MV-22 Ospreys now in Japan

Sidenote:

1.  I don't know what's going on with Marine Public Affairs but this "experimental" camera work is annoying.  They purposefully fuzz the outlines of the vid?  If that's artistic then I want no parts of it.
2.  With HQMC emphasizing MARSOC at the expense of conventional Fleet Marine Forces, how can we justify the MV-22?  I've been a huge supporter but that was with the thought that FMF would be leading the fight.  If the emphasis for the MEU is to turn to disaster and humanitarian relief then the MV-22 is severe overkill.  Better to give the V-22 to SOCOM and get MH-60's to replace the CH-46.  It would save money, maintenance hours and the MH-60 could still get the job done.

Someone You Should Know: Lance Corporal Cody R. Goebel

LCpl Cody R. Goebel.

This guy is hard as woodpecker lips and someone you should definitely know. Click this sentence to hear his story. On a sidenote, I'm gonna be slamming McQ's inbox to find out where this show lands so I can pass it on to you. In the meantime subscribe to the RSS feed and browse through it. Heroes all and stories that we can't afford to forget.

F-35C flying a more comfortable ball

Combat Doc talks eye protection.

Quite honestly I've been waiting for someone to do a run down on ballistic eye protection.  To me at least its about everyday safety.  The modern world is a hazard place, your eye sight is precious and I want to know what works so I can keep me and my loved ones as safe as possible.

Think I'm a bit overboard?  How about the aftermath of car accidents?  Construction accidents.  Chemical splatter (and I'm talking about something as simple as outside bleach) and even debris from cutting your grass.  Ballistic protection that works is important.  And that's even before we start considering what guys going down range are facing.

Check this out.

See more analysis on our Eye Protection and Shooting Glasses Review

The author of the video was an FMF Corpsman...a real deal Devil Doc.

Foxhound vehicle on display

The Infantry "call me baby"

Thanks for the link John! Terminal Lance's Grunt "call me baby"...check it out.

Eurcocopter X3 and Airbus A400M in flight

Eurocopter handled the US tour of its X3 badly.  I guess its another example of a large corporation that has little experience with marketing its products to the American people.  Quite honestly it didn't even get that much play in the aviation media. Consider this a missed opportunity.

Is the SCAR-17 the weapon of choice for SEAL Teams?

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (July 21, 2012) Navy SEALs participate in the capabilities exercise portion of the 43rd annual Underwater Demolition Team (UDT)-Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) East Coast Reunion at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. The annual reunion started in 1969 and has expanded into a weekend of events, contests, and a SEAL capabilities exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Harding/Released)

Every pic I've seen of SEALs lately shows them sporting SCAR-17's.  Is that the new weapon of choice?

30 vs. 250. Marine leads his men against the Taliban. Someone You Should Know.

Hear the story of GySgt Blonder by clicking on this link.  Its well worth your time.

The French Marine's stairway to heaven.

Marines from Security Cooperation Task Force Africa Partnership Station 2012 (SCTF APS-12) train together with French Marines from France's 3rd Marine Brigade on an obstacle course at Fort De Penthievre. SCTF APS-12 is conducting a series of training events with the French Marines to strengthen relations between France and the U.S.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jemssy Alvarez)

Are these considered Special MAGTF's or SCTF's??  I've seen it written both ways.

Bronies. The pussification of the US Army IS complete.

I would hope that a Marine would get skull fucked, throat punched, wall to wall counseled and made to dig a fighting position for a platoon of tanks if he was caught doing this.

Parts of the Army?  Hey its ok, roll with it.  Other parts?  They'd do it the Marine way.  Either way, ATF is funny as hell, Every Day No Day's Off you guys rock and to the dude in ACU's with the rainbow joy patch.  Just go punch yourself.

Now what unit or group affiliation does that patch represent? 

Argonaut Search and Rescue Amphibious Vehicle Concept

Pretty cool.  Saw it on this website.

Blast from the past. Rules of engagement for the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit in Lebanon.

via Ibiblio.

The Marines were drilled and redrilled on the rules of engagement, including "what-if" sessions in which all possible contingencies were hopefully covered. In addition, each Marine was issued wallet-size card with the following rules printed in all capital letters:

Guidelines of Rules of Engagement

1. When on the post, mobile or foot patrol, keep loaded magazine in weapon, bolt closed, weapon on safe, no round in the chamber.
2. Do not chamber a round unless told to do so by a commissioned officer unless you must act in immediate self-defense where deadly force is authorized.
3. Keep ammo for crew served weapons readily available but not loaded. Weapon is on safe.
4. Call local forces to assist in self-defense effort. Notify headquarters.
5. Use only minimum degree of force to accomplish any mission.
6. Stop the use of force when it is no longer needed to accomplish the mission.
7. If you receive effective hostile fire, direct your fire at the source. If possible, use friendly snipers.
8. Respect civilian property; do not attack it unless absolutely necessary to protect friendly forces.
9. Protect innocent civilians from harm.
10. Respect and protect recognized medical agencies such as Red Cross, Red Crescent, etc.

I'm going to have to find it but I once read that overly restrictive rules of engagement caused the tragedy in Lebanon.  Years later some of the same mistakes were repeated in Khobar Towers...the Cole incident and could even be blamed for the attacks in Kabul.

Leadership being more concerned about local sensitivities rather than ensuring mission accomplishment and force protection.

On a different note.

The Marine Corps should perhaps consider (since name changes are all the rage...and since everyone is using the term "expeditionary") going back to Marine Amphibious Units.  It will make Marine formations unique again.  As I said.  Expeditionary is all the rage and has lost any luster it might have once had.

ARISGator.

The ARISGator.  An interesting vehicle based on the M-113.  The thing that has my attention though isn't the base vehicle, isn't the hydro-dynamic nose attached but rather its propulsion system.  That water jet system is huge and I'd love to see a comparison between it and the USMC's AAV and those that are to be applied to the upcoming Marine Personnel Carrier.  Oh and for the reformers in the crowd forget any thoughts about the USMC adopting even a few of these.

Read about the ARIS here.



Sidenote:  Stats according to Army Guide give it a water speed of 6 kmph and the ability to carry 8 troops.  Supposedly its been tested with a RWS 50 cal machinegun.  And according to some Italian websites its in limited use by the San Marco Battalion (Italian Marines...I think).  We can look forward to these vehicles being retired as soon as the Super AV 8x8 comes online.

Best of Devinsupertramp!

Great movie making and some hellacious athletes.  Pretty awesome.

Porcupine C-RAM.

via DefesaGlobal.

Finmeccanica´s Oto Melara SpA has developed the Porcupine (or Porcospino) counter rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) protected weapon system.

The ground based weapon system is intended to serve as a defensive system for land based military facilities or critical infrastructures against destroy incoming artillery, rockets and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets, or simply provide early warning capability.

Each remotely controlled firing unit comprises the supporting mount along its protected covers, a General Dynamics Armament & Technical Products (GD ATP) M61A1 Gatling 20mm six-barrel externally powered lightweight cannon, the ammunition handling and feeding system, the drive system, the power management unit, stabilized optronic day/night infra-red tracking system for target engagement and as well as associated mechanical components.

I don't know how effective this system would be if it were mounted on the Marine Personnel Carrier, but if it could be made to work then it should be a winner.

We can expect even insurgents to start getting their hands on rockets...and some groups will get advanced weapons.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them get advanced rockets.  This system or others like it might save a Command Post or two in those vaunted humanitarian missions HQMC is so jazzed about doing.

Zapper Boss.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 18, 2012) An EA-18G Growler assigned to the Zappers of Airborne Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is underway conducting flight deck certification. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyler Caswell/Released)

SEALs in the mist.

Damn.  All these guys (except for the dog handler) looked yoked up.  Strength training must be a new priority for this group.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (July. 21, 2012) Navy SEALs conduct a capabilities exercise at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story during the 43rd annual Underwater Demolition Team (UDT)-Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) East Coast Reunion. The annual reunion started in 1969 and has expanded into a weekend of events, contests, and a SEAL capabilities exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William S. Parker/Released) 120721-N-AT856-131

CHC...a para-military, quasi governmental helicopter force.

 

CHC is a company that we all need to keep an eye on.  Right now the main focus of their work is in the oil/gas transport and SAR/Medivac role but to this guy looking into a murky future, I can see that role expanding to monitoring missions around the North Pole as well as conducting soveriengty missions.  Click here for more info.

International F-35 Fleet Begins Build Up at Eglin Air Force Base

ZM135, a British F-35B and the first international Lockheed Martin Lightning II, takes off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on July 23, 2012, en route for Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The U.K. officially took ownership of ZM135 (formerly known as 'BK-1') at a ceremony in Fort Worth on July 19, 2012. The jet will be used for operational testing and evaluation