MEU's should be renamed Marine Amphibious Units.

During the run up to the Marine Corps participation in the Vietnam war a subtle but considered necessary name change was applied to Marine Units.

Instead of being called Expeditionary Units they were renamed Marine Amphibious Units, Marine Amphibious Brigades, and Marine Amphibious Forces.

We should make the name change again.

The reason today isn't to ensure that we don't insult the sensibilities of the local population as was done in Vietnam, no we should do it today to distinguish ourselves from the other services.

The Marine Corps is truly Expeditionary.  There is no doubt about that.  When the Marine Corps does Expeditionary, it does Expeditionary.  Sleeping on the ground, washing your clothes in a stream and eating MRE's for months on end is just a small part of the ethos behind being a Marine.

The problem is....everyone else is calling themselves Expeditionary too.  Whether they are or not is really up to the definition of each service (I would contend that they aren't but that's another discussion)...the point is...the Marine Corps must stand out.

Renaming our forces Amphibious Units, Amphibious Brigades and Amphibious Forces would keep the hallmark of the Marine Corps front and center everytime a unit is being discussed.

Its a simple name change but it would mean alot!

Joint Forcible Entry Operations: A Marine Corps Perspective.

Vehicle Transfer at Sea.

Sea Basing is becoming a reality.  The night time ops in Sea State 4 is particularly impressive.

More AH-1Z's.

via DefPro.

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $546,001,600 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the manufacture and delivery of lot seven UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters for the Marine Corps, to include 18 UH-1Y build new aircraft; nine AH-1Z remanufactured aircraft; and two AH-1Z build new aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent), and Amarillo, Texas (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0035).

Another program operating in the background that's getting the  job done.  The change from the AH-1W to AH-1Z is progressing nicely (to include the upgraded UH-1Y).  After a rough start its nice to see them hitting stride.

Estonia and US Marines perform amphibious ops training. (Baltops)

LOSKA, Estonia -U.S. Marines amphibious assault vehicles head for the beach during a combined U.S., Estonian amphibious landing at a beach here. The combined training demonstration was part Baltic Operations 2010, an exercise designed to increase the interoperability of NATO and partner nations in the Baltic Sea region. , Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/14/2010 11:19 AM

 LOSKA, Estonia -U.S. Marines amphibious assault vehicles embarked aboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) advance on the shore line during a combined U.S./Estonian amphibious landing. The combined operations was part of a demonstration of the interoperability between the two forces as part of exercise Baltic Operations 2010, an exercise designed to increase the interoperability of NATO and partner nations in the Baltic Sea region. , Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/15/2010 11:36 AM

LOSKA, Estonia -U.S. Marines amphibious assault vehicles embarked aboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) come ashore during a combined U.S./Estonian amphibious landing. The combined operations was part of a demonstration of the interoperability between the two forces as part of exercise Baltic Operations 2010, an exercise designed to increase the interoperability of NATO and partner nations in the Baltic Sea region., Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/15/2010 11:36 AM

LOSKA, Estonia -Estonian soldiers emerge from a U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle during a combined U.S., Estonian amphibious landing at a beach here. The combined training demonstration was part Baltic Operations 2010, an exercise designed to increase the interoperability of NATO and partner nations in the Baltic Sea region., Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/15/2010 11:38 AM

LOSKA, Estonia -U.S. Marine infantrymen and amphibious assault vehicles from Special Purpose Marine Air/Ground Task Force African Partnership Station take up defensive positions during a demonstration of a combined U.S./Estonian amphibious landing. The combined training demonstration was part Baltic Operations 2010, an exercise designed to increase the interoperability of NATO and partner nations in the Baltic Sea region. , Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/15/2010 11:42 AM

LOSKA, Estonia -Estonian soldiers wade ashore during a combined U.S., Estonian amphibious landing at a beach here. The combined training demonstration was part Baltic Operations 2010, an exercise designed to increase the interoperability of NATO and partner nations in the Baltic Sea region. , Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/15/2010 12:16 PM

LOSKA, Estonia -Estonian soldiers and U.S. Marines wade ashore during a combined U.S., Estonian amphibious landing at a beach here. The combined training demonstration was part Baltic Operations 2010, an exercise designed to increase the interoperability of NATO and partner nations in the Baltic Sea region. , Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/15/2010 12:16 PM

Marine Aviation Supporting Marines on the Ground.

Call me tin foil hat, but Marine TV releases this video the day after our next Commandant...an Aviator...is announced to the public.  I smell a rat.  And the vid isn't even up to snuff.  Feel my pain when you watch it.

Support for the smaller European nations the Marine Corps way.

VENTSPILS, Latvia-Latvian President Valdis Zatlers (in red on top of vehicle) rides a Light Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle through the beach entry access point constructed to aid maritime preposition force offload exercises and increase access to local recreation areas here. President Zatlers visited the Marines and Sailors of 4th Landing Support Battalion and Naval Beach Group 2, who have been working together with Latvian forces to conduct maritime preposition force offload operations and other training events here since the start of the exercise June 6., Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/10/2010 3:46 PM

VENTSPILS, Latvia-Latvian President Valdis Zatlers (in red on top of vehicle) rides a Light Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle through the beach entry access point constructed to aid maritime preposition force offload exercises and increase access to local recreation areas here. President Zatlers visited the Marines and Sailors of 4th Landing Support Battalion and Naval Beach Group 2, who have been working together with Latvian forces to conduct maritime preposition force offload operations and other training events here since the start of the exercise June 6., Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, 6/10/2010 3:46 PM

via Marines.com

MPF offload demonstrates Navy-Marine Corps Team, Latvian interoperability  
6/15/2010   
By Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis  , Marine Forces Europe 
VENTSPILS, Latvia   — A simulated earthquake brings a humanitarian crisis to the Baltic Sea region and the Marines and Sailors from Charlie Company, 4th Landing Support Battalion and Naval Beach Group 2 arrive at the port to help. Working in close coordination with members of the Armed Forces of Latvia, local civilian and port authorities, and Latvian contractors, the Navy and Marine Corps Team delivered a robust maritime preposition force (MPF) offload during exercise Baltic Operations 2010.
“This is another example of when we as Marines and Sailors are working together with our NATO partners to further develop our interoperability,” said Mike Harvey, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe prepositioning officer. “When we come together and conduct the three objectives of MPF offload, it not only shows that we are able to work together to prove and improve MPF concepts, but it also gives us a chance to strengthen our ties and continue to build partnerships and professional relationships.”
To prove those concepts, the Marines, sailors and Latvians conducted equipment offload at sea and in port, staged the equipment in a logistics support area (LSA), and then transported the equipment throughout the country via three modes of transportation, according to Harvey.
Harvey said the purpose of the transportation was to allow the Latvians to demonstrate their ability to integrate into the U.S. MPF offload process and stress their infrastructure.
“The ability to take military equipment and vehicles from ship to shore, stage it and prepare it for onward movement and then conduct that movement with tactical convoy, commercial trucking and railways shows the importance of this exercise,” Harvey said.
While the focus of the exercise was on the MPF offload in support of a simulated humanitarian aid crisis, the training didn’t only benefit the Latvians.
“This kind of training is hard to come by, so it benefits our Marines greatly by giving them more experience with beach and pier-side operations and the specific platforms that they utilize,” said Staff Sgt. Jamison Johnson, beach operations/port operations group chief with Charlie Company.
According to Johnson, the ability for the Marines to work with the Latvians throughout the entire process provided vital experience in working in a coalition environment.
“If the port is full or inadequate, the ability to conduct beach operations allows the mission to continue unhindered,” said Lance Cpl. Adam Bath, landing support specialist with Charlie Company. “So, to come out here and get to do all the aspects of our job, that is really important. Especially since it is in a coalition environment and that is how we operate more and more these days.”
During a demonstration portion of the two-week exercise, the Marines, Sailors and Latvians had a chance to show the fruits of their collective labors to the highest ranking individuals in the Latvian military.
Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, Minister of Defense Imants Lieģis, and the Commander of National Armed Forces of Latvia Maj. Gen. Juris Maklakovs all toured the training areas here and had a first-hand look at what the two forces had accomplished during the exercise.
“I’m very impressed with the skills and the cooperation between the American and Latvian forces,” said President Zatlers. “It gives me a sense of security and that is the most important message I get from this event. I’m grateful to the United States, the other allies participating in the exercise and to my countrymen for making this exercise such a success.”  

Wow, what a beautiful concept that's finally gaining traction but much too late.  This is another concept that won't die but will be truncated.  How much?  I really don't know but the idea of having ships dedicated to the Sea Base and only the Sea Base would seem a stretch.  An LHA dedicated only for Sea Base?  Ain't gonna happen now.  High speed connectors?  Yeah, probably.  Other than that we'll just have to see.

Iveco SuperAV for the Marines?

via Defense News

Iveco Defence Vehicles and BAE Systems are teaming up to pursue the U.S. Marine Corps personnel carrier contract with a vehicle based on Iveco’s amphibious SUPERAV 8×8.
Iveco declared its intention to enter the SUPERAV in the MPC contest last year; BAE adds U.S. market savvy and U.S. production facilities.

This announcement is a kick in the balls.  I really like the look of the SEP and was hoping that BAE would enter that vehicle (the wheeled version) in this contest.

Its probably not to be anyway.  I can easily see the Marine Personnel Carrier Program getting sliced, delayed or out right canceled.

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 completed fire bucket training.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-A CH-53E "Super Stallion" helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 takes off with a bucket of water June 3. The "Heavy Haulers" completed fire bucket training to prepare to aid fighting wild fires throughout the summer., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 6/3/2010 9:31 AM.

 MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-A CH-53E "Super Stallion" helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 takes off with a bucket of water June 3. The "Heavy Haulers" completed fire bucket training to prepare to aid fighting wild fires throughout the summer., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 6/3/2010 9:22 AM

 

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-A CH-53E "Super Stallion" helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 releases 900 gallons of water on a simulated fire line June 3. The "Heavy Haulers" completed the training to ensure they know where to release water to help stop a wild fire., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 6/3/2010 9:43 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-A CH-53E "Super Stallion" helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 releases 900 gallons of water on a simulated fire line June 3. The "Heavy Haulers" completed the training to ensure they know where to release water to help stop a wild fire., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 6/3/2010 9:25 AM

We are so screwed.

If Marine Corps Times is right then the Marine Corps is so screwed.  An Aviator as Commandant?  You're fucking kidding me right? Read the sad details here. 

Gen. James Amos is expected to be named the 35th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, sources told Defense News on Monday. If nominated, Amos could become the first Marine jet aviator named to the top post, and he would alter recent custom by becoming the first assistant commandant in several decades to succeed his immediate boss.

Note.
If the Deputy Commandant has any integrity then he would step aside.  Self interest won't allow that to happen but its a punch in the face to everything that is the Marines.  But onto another topic.  First out of the box on this was a detractor of my beliefs on this issue.

Annonymous, left a comment wondering why this is a bad thing.  I simply ask those in the know (meaning Marines) to take a look at how the Air Wing operates.  Its a different beast.  I once asked a pilot why they weren't as hardcore about things as the ground side and the response was...Do I want a pissed off LCpl messing my plane up?!

The Air Wing reflects different values from the rest of the Marine Corps.  Marines yes...but operating on a slightly different wave length.

Javelin Thrust 2010.

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif.-A CH-53E Helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing kicks up sand and dust as it prepares to land and begin transporting Marines.
HMH 772 is based out of Willow Grove, Penn., Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac, 6/13/2010 7:03 AM

 

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif.-Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment wait to be transported to their training area for the duration of exercise Javelin Thrust 2010.

The CH-53E Helicopter is with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
Company B is based out of MAchester, N.H.
HMH 772 is based out of Willow Grove, Penn., Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac, 6/13/2010 6:01 AM

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif.-A infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment surveys his surrondings prior to boarding a CH-46 helicopter and traveling to his training area. Company B is based out of Manchester, N.H., Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac, 6/13/2010 6:42 AM

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif.-Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment load onto vehicles and prepare to travel to their training area for exercise Javelin Thrust 2010.
Company B is based out of Manchester, N.H.
The Company B Marines are among more than 4,500 Marines who will be participating in the exercise., Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac, 6/13/2010 7:07 AM

26th MEU conducts Realistic Urban Training at Fort A.P. Hill.

A Marine with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, puts rounds downrange during a company battle live-fire exercise as part of Realistic Urban Training aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., June 8, 2010. During the 18-day training evolution, the MEU will conduct several urban and other small unit training exercises as part of its pre-deployment training. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr./Released)

Sergeant Major Allen L. Tanner, sergeant major for 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks with Marines while attending a live-fire exercise during Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., June 8, 2010. During the 18-day training evolution, the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl Tammy K. Hineline/ Released).

Capt. Brian J. Donlon, Company I commander with Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, communicates on the company radio during a company battle live-fire exercise as part of Realistic Urban Training aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., June 8, 2010. During the 18-day training evolution, the MEU will conduct several urban and other small unit training exercises as part of its pre-deployment training. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr./Released)

Mortarmen with Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire a mortar at a target downrange as part of Realistic Urban Training aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., June 8, 2010. During the 18-day training evolution, the MEU will conduct several urban and other small unit training exercises as part of its pre-deployment training. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr./Released)

And you thought DADT would be a simple matter for the services?

For those that don't know...this is just another weekend for some Marines out on the town...this is an everyday happening...no big deal...until you consider that instead of happening out in town, its going to be happening on the base.  In base housing.  In barracks.  Aboard ships.  DADT repeal will be traumatic to the force.

via the Associated Press (from the Marine Corps Times)

Two Marines have been arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault.
Savannah police say a police officer was patrolling early Saturday morning when he saw two men running on Congress Lane. The Savannah Morning News reports that moments later, 26-year-old Kieran Daly was found lying motionless on a nearby street.
The Marines, 22-year-old Keil Joseph Cronauer and 23-year-old Charles Stanzel were arrested a short time later, police say. According to police, Cronauer and Stanzel said they were trying to get away from a gay man who was harassing them.

According to police, Daly said one of the suspects hit him because he thought he was winking at him.

Police records state Cronauer and Stanzel were later released to Marine police.

There are alot of pot smoking old timers and sissified men who have never served or even Chairmen who are approaching the end of their tenure and want to buttress their record against the fiasco in Afghanistan who are for the repeal of DADT.

If you do favor repeal, then you have to understand that the Marine Corps is the land of testosterone and bad attitudes.  People will get hurt.

Infantry Gear.

One of the issues that will face the ground forces when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan finally wind down is that money that has been going to make sure that our Infantry is the best and most lavishly equipped in the world will go away.

That is one (of only a few) good things to come out of these conflicts.  The advancement in gear tech has been ... stunning.

ADS Inc. is a 'clearing house'...a one stop shop if you will, of gear that units can make purchases from without going through the headache of tracking down each individual vendor.

Which leads to another unforeseen economic shock that will be hitting soon so enjoy the wide variety while you can.  Fewer personnel and smaller budgets will mean that many of the companies highlighted in the brochures below won't be around.

Army Catalog Vol3 Lores 0709

LCAC vs. the Ground Combat Vehicle.

Riedel Ship to Shore Connector

The good people at the Marine Corps Sea Basing Website are stressing the importance of the Sea Base being able to support not only Marine Corps Units but also US Army Combat Brigades and Allied Forces.

But Houston, we have a problem.

The Ground Combat Vehicle or for that matter the next generation Stryker/Bradley A3 will strain our current and interim Ship to Shore Connector...the LCAC.

The LCAC's are in the middle of a service life extension and are due to serve for another 10-20 years until the Navy gets around to replacing them.

The problem is this.  The LCAC is capable of carrying 74 tons at 35 knots over a distance of 25 nm or greater (pg 7 of the brochure).

That means that carrying the future Ground Combat Vehicle will be the equivalent of moving a Main Battle Tank for every sortie.  And with the future growth in weight of the Stryker and Bradley (once the Army gets around to recapitalizing it!) will place the Bradley close to the 35-40 ton range and the Stryker close to the 30 ton threshold.  Similar in weight to the EFV----but those systems can't swim!.

The US Army Heavy Brigade Combat Teams and to a certain extent the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (the middle weight force) are moving away from use in the Assault Echelon.  Before I hear howls of protest understand that the HBCT or the SBCT were not to be part of the first wave but were to be launched in a non-permissive environment.

With current vehicle growth they will be too heavy to move in any environment except one thats highly permissive---this also means that it will have to be an administrative movement---not combat.

Weight is going to be an issue and might keep the Army on the sidelines in the future.  Its obvious that the Army isn't taking into account strategic mobility or employment in their future vehicle force structure.  Infantry will once again rule ----whether Airborne, Air Assault, or Ranger---every other part of the Army force will be too heavy to get into the fight. 


*Note*
The US Army has virtually discarded what they called "Light" Infantry -read that to mean  Non-Airborne or Air Assault Infantry formations.

They're either Heavy or Stryker.  That means that the US Marine Corps will have to bear the burden of the fight if conflict erupts in Jungles....heavily urbanized areas or even in the arctic.  The 82nd or the 101st can deploy and fight as Light Infantry but they are tasked organized for short duration missions (especially the 82nd).  They aren't formed or equipped to last more than a couple of days in an active combat zone without support.

HQ Marine Corps on NOC 2010.

I absolutely love the way the guys at Headquarters Marine Corps can take an overly wordy document and break it down for wide distribution.  Consider it Cliff Notes....

Here's the short version of the Naval Operations Concept 2010.

In the Black (Noc 10)

1st Battalion, 7th Marines at Dawn Blitz.

ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD-Four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters circle the USS Bonhomme Richard June 3 before exercise Dawn Blitz. The exercise demonstrated the nation’s ability to go ashore and seize and hold enemy ground. , Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerl, 6/3/2010 4:48 AM

ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD-An amphibious assault vehicle with Company D, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, charges forward during Dawn Blitz June 4. Dawn Blitz incorporated nearly all elements of a Marine Expeditionary Brigade with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, leading the way. , Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerl, 6/4/2010 6:40 AM

ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD-Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, crowd the hallways of the USS Bonhomme Richard after staging practice, June 3 during exercise Dawn Blitz. The exercise was meant as a display of the nation’s amphibious assault capabilities and to help prepare the Marines for their deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit next month., Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerl, 6/2/2010 4:55 PM

Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerl-Sergeant Derrick C. Johnson, a squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, heads across a field as a CH-53 Sea Stallion lifts off behind him. Battalion Landing Team 1/7 was the spearhead for exercise Dawn Blitz., ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD, 6/4/2010 5:15 AM

LPD-22 San Diego.

They are pumping these ships out like candy from a pez dispenser.  With the next generation LSD to be built on the same hull this is good news.  It appears that production has finally smoothed out and with these ships having demonstrated the ability to keep up with other ships in the fleet (read DDG-51's), they will be an asset for at least 2 decades...

From the Department of Defense

...Designated LPD 22, San Diego is the sixth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class. As an element of future expeditionary strike groups, the ship will support the Marine Corps "mobility triad,"� which consists of the landing craft air cushion vehicle, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft...

...San Diego will provide improved warfighting capabilities, including an advanced command and control suite, increased lift capability in vehicle and cargo-carrying capacity and advanced ship survivability features. The ship is capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines...

...The 24,900-ton San Diego is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet and a navigational draft of 23 feet. Four turbo-charged diesels power the ship to sustained speeds of 22 knots.

2nd AAV BN and the Combat Hunter course.

Camp Geiger, N.C.-Sgt. Colin E. Lafferty, an Amphibious Assault Vehicle crewman with Company A, 2nd Amphibious Assault Vehicle Battalion, looks through a pair of binoculars to spot targets during the Combat Hunter course at the School of Infantry aboard Camp Geiger, N.C. The Combat Hunter course is a five-day and ten-day training exercise, taught regularly at SOI East that trains deploying Marines on the fundamentals of observation, profiling and tracking., Cpl. Daniel A. Negrete, 5/26/2010 4:47 AM



How do you say pre-sniper course without calling it a pre-sniper course?  You call it Combat Hunter! 

The Combat Hunter course is a five-day and ten-day training exercise, taught regularly at SOI East, that helps prepare Marines for upcoming deployments, so they can learn the fundamentals of observation, profiling and tracking.
 “We’ve combined material taught at sniper courses and outside law enforcement agencies and put it all into one course to supplement the training Marines undergo before stepping into theater,” said Capt. Modesto L. Gutierrez, Combat Hunter course officer-in-charge. 
As the name denotes, Combat Hunter gives Marines the predatory skills to gain the edge on the battlefield. It gives Marines training on how to identify and determine potential threats and persons of interest. 
“Were placing an interest in Marines on how to be more proactive versus reactive,” said Gutierrez. “The Marines are taught how body language in humans and how abnormalities in terrain features can indicate that a threat is present.”

 Read more here .

BAE. Holding the cards close when it comes to an upgraded AAV.

BAE is cagey.  They're cagey as hell.

But they have good public relations people.

I put a simple question to them....Are they making plans to upgrade the AAV in case the EFV is canceled and if so what would they include in that upgrade package?

This was the response from their spokesman.

To follow up regarding your AAV question, there isn't a lot of info that I can provide at this time except to say we are watching the situation closely, and as the customer develops the requirements, we will respond with an appropriate course of action that will reflect our long history as the premier AAV development, design, production and fielding authority.

Hmm.  Reading between the lines, I've come to this conclusion.  Yes they are working on a set of upgrades and if the EFV fails they'll be ready...BUT!  I get the feeling that the FMTV contract left a bitter taste and that they're not going to risk going public with anything until the time is right.  That whole once bitten twice shy thing.

Despite their lack of clarity I'm rather pleased.  If my suspicions are correct then defense contractors are working on a fall back position for the USMC. 

Whether we like it or not, there is an option in case of EFV failure.  And options are never a bad thing.