Challis UAV's. Interesting and weird.

I wonder if they'll be able to make these work (check them out here)?  Posted on them previously but it looks like they're expanding the line to the Little Bird....be nice if they could make a manned version for Special Ops.

Sunday nite joke...

  An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New  Jersey .  He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.  His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament: 

 Dear Vincent,  I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.  Love,  Papa  

A few days later he received a letter from his son. 

Dear Papa,   Don’t dig up that garden. That’ s where the bodies are buried.  Love,  Vinnie

At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.  That same day the old man received another letter from his son.  

Dear Papa,  Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.  That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.  Love you, Vinnie

Harriers prove vital to 31st MEU

USS ESSEX, At sea-AV-8B Harriers with Marine Attack Squadron 214, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sit on the flight deck aboard USS Essex, Sept. 29. The VMA was conducting this training in preparation for the MEU's upcoming Certification Exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. Vernon T. Meekins, 9/29/2011 10:00 AM

USS ESSEX, At sea-AV-8B Harriers with Marine Attack Squadron 214, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, taxi down the flight deck aboard USS Essex, Sept. 29. The VMA was conducting this training in preparation for the MEU's Certification Exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. Vernon T. Meekins, 9/29/2011 10:24 AM

 

 

USS ESSEX, At sea-An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron 214, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is given the signal for takeoff aboard USS Essex, Sept. 29. The VMA was conducting this training in preparation for the MEU's Certification Exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. Vernon T. Meekins, 9/29/2011 10:35 AM

USS Essex, At Sea, Pacific Ocean-As one AV-8B Harrier prepares for takeoff (foreground), another executes a vertical landing on the flight deck aboard USS Essex, Sept. 29. The Harriers are with the Marine Attack Squadron 214, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and are conducting training in preparation for the MEU's Certification Exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. Vernon T. Meekins, 9/29/2011 10:47 AM

A bargain for the nation...

Want to see a part of your government that actually works?  Check this out.

"The Corps draws off less than 8 percent of Pentagon spending, including Marine aviation funded through the Navy, Robling said. “For that piece of the budget, the nation gets 19 percent of its tactical helicopter force, 12 percent of its tactical fixed-wing aviation and 30 percent of its maneuver battalions,” he said, in a speech before the national sea services advocacy group."

Seems like anyone with common sense would want to see this type of saving/return on investment from all parts of the US government.

But no.

Instead they bitch.

AMAZING.

USS Pearl Harbor trains with MEU helicopters

Photos by Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios

Sailors aboard landing ship Pearl Harbor unchain a CH-46 Sea Knight with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) here Sept. 30. The squadron serves as the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked the USS Makin Island, the amphibious transport dock New Orleans and the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28. The Unit is participating in its final exercise before deploying in November.

A CH-53 Sea Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) lands on the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor here Sept. 30. The squadron serves as the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked the USS Makin Island, the amphibious transport dock New Orleans and the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28. The Unit is participating in its final exercise before deploying in November.

Marines aboard USS Pearl Harbor unload a CH-46E Sea Knight with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) here Sept. 30. The squadron serves as the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 for its final two week exercise before deploying in November. Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios.

A crew chief sits on a CH-46E Sea Knight parked on USS Pearl Harbor here Sept. 30. The Marine serves with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), which is the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 for its final two week exercise before deploying in November.

Marine marksmanship at sea

Photos by Cpl. Chad Pulliam

Staff Sgt. Adam Najar, platoon sergeant with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force, clears the area behind him after firing upon a target during a live fire range on the flight deck here Oct. 1. Najar is a 25-year-old from Hesperia, Calif. The Marines with the unit are aboard the New Orleans for their final at sea exercise prior to deploying in November.

Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force identify their targets during a live fire exercise aboard USS New Orleans Oct. 1. The Marines boarded the amphibious ship Sept. 28 in San Diego for their final exercise before deploying in November.

Bullet casings ejected from the rifles of the11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force litter the flight deck of USS New Orleans during a live fire exercise here Oct. 1. The unit boarded the amphibious ship for its final exercise before deploying in November.

Marines storm beach during Dawn Blitz

Photos by Cpl. Michele Watson

Marines storm Gold Beach in amphibious assault vehicles during Exercise Dawn Blitz, Sept. 30. The week-long training tests the capability to rapidly respond in the event of a crisis.

Seaman Dontay L. Stewart, a construction mechanic from the USS Bonhomme Richard, directs vehicles off a landing craft air cushion at Gold Beach on Camp Pendleton, Sept. 30. Landing support Marines provided guidance to troops, trucks and cargo debarking the LCAC.

Marines with 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion stormed the beaches of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 30, to reinforce the Marine Corps tradition as a maritime force-in-readiness. In a joint effort with the Navy, the unique amphibious and expeditionary capabilities as America’s expeditionary fighting force were demonstrated.

The Navy and Marine Corps participated in a joint amphibious assault landing at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 30. As part of Exercise Dawn Blitz, the beach landing was a training mission to prepare service members for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

Marines with 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion conducted a landing at a Camp Pendleton, Calif., beach, Sept. 30 The exercise prepared Marine units to deploy forces quickly on short notice to any place in the world for a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian aid and disaster relief to combat.

Marines and sailors participated in a beach landing during Exercise Dawn Blitz, Sept. 30. A sea-based approach provides a discrete, flexible and effective means of selectively engaging to build partnerships and respond to crisis and protect our national interests.

Marines with 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion stormed the beaches of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 30, to reinforce the Marine Corps tradition as a maritime force-in-readiness. In a joint effort with the Navy, the unique amphibious and expeditionary capabilities as America’s expeditionary fighting force were demonstrated.

Pic of the day....

Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, seek out opposing forces in the rain during Urban Operations training at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Miss., Sept. 28, 2011. The brigade is deploying about 3,400 soldiers to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Photo by Spc. Kimberly Lambaption

Soft?

He must be talking about the people he's met...everyone I know is busting ass trying to be ready in case the balloon goes up and the economy tanks even more.

Deck Landings Onboard HMS Illustrious

Royal Air Force Chinook and Army Air Corps Apache helicopters are pictured practicing deck landings onboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.


Two Apache helicopters from 664 Squadron, Army Air Corps embarked for a two week training package, to enable pilots and ground crews to acclimatise to working in a maritime environment.


They were joined by a Chinook from 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force which flew out to the ship for a few hours deck landing practice.


Photographer: POA(Phot) RayJones

A CNO I can deal with...

Sorry guys but the last CNO rubbed me the wrong way...as does the outgoing CJCS.  I can't put an exact finger on it but they both appeared to be more politician than war fighter.  I don't know how the next guys will turn out but at least the new CNO is saying the right things.  Here's a tidbit from ID.  Go there to read the whole thing but this section caught my attention.

Guiding Principles

The starting point for developing and executing our plans

• Our primary mission is warfighting. All our efforts to improve capabilities, develop people, and structure our organizations should be grounded in this fundamental responsibility.
• People are the Navy’s foundation. We have a professional and moral obligation to uphold a covenant with Sailors, Civilians and their families * to ably lead, equip, train and motivate.
• Our approach should be Joint and combined when possible. However, we own the sea, and must also be able to operate independently when necessary.
• Our primary Joint partner is the U.S. Marine Corps. We must continue to evolve how we will operate and fight as expeditionary warfare partners.
• At sea and ashore, we must be ready to part with Navy roles, programs and traditions if they are not integral to our future vision or a core element of our mission.
• We must ensure today’s force is ready for its assigned missions.
• Maintaining ships and aircraft to their expected service lives is an essential contribution to fleet capacity.
• Our Navy Ethos defines us and describes the standard for character and behavior.
• We must clearly and directly communicate our intent and expectations both within and outside the Navy.
• I believe in the “Charge of Command.” We will train and empower our leaders with authorities commensurate with their responsibilities.

Its a little preachy.

Too wordy.

But this guy almost sounds like a grunt.

I like it.

“Dragons” of the 31st MEU fly aboard USS Essex

USS ESSEX, OKINAWA, Japan -A Sailor with Amphibious Squadron 11 guides an AH-1W Cobra helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, onto the flight deck of USS Essex (LHD 2), Sept. 28. The squadron flew onto USS Essex (LHD 2), joining the MEU for the deployment and upcoming certification exercises around Okinawa. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 9/28/2011 7:36 AM