The United States Marine Corps strikes back at USA Today!

via Marine Corps Press Release...

It is unconscionable that USA Today would use the tragedy of Wednesday's military helicopter crash in Florida to criticize the unit to which the Marines were assigned, citing a controversial incident that occurred eight years ago in Afghanistan. The two events are completely unrelated and the story shamelessly devotes a few paragraphs to the crash in order to rehash old allegations against a small unit within the command -- most of which were found unsubstantiated through investigations and a court of inquiry. Linking the crash with the Afghanistan case was uncalled for and a disservice to the dedicated Marines of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, and their families.

Col. Dave Lapan, USMC
Director, Office of USMC Communication
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps

     

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!

Its past time that we saw a defense of the Corps against the politically correct and those that have no idea of our institution.

Well Done Colonel.

Update. The discussion with Jim Strock.

As promised I got 45 minutes to grill Jim Strock, Director of Sea Basing and the results were illuminating.

The best way to sum up Marine Corps concepts?  Calm on the surface but a ton of activity behind the scenes.

What was touched on?

*  The Sea Base, its composition and utility.

*  Moves to incorporate the US ARMY into the concept (oh and yeah...I made the statement that they were encroaching on Marine Corps missions...the push back was expected BUT reasoned...I think you'll find this part especially interesting).

*  The loss of well deck space with the move from the LSD-41 class to the LX(R)....this is another part of the conversation that will surprise many of my readers.

*  The role of the LX(R) in future ARG and Sea Basing Ops.

*  LCU(R)

*  LCAC and its replacement

*  The French L-CAT and the LCU-F concept

*  The LCAC Barge concept

*  The role of the MPF fleet in Sea Basing AND everyday ops.

Just like my conversation with General Mullen, I became aware of many misconceptions.  What wasn't said but I "sense" is that the focus is on the possible.  That applies to both tech and cost.

I'm chopping this up as we speak so be patient and watch your alerts for the posting.

LtGen Gluecks Testimony Senate Armed Services Committee-Sea Power (FULL Transcript)

Full Transcript SASC Ground Modernization Hearing 150311

Chinese Aviation Corporation-AVIC Products Vid...

Did you catch the subtle messages in the vid?  The Chinese (I'm assuming) strategy game being played...the drawing of the sword...but the best one came at the end with this quote...

Making the best weapons for the guardians of peace!

Wow.  That beats the hell out of "We know who we're working for"!

Japanese Ground Self Defense Force training at Pendleton & 29 Palms...

F-35 News. War is Boring HAS A MUST READ!

No tidbits and no teases.  Go to War is Boring (here) to read the latest on F-35 issues and then ponder how the US military can continue to support this flying cluster...

An All SNAFU! Announcement. We will talk to Jim Strock!

Last Sunday we had the chance to talk to General Mullen and tomorrow we get a chance to talk to Mr. Jim Strock, Director of Seabasing (a retired Marine Colonel so he should know his stuff).

The focus of our talk will be on Ship to Shore Connectors (not busting sunshine off nether regions but the discussion with Mullen revealed exactly how important they will be to future operations) and I guarantee you all that I'll ask that burning question.

Isn't today's Marine Corps simply chasing a capability that it lost when the LST was retired and never replaced in the MEU?  And are we compounding that mistake by pursuing LCU and LCAC type (and sized) landing craft instead of developing a high speed landing ship that can put a battalion of armor on the beach after the Navy has setup corridors for the dash to shore?

The conversation will happen Fri morning and I hope to have something up in the afternoon or very early Sat.

So in the words of that immortal great that we all know...Stand by to Stand by.

First-Ever Italian F-35A Rolls Out of Cameri, Italy. Can a jobs program overcome budget reality?

via LM Press Release.

The rollout exhibits the ongoing strong partnership between the Italian Ministry of Defense, industry partner Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi, and Lockheed Martin. The Italian FACO is owned by the Italian Ministry of Defense and is operated by Alenia Aermacchi in conjunction with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics with a current workforce of more than 750 skilled personnel engaged in F-35 aircraft and wing production.

Have you noticed the evolution in the talking points on the F-35?  First we had talk about the airplane being part of the air dominance campaign plan and that rival nations wouldn't have anything comparable till after 2020.

The Russians and Chinese proved that wrong...especially when it became obvious that their airplanes would out perform the F-35 in speed, service ceiling, weapons payload and range.

Adjustments were made and then we were told that the airplane would be an ISR GOD!  It would play quarterback for every other fighter because of its superior avionics.

But that also wasn't true.  It was revealed that upgraded SNIPER and other pods would give much better resolution.  We learned that EO systems that are being proposed for 4th gen fighters would outperform what we see on the F-35....and if that wasn't enough we find out that one of the premier weapons that is suppose to take care of the extremely necessary but much neglected close air support mission don't even fit the bays of the F-35B.

Yeah, the same F-35B that the USMC is rushing into service this summer and the same plane that is supposedly going to replace the AV-8B Harrier II that NAVAIR told us will be viable till after 2030.

But I digress.

Italy just became front and center on the debate over a broken procurement system found in ALL Western countries.

The Italians are under extreme financial distress, yet are still proceeding with the F-35.  For their efforts they've been rewarded a production facility with 750 jobs associated with it.

The open question is simple and stark.  Does a few jobs for a few people trump budget reality for an entire country?  If the answer is yes then we have finally learned why the F-35 has continued on despite its obvious flaws.

DoD gets the word out on aid provided to Ukraine...

I find this interesting.

The Dept of Defense is actually attempting to get info out on the aid that is being provided to Ukraine.

The lack of actual offensive weaponry in the aid package is noteworthy, but what I find amazing is that the biggest threat to Europe AND Russia is being ignored.

Ukraine is on the verge of an economic meltdown that threatens the entire region a lot more than any military action.  A failed state in the heart of Europe will not be allowed and the costs of such a failure will startle the financial markets...and strain both US and European budgets.

75th Battalion in A Surprise Drill in Northern Israel (pics)...