Warhammer News. ASEAN Blog put forward some worrying articles form a view of someone in the region.

Do you visit ASEAN Blog?

Its written by a bubba that resides in the Pacific and he can usually be counted on to find articles that focus on that region that hits on subjects from a different perspective than those found in the West or catches info that is not even covered here.  Below are several articles that caught my attention and raise the chances of combat in Korea from probable to it's gonna happen they just haven't told us.

Trump will urge UN to impose North Korean naval blockade and oil embargo

The US will embark on an aggressive effort to tighten North Korea’s isolation on Monday with a call for an oil embargo and a partial naval blockade.

A draft United Nations resolution seen by the Observer would also block textile exports and the hiring of North Korean labour by foreign countries. The American delegation has called for the UN security council to debate the draft, in an attempt to force decisive action following last Sunday’s massive nuclear test of a bomb, Pyongyang’s sixth.

The most striking language in the resolution authorises naval vessels of any UN member state to inspect North Korean ships suspected of carrying banned cargo and to use “all necessary measures to carry out such inspections”. The implications of such a resolution would be far-reaching. Any attempt to board or divert a North Korean vessel could trigger an exchange of fire.

Story here. 

The US military wants permission to start hunting down North Korean ships using ‘all necessary measures’

In the aftermath of Pyongyang’s ground-shakinghydrogen bomb test, the US has circulated a proposal around the UN Security Council that would grant its Navy unprecedented powers to use “all necessary measures” to hunt down North Korean ships at sea, the New York Times reports.

The resolution would let the US stop all shipments of crude oil, petroleum, and natural gas to North Korea, according to The Times.

Such a step would cause many in North Korea to freeze over the winter, which can hit harshly in much of the country.

The US Navy would have to intercept and board North Korean ships and inspect them, a process that would require cooperation from the belligerent nation and make it extremely likely that violence would break out between the countries.

Story here.

North Korea in 'DANGEROUS' threat to neighbour as nuclear war fears reach boiling point

Tomorrow the United Nations Security Council is due to vote on sanctions proposed by the US to punish North Korea.

Brazen dictator Kim launched another nuclear test last month.

The world is united in condemning the brutal regime.

These sanctions would include an oil embargo and freeze of Kim’s assets.

South Korea is a supporter of the sanctions and has grown increasingly worried of its northern neighbour’s aggression.

Now, the North has released a terrifying statement calling for President Moon Jae-in to denounce his allies Japan and the US.

A spokesman of Kim’s propaganda tool, the Consultative Council for National Reconciliation dismissed the South as “puppets”.

Story here.

Main takeaways?

War hammers are still beating in N. Korea.  It's no longer if but win.  Next is the US Navy and allied Navies ready to impose a rigorous blockade on the North?

If this is real and if it is approved then its a declaration of war.  A blockade IS the move of a belligerent against the affected nation.  For example.  If the Chinese Navy moved to blockade Japan it would trigger our mutual defense treaties.

I said hostilities would start in winter.  I guess someone is willing to move up the timetable.  When the first N. Korean ship tries to run the blockade and opens fire that will technically be the start of hostilities whether the Pentagon or White House plays wordsmith/lawyer with it or not.  I'm sure they'll try and push for it to be when the first missile or bomb is launched at a N. Korean target but the results will be the same.

War is coming.

 

N. Korean regime collapse/instability could see PLA forces at the Yalu River in 10 days?

Thanks to Ogden for the link!

Via China Defence Blog

Winter is here. In addition to cold political rhetoric, the world also witnessed the power of Little-phat Night King’s fully operational Intercontinental Ballistic Dragon (ICBD).  It is now up to the PLA to mount a possible offensive defense.

In the following weeks,  this blog will start posting more Northern China (especially on the Northern Theater Command) centric updates.   Hopefully it will feature insight into the military options available to the King in Beijing.   One thing's for certain, the PLA can expect no Lannister army marching shoulder-shoulder with them -- Cersei tweets loud-and big but all she ever wanted is to build a wall facing the south (too late, no?).  Joking aside, the 28,500 strong Lannister army can’t mount a “boots on the ground” across the DMZ without completing an prolonged air campaign first.

A note to the King in Beijing, A Lannister always pays his debts.  It stands at $1.15 trillion in Aug 2017 and counting.

RRU -- the King in Beijing can count on 2 brigades of PLAN Marine (the third brigade is far from battle-ready), up to 9 airborne brigades and dozens of SpOs units.  Given China's advanced transportation networks coupled with their high-readiness rate,  majority of those RRU could reach the Yalu River delta area within 10 days.  This rapid troop movement capacity has been demonstrated during rescue phase of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.9 years ago.  An assessment of PLA's response to the 2008 earthquake is here.   However, RRU are essentially light infantry units -- albeit well-trained -- with limited light direct and in-direct armor and fire support.  They also lack heavy artillery and engineering assets to overcome fortified defensive positions and mountainous terraindotted across the entire area-of-operations.  They should know, they were there during the 1950s.

Furthermore, unlike their Western counterparts, close tactical air support is still an luxury item few units have access to. Therefore, those RRU will not advance without support from local "heavies".   But if they do, they will be "all in". 

Story here. 

I do recognize the tongue in cheek part of this article.  I'm sure its funny as hell and I'm just missing the joke because I'm not properly socialized.

But ignoring the statements referring to (he used the pic from the Game Of Thrones...and "king" I assume refers to Chinese history) current TV shows and past history the readiness levels of the Chinese Marines and Airborne Forces is noteworthy.

I await more details, but it is apparent from this telling that the Chinese are at this time capable of taking Taiwan (if this is correct).

If this is true then the calculations have changed.  I thought we had till 2020 for the Chinese to be ready to make a move on Taiwan.  They're ahead of my estimates that are waaaay ahead of published estimates from our intel agencies.

This is...interesting.

Are we in worse trouble in the Pacific than I thought?

AAV Bn is once again the stars of Hurricane relief...the original intent of this vehicle is being realized again!

Thanks to Strider 40 for the link!

via Fox13 News.

The Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles, Humvees, and other vehicles turned heads as they were moved from their waterfront barracks near the Gandy Bridge.  They wanted to remain accessible and ready to go even after the Zone A evacuation order was issued.

The tracked vehicles – which can float if needed – were still drawing a crowd as they sat outside the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today.  Some were even posing for photos with the trucks.
“We had seen these here before, for another hurricane,” one neighbor offered.  “For us, it means we’ve got a lot of safety here just in case people need help or get trapped inside their house. I like to see these here.”

Story here and photos below from the same article.

Yeah I'm repeating myself.

Yeah I'm shouting.

The Marine Corps has a superstar in its midst.  The AAV...a weapon of war is going back to its roots of being a life saving device during hurricanes.

This is a piece of Marine Corps lore that people don't realize.  The Alligator, as Roebling called his invention, was originally meant to save people during hurricanes. Check out the history of the Alligator here. I'll try and find a better history of the machine but that's a too short summation.

The point remains.

When it comes to disaster relief the Marine Corps has a gem on its hands.

It does during combat too.

The Ground Combat Element and the MEU as a whole should NOT be thrown away to chase a future warfare concept that is so fatally flawed that I can punch holes in it from my chair.

The aviation centric Marine Corps has continued to fail at disaster relief and basing relief efforts around the MV-22 is a fools errand.

It's time to abandon this flight of fancy and do real work.  Get the AAV-SU into service post haste.  Stop artificially extending the testing of the ACV and make a selection and get it into service asap!

Oh and lets put a pin in this aviation centric nonsense and make our MEU's reinforced with the addition of a MLP to the current three ship ARG, plus up our arty and get ready for the fights of the future.

But back on task. The AAV does two things when it rolls into town.  It lets people know that help is on the way.  Second.  It waves the Marine Corps banner loud and proud.

Well done 4th AAV Bn! Let's hope HQMC is paying attention!

26th MEU Marines depart to establish Forward Coordinating Element on St. Croix

I predicted this.

The Marine Corps is so "jazzed" about proving concepts instead of proving relevance that its becoming a slow, sagging, after thought.

Think about it like this.

How would the old "MEU" have responded to this crisis?

You would see the entire BLT assembled and on board ship.  The entire Ground Combat Element (well arty and tanks would be left behind if this was a single mission and follow on deployments didn't take place) would be available and if not then you'd see additional AAVs, Humvees or MTVRs onloaded.

The air element would be as usual with the difference being that it would be much more robust than this travesty that we're seeing deployed to the Virgin Islands.

What do we see instead?

A bitched up weak force that is in my opinion trying to prove command and control instead of getting aid to people.

We're looking at a population of 100K plus and we're sending 700 Marines and a penny packet of aircraft to help?

Weak sauce.

The only saving grace is that the action is on the continental US.  The Navy is deploying an aircraft carrier that will serve as a lilypad to all types of first responder aircraft and an LHD is bringing along a few more Marines.

In other words?

The usual suspects will shine and the Marines will be seen as the service missing when ANOTHER regional tragedy strikes the American shore. Is there another C. Co. 4th AABn waiting in the wings to carry our banner proudly?

God I hope so!

Australia's experience with the LCM-1E is a warning about defense procurement...

I did a post yesterday (here) that talked about the Australian Navy and Army testing the LCM-1E for use transporting the M1A1 they have from ship to shore.

It failed and failed badly.

This part of the story needs to be emphasized for this discussion...

Concerns about the landing craft’s ability to carry the Abrams have already been raised both in a report by the Australian National Audit Office last year and in March in a Senate Defence Committee Estimates Hearing.

The ANAO last year reported that the landing craft had not reached Final Operational Capability (FOC) because trials needed to be done to confirm the ability to carry Australia’s M1A1 main battle tank.

It noted that subsequent trials conducted in May 2016 were unsuccessful. Carrying the M1A1 on the LHD landing craft required the operation of the craft in an overload state, it said.

It said significant issues needed to be addressed prior to project conclusion.

Do you get the force of connection here?

Do you understand what happened here?

I wish I could say this was a problem invented in Australia and only affects Australian Defence Procurement but that would be a lie.

We're seeing a naval rerun of the F-35 saga.  They rushed this program along, bought the vessels and now they're seeing that they're inadequate to the task.

Sounds like the warnings we've been giving about the F-35 huh?

The crazy, insane, makes you want to punch walls thing?  They tested the LCM-1E and found it failed the test.  The wording is that these were "subsequent trials" so that means its failed a series of tests!

I wish I could laugh at the Aussies but instead I find brotherhood with them. Manufacturers are apparently so far inside the tent of their Ministry of Defence that they can't make common sense buys.  The same is happening in the US.

If we are to win future wars we have to win in the testing/procurement regime. We must get better and we must do it with a quickness.  The time for leisure is over.  It's time for America to get back to work...we must be ready to do real work across the board and that includes defense.

Hurricane Irma News. Defense increase is gone...

Watching Hurricane Irma coverage and they got the track wrong...or rather the predicted track changed.  Instead of going up the center of Florida it's going up the West side of the state.

If they're right about storm surge then you're looking at devastation that will stretch from one side of the state to the other wiping out several billion dollars worth of real estate.  We haven't even begun to talk about the damage from wind and rain...that's just the thinking on the damage caused by storm surge.

Of course we haven't even tabulated lives lost...you can't put a price on that but one thing is certain.  Many Floridians are about to learn new respect for the power of Mother Nature.

But back on task.

There is no way you can have two regional disasters, tax reduction disguised as tax reform and somehow get that long hoped for defense spending increase.

You can call any increase in defense spending gone with the winds of Harvey and Irma.

All that talk from the Pentagon of assuming reasonable risk is just like the war plans in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Stupid on a plate.  The future budget wars will be stunning and a sight to behold.

Even inside the Marine Corps, a few members of the tribe are waking up to how badly managed Aviation has been and how they've stripped the rest of the force of funding to get the F-35 (a program I hate with every fiber of my body) across the finish line.

These storms are bad but don't endanger the future security of the country. The idiocy shown by military leadership with regard to defense spending is a different matter and historians/future Marines will curse us all for not raising the alarm bells.

French Army - Leclerc Main Battle Tanks (vid)

Open Comment Post. Sep 10, 2017

Hurricane Irma News. Law Enforcement perspective on the ground by JD Strike...

This update is from JD Strike...

ok worked 12hr last night 1800 to 0600.  Beautiful sunny day.  All stores closed at 1900 hrs.  A few gas stations still open but majority no gas.  Lots of people moving in from the coast to get supplies before they bug out.  This morning mandatory evacuation in effect.

Liberty County Sheriffs department manned check points for all roads into and out of the coastal areas. You come out you don't get back in till all is clear.  I work City PD, so if your not familiar with the area, we are the county seat, so everyone from the coast comes through us to move inland.  I stood patrol out at the super Walmart at closing time last night and couldn't believe the people still waiting to the last minute to go get supplies, wire money in or hell just shop .  Think about this, it was payday yesterday so a lot of people had to wait for payday to get any funds to buy basics. (no deep larder).  Luckily no one got stupid and contained their anger.

Spent the rest of the evening  bouncing between two gas stations that had a little fuel left. Long lines and 3-4 police officers present to keep it cool.  Patrolled the neighborhoods assessing my assigned zone for the next few days to get idea of how many houses have people still staying or have been boarded up.  Funny talked to a few people who decided to stay because when Hurricane Matthew came through last year "it wasn't that bad".  All I could tell them was be safe and this storm is not the same or on the same track.  We had areas that had no power for up to two weeks last year and the storm went up the east coast and impacted South Carolina.  I have no clue how this ones gonna play out even if it has moved more west and losses strength.  I got released this morning and told go home make preparations and be back at 1800 Saturday.  Helped my neighbor put up plywood and the helped her pack her truck to leave out the area.  Gave her some ammo, and 10 gallons of gas.
As of 1600 we have clouds, and a little rain and wind, but nothing to write home about.  Afternoon watch is manning intersections and helping keep the flow of traffic moving.  I really pray things don't get bad here like T is experiencing.  Just a point of interest, we will remain in service during the storm period up until the winds get to 45 miles per hour, then we are to bunker down at the PD and wait for the weather to break.  During this period, no calls for service, no deploying out to save or help anyone. No police, fire or EMS period.  That needs to sink into people.  They have to prepare for their own selves, Food, water and medical supplies.  It really sucks to think that IF someone calls for help, we cant or wont be allowed by higher to go out.  That's why there is an evacuation.  Either way its a shitty situation.  Well I hope this storm didn't pay it utilities bills and gets them shut off.  Prayers for everyone.       

Yep.  People are about to get sucker punched.  Even worse.  Its on a new track and I'd bet body parts it goes a bit further west than they're currently projecting.

The lessons learned from this is going to be fascinating.  The old standards are just not going to cut it.  Too many people live too close to the coastline...especially the growth we've seen in Florida, Texas and Mississippi (Louisiana has swamp lands and no beaches so we're immune to that danger).

From my chair if you're living in the path of a major storm you might need to plan on being away from home for maybe two weeks.  Assuming you leave two days before the storm hits land, giving the storm two days to wreck your area and move out, and then maybe 5 days for relief efforts to kick in...power restored, roads cleared and body removed...10 to 14 day stay away from home?

It sounds outrageous but that might be the new standard.

The USAF full operational capability lie via The Drive...

Thanks to Moebius for the link! (Didn't remember you linked this till this morning!)

via The Drive.

Still, it’s not entirely clear how the Air Force is defining “fully combat capable” in this case. None of the three F-35 variants have even begun the mandatory testing process run by the Pentagon's Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), which is independent of the individual services.

What is clear is that this is not the same, nor is the service claiming it is, as a formal declaration of “full operational capability,” or FOC. The Pentagon-standard definition for FOC is when every unit that is supposed to receive a certain weapon system has gotten that piece of equipment and can both operate and maintain it. This announcement is generally only supposed to come after the system passes DOT&E's rigorous independent testing regime.

The Air Force had already added confusion to this process by declaring initial operational capability (IOC), which is supposed to reflect a basic operational capability, for the F-35A before the end of developmental testing and without any operational evaluations. The service seems to be again obfuscating the situation, intentionally or unintentionally, by using a term that sounds similar to FOC, but isn't, which has already led to confusion in the media about what this new announcement realistically means. 

Then this.

 “Declaring ‘initial operational capability’ after each of the program's steps rather diminishes the pronouncement,” Grazier added. “I'm sure most people are really only interested in ‘full operational capability’ as that is what we are paying for.”

Beyond that, based on the publicly available information, it’s hard to say whether or not the Block 3F software package will provide a truly complete suite of combat capabilities. We have no reason to doubt the new code will finally allow F-35A pilots to employ the fuller range of existing operational weapons the Air Force wants the aircraft to carry by the end of the ongoing developmental testing process.

As of 2015, this list of planned weapon options was relatively short, including the AIM-9X and AIM-120C air-to-air missiles, GBU-12/B 500-pound class laser-guided bombs, GBU-31/B 2,000-pound class GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs, the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), and the GAU-22/A 25mm cannon. There are now plans to integrate 500- and 1,000-pound class JDAMs and the GBU-49/B dual-mode version of the GBU-12.

Story here. 

Long short?  This is the most corrupt program in the history of the US military. Forget the costs as horrendous as it is, think about the morale bankruptcy this plane is causing among those in senior positions.

The gamesmanship being played with "IOC" and "FOC" is telling and disgusting.  These people are breaking the law...at least the spirit of the law and Congress is so fucking stupid that they're more worried about basing rights than they are the bankrupting of our defense dept.

Navantia's LCM-1E incapable of transporting Australian M1A1 MBTs?

Thanks to Gerard for the link!

via The Australian.

A Spanish company vying for a $30 billion Navy ship building contract is using a Youtube video to imply its landing craft can carry Australia’s heavy tanks despite the boat sinking too low in water when the armoured vehicle was put on board.

Navantia, one of three contenders for Australia’s $30 billion Future Frigates contract, has a contract worth about $240 million to supply Australia with 12 landing craft supposedly capable of carrying the army’s 62 tonne M1A1 Abrams tanks.

Defence has since confirmed trials of the boats had to be suspended after they sank to low in the water when the 62 tonne Abrams was put on board.

Story here. 

Just plain wow.  The Aussies aren't even operating the heaviest version of the tank and the LCM-1E can't handle it?

This is one of those foreign systems that I've been lusting after and hoping that the USN/USMC would adopt.

Now?

Not only no but hell no!

Even worse?

They're trying to make up for the bad news NOT with engineering improvements but thru an ad campaign?

Navantia just lost all kinds of cool points with me.

U.S., Romanian and British soldiers finish Bull Run II...will Russia-phobic people shut up now?

U.S., Romanian and British soldiers finish Bull Run II at the training area in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Sept. 6, 2017. The two-day readiness exercise tested the speed of assembly, freedom of movement and collective defense of the NATO battle group. Army photo by Capt. John W. Strickland

Yep.  I'm  a musician this weekend cause all I'm doing is beating on drums.

Why?

Because the current "conventional wisdom" is so wrong it hurts.  We have been conducting exercise after exercise in Europe.  Yet Russia does one and people go batshit?

Are you fucking kidding me?

This is why you prep...

If anyone has any questions on why you should prep I recommend you read some of the recent articles from Law Enforcement readers of this page and their experiences either in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey (T is doing God's work there) and JD Strike getting ready to do work and make things happen in Georgia.

Long short (but I still feel a need to shout this from the rooftops).

You can't get ready.

You must be ready!

Stacking your shit deep in case an emergency happens isn't hoarding, being a survivalist nut case or a doom day zealot.

It's about assuring that you and your family have a plan of action to safeguard your own lives and the valuables/keepsakes that you cherish.

What's next on the list to buy?

No, not more guns or ammo.  Not even more food.  Increase emergency cash? Yeah but that can happen at a normal pace.  I have set aside a reasonable fund to cover those expenses.

What comes next will be a cargo trailer.

One thing is certain.

By the time the authorities alert the public to a potential emergency then you'll see a run on the stores that will see you caught up in a flood of humanity that is drawn to drama like flies (someplace you should never want to be in) or caught in traffic or forced to put your family in a refugee center (they had one for Harvey setup not far from me and again the stories are terrible...don't know if its real or fake).

A good, flexible (in my mind) cargo trailer that you can make provisions to store water and fuel and additional items from the home makes sense.  Especially when its becoming painfully obvious that traveling approx three to four hundred miles from the coast to escape destruction is the new benchmark.

Hurricane News. Florida is screwed, and people are stupid.

Watching coverage of Hurricane Irma.  This is gonna be bad juju and all I see are Floridians playing on beaches.

Mark my words.

In a day or so these same people are gonna be begging first responders to come save them.  These same people will be talking about how they went so many days without food or water.

In short, people are stupid.

Next.  It's happening as I predicted.  The USN/USMC is surging into the Virgin Islands and the real story will be what's happening right here in the continental US.  No one is covering that story and the Marine Corps premier force in readiness is being ignored.  The USMC public relations officer needs to choke himself.

Finally I'll keep banging this drum.  You can forget any increase in defense spending.  The economy and the govt just can't afford a tax cut (which Republicans are demanding) along with hurricane relief (which everyone agrees on) and then combine that with more money spent on defense.

An enemy didn't destroy the US military.

Mismanagement of limited resources (and much to the alarm of generals the budget is limited) coupled with a failed war strategy in Iraq/Afghanistan mixed with the focus on the F-35 despite all evidence pointing to it being a failure, has ensured that we will lose the fight against China that is rapidly approaching.  Much to my disbelief and astonishment, the Chinese have already achieved perfect victory...the shocking thing is that we helped them do it.

Did an X-plane or F-35 crash?

Thanks to Numo for the link!

via Flight Global.

An unidentified US Air Force aircraft assigned to Materiel Command crashed on the Nevada Test and Training Range on 5 September, killing the test pilot and raising questions about the potential existence of a new classified aircraft.

The USAF’s 99th Wing public affairs office at nearby Nellis AFB confirms the crash that occurred during a training mission at about 6pm killed Lt Col Eric Schultz, a USAF test pilot who had previously worked on the Lockheed Martin F-35 test programme. An investigation is underway and “additional information concerning the accident will be released as it becomes available”, the USAF says.

Story here. 

I already have readers saying that it wasn't an F-35 and that we should all move on.  To those people I raise the following issues...

1.  They did not say that it was NOT an F-35.

2.  We do know that information about the F-35...negative information is always timed with release of positive news.

3.  God save the deceased pilot's soul and may his family find comfort, but that bubba had two hands inside the F-35 program and we KNOW they're trying to ramp up production.

4.  Same as number three with the added point that they're trying get the definitive block certified so that they can get foreign sales and have the plane perform as advertised.

With Irma about to hit Florida they decide to release this information?  This happened almost 5 days ago but only now?

I suspect they're hiding bad F-35 news.

Pic of the day....The Light Dragoons of the Royal Armoured Corps night live fire.

The Light Dragoons is a Light Cavalry Regiment in the Royal Armoured Corps 🇬🇧 that is now deployed to #Poland 🇵🇱 as part of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence. They are equipped with the Jackal light armoured vehicle. Recently the battlegroup has conducted a night live fire to enhance the marksmanship of their gunners

Hurricane Harvey & Irma News. A Law Enforcement ground level view.

I've gotten  couple of viewpoints that my readers need to check out from Law Enforcement on the ground...both in Harvey & Irma.

1.  T in Houston.

Well Sol Houston drains well. There is one side of town still flooded due to the releasing of dams up river, but other than that it's not to bad. The cleanup is starting along with the recovery of bodies. I'm on nights so I'm not involved with that.

 As far as crime these guys here run for anything. There have been a ton of pursuits since we have been here. Gas is getting hard to find, but there is no shortage. There is a shortage of fuel tanks that don't have water in them.
 The shooting at officers has stopped as well. It seems like two rival gang guys shot each other the next day with AKs in the area where officers were shot at. Since then the streets have quieted.

 To be honest more shit was going on after Ike.
 Now there are going to be some messed up guys after this with the body recovery. In my area body snatchers come get them when we find them. Down here the officers find them and have to move them to the ME's van. I'm hearing some guys found 4 dead children in a work van. The guy driving was unfamiliar with the van, a buddy loaned it to move his family, he didn't know the transmission needed to be in park for the rear doors to open. It started being taken away by flood waters and he couldn't get the doors open. Sad story. Have a witness that said the guy had one arm wrapped around a tree and one hand on the door handle holding onto it until it was finally to much. Fuck man.

I knew this was gonna happen but didn't expect it to affect me.  Ya know what I mean.  Taking your eye off the ball just because the next episode shows up.

Thankfully we have T providing updates.  Don't forget about Texas and keep them in your prayers (or wish them well if you don't).

2. JD-Strike in Georgia

well they announced mandatory evacuations for Fort Stewart and Hunter AAF. Liberty County and All of Hinesville. I already moved out my Oldest Son to North of here. Wife and Daughter are already in Hawaii with her folks. I'm stuck here with the dog and a Mandatory recall, 12 on 12 off hunkered down at the PD. Talk about timing. I drop my letter for my 2wk Notice on the 28th of this month, then supposed to load a container first week of October and then bounce on a plane. I worked during Matthew and while it was no way close to the size of Irma, it was rough. Ill tell you the panic buying has been going on since Tuesday, gas has been short and now everyone has to be out of the region starting Saturday 0900, with contraflow on I-16. Looking at the Track, savannah is going to be major flooded even if its a Cat 1-2. al the coastal areas are gonna get wrecked and this is not going to be compared to what Florida is projected to get. I tell you the complete helpless feeling is knowing there is nothing you can really do to protect your property. In my case all of our stuff is boxed and staged for the planned move. Anyway, ill ride the storm out at work. Sol ill keep you posted the best I can while the internet stays up and we got power. Oh and before someone askes why the hell I would move to Hawaii with all the crazy shit going on with Norks and China, I got elderly parents that are not doing well. Have to circle the wagons.

Everyone forgets but Law Enforcement is being asked to leave their loved ones and head out into the wild to protect people they don't know.  That's a huge ask...sorta like being in the military huh?

Additionally I can't emphasize enough that we're seeing two regional events. Affected areas aren't covering a few miles but hundreds maybe even thousands of square miles.

These are potentially storms of the century and you get a chance to watch it. I guess we're blessed to live in interesting times...or is it cursed?

The Marine Corps is forward leaning ready to provide assistance in Florida when Irma strikes. GOOD!

via DVIDS.

 Reserve Marines from units in Florida and Alabama are poised to support FEMA, state and local response efforts in anticipation of Hurricane Irma’s land fall. Currently, 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company, based in Mobile, Alabama, 4th Assault Amphibian Vehicle (AAV) Battalion, based in Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida and Combat Logistics Battalion-451, based in Orlando, Florida are preparing to provide support. The preparations ensure Marine Forces Reserve is ready to respond to any requests to bolster Northern Command's support of FEMA's assistance to federal, state and local authorities' ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

“These are local Marines who live and work in these communities, and they have a deeply-vested interest in helping their neighbors during this dangerous storm,” said Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve.

Marine Forces Reserve AAV and Recon assets played a critical role during Hurricane Harvey’s relief operations, conducting a number of immediate response missions. In total, the Marine Forces Reserve rescued 1,265 victims, conducted 1,166 welfare checks, delivered 25,500 lbs. of supplies for the American Red Cross and transported 6,000 lbs. of food, water and bedding in support of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The units are organized as a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF). The MAGTF is the Marine Corps’ principal organization for conducting missions across the range of military operations, including Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) across the globe in which the Marine Corps has a great deal of expertise.

So they learned the lesson and they're forward leaning.

GOOD!

This is more of what I expected.  Unfortunately the Kearsarge and it's MEU is deployed to the Virgin Islands.  Looking at this from a visibility standpoint that's a backwater.  The issue that will capture the hearts and minds...especially during this battle of the budget...will be the work that is done in the continental United States.

Another thing.  I noticed that they're trying to highlight Recon's work in this effort.  Nice try but you don't know the Southern United States if you think they're bringing something special.

Every redneck, good ole boy, coon-ass, cajun and their mother has a boat of some sort and will be doing rescues from boats bigger than zodiacs.  Recon will do work I'm sure but they won't capture attention.

AAV's will though.  You see one of those beasts bringing a Navy Corpsman being piloted by Marines and you know help is on the way.  The news media knows that too.

I know what you're saying.  This is a rescue mission.  A disaster relief mission. To hell with the optics.

I tell you you're wrong.  It's both. It's about optics and the work these Marines will be doing.  And it's a fight that the Marine Corps MUST win if it's going to remain an American touchstone.

Open Comment Post. Sep 8, 2017

S. Koreans protest Anti-Missile System designed to protect them. Why do we bother?

via Defense Tech.

U.S. Army trucks brought four more THAAD anti-missile launchers onto a former golf course in South Korea on Thursday, following clashes between police and protesters trying to block the road.

Two of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system launchers were already in place, but the remaining four in the battery had been put on hold pending an environmental study.

On Wednesday, the South Korean Defense Ministry gave approval to the placement of six launchers in response to North Korea’s underground detonation last week of a nuclear weapon that may have been a hydrogen bomb.

“After consultations with Washington, the additional THAAD launchers will be installed on a temporary basis together with other construction equipment and materials,” the Defense Ministry said.

Story here. 

No rant.  Just this.  Why do we bother?  The S. Koreans and Japanese protest our bases, our aircraft and now a weapon system that is being put in place to protect them.

The Pentagon wants to do a round of base closing?

I recommend they start overseas.