Warrior Poet & James Yeager talk Ukrainian Foreign Legion (Yeager says he's going)

Exercise CRYSTAL ARROW confirmed @efpbglatvia

 

Late Open Comment Post. 16 Mar 2022

 

Pentagon Cuts Its Request for Lockheed’s F-35s by 35%

 via Bloomberg

The rationale for the reduction won’t be officially explained until the proposed Pentagon budget is made public. But the request comes as negotiations with Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed over the next F-35 contract -- for about 400 planes -- are going slower than anticipated. And F-35s remain hobbled by flawed execution of a crucial upgrade of their software and hardware capabilities that’s estimated to cost $14 billion.

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 The Air Force will request 33 F-35As instead of the 48 planned, the Navy will seek 13 of its version instead of 26 and the Marine Corps will request 15 rather than 20.

Here 

Something is wrong with America's foreign policy. Did you hear Zelensky's speech to the Congress?

 I've been monitoring Zelensky's speeches to various parliaments/congress and I've come to one conclusion.

Something is wrong with our foreign policy.

Zelensky was so polite and differential to the Brits and Canadians. He was humble and glowing with praise of all they've done.

Then he speaks to our congress.

Everything changes.

This dude is damn near demanding when he talks to our President, Congress and the American people.

From my chair it's maddening.  I don't get it.  We have given the most, practically endangered our own economy and he still wants more.

That is a problem. Don't believe me?  Check this out from CNN.

Zelensky had an impassioned message for President Joe Biden, saying, "You are the leader of your great nation. I wish you to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace."

Hat in hand and he practically condemns Biden's leadership (and I'm no fan of the guy).  Then he goes on to tell him what HE needs him to be...while begging for help and this after he practically slammed Biden for warning him that an invasion was coming.

 In his address to Congress, the Ukrainian President expressed gratitude to Biden for aid the US has delivered so far, but he argued that more assistance is desperately needed. Zelensky specifically reiterated calls for the US to help enforce a no-fly zone in Ukraine to protect civilians and provide fighter aircraft that the Ukrainians can use to defend themselves, requests that have met with resistance.

Zelensky is still on that no fly zone kick.  The word "no" is a complete sentence but he still doesn't get it.  He kinda reminds me of con-men that keep pestering people until they wear down and say yes to whatever idiotic idea they're pushing.

The same applies here.

I don't care where you stand on this war.  When the after action is done on this we need to carefully assess what we can and can't do in support of allies (NATO and others) and what we will do to support "democracy" (whatever that means these days).

We obviously have created serious misconceptions about our ability to control events and it needs to be understood that just because you have bad guys in your backyard doesn't mean that we'll send troops to get you out of a pickle. 

Is Russia prepping for an amphibious assault on Odessa?

***BREAKING***

Substantial #Russian Navy force, including landing ships, advancing on Odessa area today. Seen 09:47 UTC in satellite imagery

Found together with @detresfa_ pic.twitter.com/sDdZHDPJ1r

— H I Sutton (@CovertShores) March 15, 2022

ACV Platoon Operations

Still haven't heard ANYONE state how the ACV fits into the Force Design 2030 (or LAR either). They're pushing ahead but I don't know if they even know how it will work with this new concept. Hell they're even converting an Artillery Regiment into a "Marine Littoral Regiment", so quite honestly I don't even see where Infantry fits into this thing. Its all artillery (cannon and missiles), air defense (manpads or VEHICLE mounted manpads) and ISR. ACV are offensive in nature. This new force is 100% defense battalions of WW2 (that didn't work then). The procurement of the vehicle with this concept just does not make sense.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Roger B. Turner, the 1st Marine Division commanding general, observes a platoon of amphibious combat vehicles (ACV) traveling from shore to the USS Anchorage (LPD-23) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 12, 2022. The demonstration of proficiency in platoon-level operations marks the next step in certifying ACV crew members and their vehicles for worldwide deployment. 

Familiarization and concept development of manned-unmanned teaming (AH-1Z & MQ-8C)

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 (HMLA-269), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct close air support prior to Exercise Cold Response 22 in Setermoen, Norway

US Special Forces prepare for Exercise Cold Response

 

The US Army Special Forces recently participated in a winter warfare course hosted by the Swedish Subarctic Warfare Centre.

Held in northern Sweden, the course introduced the Special Forces to the specific hardships of military operations in the European High North. The soldiers, who are assigned to 10th Special Forces Group, learned how to move, fight and be self-sufficient in an unforgiving environment. They will put those skills to the test during Cold Response 2022, a Norwegian-led exercise slated for March.

The US Army Special Forces - commonly referred to as Green Berets - are the United States’ premier unconventional warfare fighting force, focused specifically on working by, with and through partner forces using language skills and cultural savvy.

Footage includes shots of soldiers building a fire, manoeuvring on snowmobiles, and practising combat drills.