big Army but MARSOC, AFSOC, and NAVSPECWAR are all going to be looking for work.  The Pacific as big as it is might become a crowded place real soon.

Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Tyson 

Pic of the day. Amphibs..

Thanks to Scott for forwarding this pic.  Love it.

GCV participants.

Thanks to my buddy Dwi for sending me this link!

via Yadlishyron.com

So called artists are just sick bastards with title.

This is just sick.  You can dress it up and call it art but its just sick. Nicholas Fiorenza of Aviation Week pointed to the article.

Read about the craziness here.

BAE/Iveco SuperAV datasheet.

I made contact with BAE and the good folks provided me with this datasheet...Questions still remain though, and I hope to have answer soon.

Marine Personnel Carrier 0911

General Tolley sacked.

Thanks Tom for sending me this story.  

via the New York Times.

SEOUL, South Korea — The Pentagon has replaced the commander of United States Special Forces in South Korea after a media report quoted him as saying that American and South Korean troops have been parachuting into North Korea on spy missions, a statement denied by Washington and the government in Seoul.

He's lucky if all that happens is that he's sacked, and the cover story that its all part of the normal rotation of jobs is nonsense.  Let me put it another way.  I bet he didn't have PCS orders before the conference in which he made the gaff...and they were suddenly on his desk afterwards.

Good riddance.   

May the General's travels be filled with stormy seas and gail force winds.