Cobra Gold live-fire amphibious assault exercise

Amphibious assault vehicles from the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga and the Royal Thai Navy medium landing ship HTMS Surin participate in a live amphibious assault. Tortuga is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, an annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored joint and multinational exercise designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and enhance interoperability with participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by: Lt. Cmdr Mark C. Jones)

A CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter flies past the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga and the Royal Thai Navy medium landing ship HTMS Surin during a live amphibious assault exercise. Tortuga is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, an annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored joint and multinational exercise designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and enhance interoperability with participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by: Lt. Cmdr Mark C. Jones)

Amphibious assault vehicles from the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga land on the beach as CH-26 Sea Knight helicopters provide close air support during a live-fire amphibious assault exercise. Tortuga is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, an annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored joint and multinational exercise designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and enhance interoperability with participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by: Lt. Cmdr. Mark C. Jones)

Amphibious assault vehicles from the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga land on the beach as aviation ordinance is dropped from an F/A-18D Hornet during a live-fire amphibious assault exercise. Tortuga is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, an annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored joint and multinational exercise designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and enhance interoperability with participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by: Lt. Cmdr. Mark C. Jones)

Cobra Gold continues...

BAN CHAN KREM, Kingdom of Thailand -- Marines with Amphibious Assault Vehicle Company train with Royal Thai Marines at the AAV gunnery range at the Ban Chan Krem training area here Feb. 13. AAV Company, Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, trained side-by-side with Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise hosted by the Royal Kingdom of Thailand designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released)

BAN CHAN KREM, Kingdom of Thailand -- Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines demonstrate their weapons handling skills on the firing line at the Ban Chan Krem range here Feb. 13. During the training counterparts were coached on the fundamentals of combat marksmanship by U.S. Marines from Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise co-hosted by the Royal Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released)

A Royal Thai Marine engages targets after receiving professional military instruction on combat marksmanship here Feb. 13. During the training, the Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines were assisted by coaches from Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise co-hosted by the Royal Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released)

"The World's Premier Raid Force"

Rangers from 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, as part of a combined Afghan and coalition security force operating in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, await a CH-47 for extraction. Department of Defense photo by U.S. Army Pfc. Pedro Amador

Get your SRB's cleaned up.

Wow.

Another reduction in force.  Involuntary lay off. 

Whatever you call it this is bad news for many.  No matter how you slice it there will be some bitter people.  There will be people that have served multiple tours outside the wire.  Served in outposts and not at a big base having party nights or chasing ass.

Check this out from Bloomberg.  Read the whole thing but the Marine Corps specific part is below.

The cuts in uniformed personnel are in keeping with proposed steps such as eliminating eight Army brigades, five Marine infantry battalions and four of the Corps’s tactical air squadrons. The Air Force would lose 303 aircraft and six fighter squadrons, while the Navy jettisons seven cruisers and 2 dock landing ships.
“In preparing this budget, we endeavored to avoid the mistakes of previous drawdowns that attempted to maintain more force structure than the budget could afford,” the department wrote in a Jan. 26 summary of its five-year priorities.

and then this...

Today’s budget proposal fleshes out the cuts for each of the military branches.
Army forces would be reduced by less than 1 percent to 1,115,300 in 2013 and then drop to 1,048,200 in 2017. That’s still far greater troop strength than in February 2002, a year before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, when the Army numbered about 480,000 on active duty.
The Navy would have 1.7 percent fewer personnel, or 385,200 in 2013, and faces a reduction of 3.9 percent to a total of 376,600 people in 2017.

The Marines would be down to 236,900 in 2013, or 2 percent fewer than this year. By the end of 2017, the Marines face a reduction of 8.3 percent from this year to 221,700.

The Air Force will have 501,000 personnel in 2013, or 1.9 percent fewer than this year. In 2017, Air Force personnel will decline to 499,300.  (NOTE*  I don't know who came up with Marine Corps end strength for this article but they jacked up beyond recognition...this reporter needs a fact check)

More than a few people have stated that they've worked this out this time and that between those that leave voluntarily and those that are substandard, there will be no disruption or hurt feelings.

I hope they're right.

Too funny.

Grilled Cobra? Yum yum!

I prefer mine with fried bananas but to each his own.

SOCOM makes a power grab.

McRaven wants to not only be head of SOCOM but also seeks to be a "SUPER" combatant commander.  I can't imagine this going over well in the Pentagon but hey...Obama likes SEALs, and he's (McRaven)  striking (making his power play) at the height of SEAL popularity (with Act of Valor coming out and the string of high publicity missions).
From Military.com.

The top U.S. special operations officer, who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, is seeking new authority to move his forces faster and outside of normal Pentagon deployment channels, The New York Times reported Monday.
The newspaper said Adm. William McRaven, who leads the Special Operations Command, is pushing for a larger role for his elite units who have traditionally operated in the dark corners of U.S. foreign policy.
The plan would give him more autonomy to position his forces and their war-fighting equipment where intelligence and global events indicate they are most needed, the report said.
It would also allow the special operations forces to expand their presence in regions where they have not operated in large numbers for the past decade, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America, the paper noted.
The Times said that similar plans in the past had foundered because of opposition from regional commanders and the State Department.
The military's regional combatant commanders have feared a decrease of their authority, and some ambassadors in crisis zones have voiced concerns that commandos may carry out missions that are perceived to tread on a host country's sovereignty, the paper said.

Bold Alligator is a wrap.

Bold Alligator is finished.

What will be interesting is to read the lessons learned.  Areas for improvement, additional training, etc...When I get my hands on the official de-brief so will you.

Scout Swimmers....

Swimming fins?  Check.

Full combat gear?  Check.

Arriving ahead of the assault force?  Check.

So you were doubting me when I said that we have elements of Force Recon/Recon scattered throughout the "conventional" Marine Corps?!  ANGLICO does it like Force...by air and sea and they're a call for fire specialist group...pretty darn useful and a Force mission.  Oh and they can operate behind lines.  Scout Swimmers.  Same.  Radio Recon.  Same.  Scout Snipers.  Without a doubt.  But I digress.  Check out these Marines practicing the skillset.  Oh and someone needs to clean that damn beach!

HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand-Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, scout a beach in advance of the initial wave of the Royal Thai, U.S. bilateral boat raid here Feb. 07. The Marines conducted this training during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, the 31st iteration of an annual multilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability with participating nations in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl Justin R. Wheeler/released), Cpl. Justin R. Wheeler, 2/8/2012 9:28 A

HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand-Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, advance on a beach during the Royal Thai, U.S. bilateral boat raid here Feb. 07. The Marines conducted this training during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, the 31st iteration of an annual multilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability with participating nations in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl Justin R. Wheeler/released), Cpl Justin R. Wheeler, 2/8/2012 9:30 AM

HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand-Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, charge a beach and provide security during the Royal Thai, U.S. bilateral boat raid here Feb. 07. The Marines conducted this training during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, the 31st iteration of an annual multilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability with participating nations in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl Justin R. Wheeler/released), Cpl. Justin R. Wheeler, 2/8/2012 9:31 AM

Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Mar Div does MOUT training.

CAB is doing MOUT training out at Cobra Gold.  I hope 3rd MEF is doing some serious planning.  The Pacific will prove to be a much more complex fighting environment than anything the US has faced in the last 50 years.  Only the fighting in Vietnam will compare.

Why do I say that?

Because you'll see some of the most technologically advanced forces (and I'm not talking about China yet) squared off over the sea, in the jungle and inside some highly populated cities.  Add to it the travesty that is the "total war concept" meaning that WE (the actual fighting units) bring into theater State Dept personnel, Justice Dept personnel, the alphabet soup of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies and mix that up with will probably be restrictive, politically correct, liberal/tying the hands of the warfighter rules of engagement and we're looking at trouble in a handbag.

Oh and did I mention that we're going to be doing this fighting with smaller land, air and sea forces?  Did I forget to mention that if you do it right, jungle and urban warfare are extremely manpower intensive?  Did I remember to mention that jungles and cities are nightmares for one of our remaining areas of superiority...helicopters?

Yeah...I'm very happy that CAB is practicing this skill set.  As a matter of fact the more I think about it the more I think even HQ Navy and Marine Corps finally deserves a pat on the back.  The response to the "ss" flag was spot on and the training evolutions are a direct and positive turn to the future.  Good job.  Now let us roll our sleeves again.

BAN CHAM KREM, Kingdom of Thailand -Sgt. Kyle J. Becker, team leader with Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conducts professional military education alongside Royal Thai Marines here Feb. 8. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise co-hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released), Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders, 2/8/2012 5:28 AM

BAN CHAM KREM, Kingdom of Thailand-Royal Thai Marines practice weapons handling skills before advancing through the Military Operations on Urban Terrain town at the training area here Feb. 8 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise co-hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released), Brandon L. Saunders, 2/8/2012 5:30 AM

BAN CHAM KREM, Kingdom of Thailand -Marines attached to Training Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, clear buildings during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training here Feb. 8. during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise co-hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released), Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders, 2/8/2012 5:35 AM

BAN CHAM KREM, Kingdom of Thailand -Marines attached to Training Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, clear buildings during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training here Feb. 8. during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise co-hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released), Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders, 2/8/2012 5:36 AM

BAN CHAM KREM, Kingdom of Thailand -Royal Thai Marines practice weapons handling skills before advancing through the Military Operations on Urban Terrain town at the training area here Feb. 8 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold is a recurring multinational and multiservice exercise co-hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders/released), Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders, 2/8/2012 5:49 AM

LM Havoc, BAE Super AV, Piranha III and MPC contest....quiet before the storm.

Photos courtesy of Mattis via Flickr

Man!  I thought the Canadian TAPV program was operating under the radar.  But compared to the Marine Corps Personnel Carrier competition, the Canadian program is as open to public viewing as the sun is on a cloudless day.

A couple of issues...

1.  A little birdy told me that the revised Request For Proposals was out.  To be precise it came out Tues of this week.
2.  The Iveco Super AV 8x8 (built with BAE) remains a mystery.  I found out that its being developed at the BAE facility in Ontario, CA.  Nothing to be found on either the BAE or Iveco website on this vehicle though.  That's really different from the way that BAE has operated in the past.  They were once the 500 pound gorilla in the room and didn't care who knew what about whatever they were developing.  I take this as an indication of how serious these competitions have become.  Paychecks and jobs are on the line and its no laughing matter.
3.  The Lockheed Martin/Patria Havoc has some fans in the Marine Corps.  The AAV crewmen that got a chance to work up the vehicle in Pendleton are extremely pleased with it.  Full disclosure, I'm a fan of the AMV and the Havoc model seems to build on that success.
4.  Another potential competitor that's missing in action is General Dynamics.  I fully expect them to offer a Piranha model (Stryker lite) but information on what they're working on is also embargoed.  This is the dark horse in the competition in my opinion.  But the Piranha III is in service with the Spanish and Brazilian Marine Corps (just to name two of the customers) and is used in much the same way I see the USMC using it.  Amphibious operations second, troop mobility first.
5.  I still wonder what the game plan is with these vehicles.  Its obvious that they'll probably come into service but does this mean that the Marine Corps has given up on the amphibious tractor?  You just can't beat the mobility that comes with tracks and how do you set up your assault battalions with MPCs?  Correction, more importantly how would they slice out to the MEU's????  Instead of say 40 tracks do you now go out with an even split?  Or do you bias it more to wheels in the desert and tracks in the Pacific?

Regardless, I contacted Paul McCleary (well to be honest I posted a question on his blog about the MPC) and he said...

Solomon wrote: ok Paul...help me out. i've been sitting on the fact that the RFP for the Marine Personnel Carrier program is out (the revised version) and can find no funding information on it. everyone is closed mouth about it. i asked your guy in Italy for info on the Iveco Super AV 8x8 but he never got back. can you give me a little visibility on that program and whether or not the Super AV is just vapor ware or not? 2/11/2012 4:11 PM CST

Paul McLeary wrote: Shhhh. I actually had a conversation about this recently. More very soon.

So I guess we wait and see. My contacts are exhausted...although I will make another run at the Marine Personnel Carrier program office.

24th MEU. They're doing an essential task but it still feels like fire watch!

All photos by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Pfc. Joseph Swidarski, a rifleman with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds security on the side of the ship during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force training exercise, Feb 10. While at sea, Marines and Sailors must be prepared to guard the ship whenever it passes a danger area or when there may be an increased threat to the force. The training exercise was a smaller part of the 24th MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.

Lance Cpl. Earl Sproul, a rifleman with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds security during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force training exercise, Feb 10. While at sea, Marines and Sailors must be prepared to guard the ship whenever it passes a danger area or when there may be an increased threat to the force. The training exercise was a smaller part of the 24th MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.

Cpl. Stephen Rockwell, a rifleman with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Seaman Ricky Donaldson, an information system technologist with the USS Gunston Hall, hold security on the top of the ship during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force training exercise, Feb 10. While at sea, Marines and Sailors must be prepared to guard the ship whenever it passes a danger area or when there may be an increased threat to the force. The training exercise was a smaller part of the 24th MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.

Lance Cpl. Andrew Vaughn, a rifleman with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds security during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force training exercise, Feb 10. While at sea, Marines and Sailors must be prepared to guard the ship whenever it passes a danger area or when there may be an increased threat to the force. The training exercise was a smaller part of the 24th MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.

Lance Cpl. Neil Lipon and Pfc. Kyler Ramsey, machine gunners with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit hold security on the ship's flight deck during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force training exercise, Feb 10. While at sea, Marines and Sailors must be prepared to guard the ship whenever it passes a danger area or when there may be an increased threat to the force. The training exercise was a smaller part of the 24th MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.

Lance Cpl. Alex Krieger and Pfc. Jason Otero, machine gunners with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, hold security during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force training exercise, Feb 10. While at sea, Marines and Sailors must be prepared to guard the ship whenever it passes a danger area or when there may be an increased threat to the force. The training exercise was a smaller part of the 24th MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.

Cpl. Ryan Kretschmer, a machine gunner with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds security during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force training exercise, Feb 10. While at sea, Marines and Sailors must be prepared to guard the ship whenever it passes a danger area or when there may be an increased threat to the force. The training exercise was a smaller part of the 24th MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.