What is a MEU? (Part 1)

Does nothing for me. Ain't inspiring. Doesn't give me confidence. A weak son of a strong father. Legacy was stronger, new "hotness" is a fashionable joke lacking substance and more importantly ground combat power. Better hope Army Airborne is ready to fly to the rescue.

This one might be a keeper...

 

Man wakes up after a bumble date and the entire house is cleaned pic.twitter.com/vYbXxmloDw

— Financial Dystopia (@financedystop) June 29, 2025

MAGTF-6 Flexes Enhanced Logistics and Aviation Integration During Service Level Training Exercise 4-25...Story by 1st Lt. Stephen Sewell

Note.  You leave a vacuum and another force will fill it.  I take this as another move away from the defense focused Force Design 2030 and ATTEMPTING to flex it into ground instead of sea combat.  I remain unconvinced this will work however.  The longer they wait to make the needed course correction the more limited the Marine Corps role in the future will be.  The biggest mistake of Force Design 2030?  Tying itself to the Navy completely.  If the Marine Corps is tied to the Navy in the form of Naval Task Forces then Combat Commanders will have NO USE for the force...unless a naval force is needed.  If this is the desired outcome then it's time to case the colors.  Why have a Marine Corps if all its good for is fighting in the littorals against China?  Dying in penny packets to leave micro-fragmented bodies and equipment as recon for enemy forces.

 via DVIDS

In today's evolving and increasingly lethal battlefield landscape, Marine Corps Force Design initiatives are emphasizing maneuverable and dispersed units that can operate inside environments heavily contested by the weapons engagement zone of enemy forces and fires. This demands seamless integration between all elements of the Marine Corps Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), command, combat, logistics, and aviation.

Advanced Motorized Operations Course (AMOC) at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MAGTF-TC) Twentynine Palms, Calif., showcased how a distributed, platoon-sized Logistics Combat Element (LCE) force can leverage air support functions from three Aviation Combat Element (ACE) squadrons to enhance their survivability and sustain operations in high-intensity combat scenarios on July 24, 2025.

B Company, Combat Logistics Battalion-8, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, executed a convoy resupply through and around the extinct Holocene volcanoes of Lavic Lake in Training Area Lavic, MAGTF-TC. The mission of the convoy was to deliver air-dropped supplies from Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 165 (VMM-165), Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Air Wing, to a Ground Combat Element (GCE) battalion, with expected enemy contact from Type 05 series Infantry Fighting Vehicles and dismounted infantry.

B Company’s convoy consisted of three Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) trucks, and four Joint Light Tactical Vehicle’s (JLTV). The heaviest weaponry B Company’s convoy possessed was the M240B Medium Machinegun. In the given scenario, B Company was outgunned by the 30mm cannons of the enemy Type 05’s. Success or failure of B Company through their conduct of AMOC would depend on their speed and air support.

In the beginning of their mission, B Company demonstrated several immediate actions familiar to Marine Corps convoy operations. These immediate actions included cordoning off and clearing an IED, recovering casualties through ground casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), and executing a towed vehicle recovery of a JLTV by a MTVR MK 36 Wrecker while taking enemy contact.

After breaking contact, B Company established circular security of a landing zone (LZ) for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361), Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Air Wing. 15 minutes later, a CH-53E Super Stallion from HMH-361 landed in the ad hoc LZ. An MTVR from B Company drove up to the CH-53E and Marines transferred the MTVR’s casualties into the helicopter, before the CH-53E took off to the Navy Medical Damage Control Resuscitation (DRC) center in the rear area. The total time from the CH-53E landing to the casualties being loaded took five minutes.

When the first CH-53E left the LZ, a second landed to assess the suitability of a JLTV hulk meant to stand in for the “damaged” JLTV currently being towed by MK 36 Wrecker. Once the lift points were deemed acceptable, that CH-53E took off and executed a flight pattern that transitioned into attaching its helicopter sling load cables to the hulk, practicing the beginning stages of an external airlift.

While the “Flying Tigers” of HMH-361 provided CASEVAC and heavy lift support for B Company, two AH-1Z Vipers from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367), Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing conducted several gun runs with their 20mm cannons and 2.75” high explosive rockets on armored targets threatening the convoy and HMH-361 at distances as close approximately 200-250 meters.

“We can provide a different view of the battlefield from the air and can pass critical information about the enemy that the ground forces may not be able to see.” Captain Lee Hyatt, a Viper pilot with HMLA-367 said, when asked about the importance of light attack helicopters providing fires and reconnaissance for ground forces, “We can maneuver quickly onto targets of opportunity with rockets and guns and employ precision guided munitions on targets up to 8km away to protect friendly movements.”

In the span of approximately an hour and a half, CLB-8, HMH-361, and HMLA-367 had supported each other to conduct close air support and air evacuation, sub-categories of two of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation, offensive air support and assault support.

“Aviation isn’t merely transportation—it’s a force multiplier,” said Lt. Col. Kyleigh Cullen, commanding officer of HMH-361 “It extends the reach, speed, and resilience of expeditionary logistics on the modern battlefield. When aerial lift and ground logistics are synchronized, the MAGTF gains the ability to sustain operations at the tempo required for mission success."

Successful coordination of close air support and assault support during AMOC demonstrates the significance of how simultaneous actions can help maintain tempo on the battlefield. HMLA-367 provided protective fires more powerful than B Company could organically support themselves, ensuring that any decisive engagement by enemy mechanized formations could be interdicted long enough to facilitate the air evacuations. HMH-361 evacuating the casualties and damaged vehicle of CLB-8 allowed B Company to increase their speed and maneuverability, and the convoy commander to focus all their resources on convoy operations meant to resupply an infantry battalion of the GCE.

These simultaneous actions also require effective command and control to coordinate.

“Escorting HMLA has the capability to relay to Joint Tactical Air Controllers who then relay to the Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) what the status of an LZ is, and coordinate the timing for assault support to conduct,” said 1stLt. Brooks Morgan, an Air Support Control Officer with Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS) 3. “Or, if already positioned, HMLA can act as a coordinator, and talk the landing aircraft on to the LZ.”

MASSs provide the processing of immediate air support requests, integrate aircraft with supporting arms, manage terminal control assets and procedurally control aircraft through the Direct Air Support Center (DASC), allowing command and control of aircraft in support of MAGTF operations.

“Coordinating all of those layers requires an in depth understanding of the ground commanders’ scheme of maneuver and what effects need to occur,” 1stLt Morgan said, “A battlespace is ever changing, and without a central hub for information between air and ground units, it can become easy for agencies to not act in concert with the commander’s desired end state.”

Once the air evacuation was complete, B Company reformed on their route, escorted by HMLA-367. The two Vipers of “Scarface” flew circular patterns several hundred meters out in front of the convoy, engaging targets with rockets, and collecting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) for the convoy commander, ensuring enemy forces were unable to threaten the resupply mission. After the enemy threat was assessed to be minimal, the Vipers exfiltrated back to the nearest friendly airfield, and B Company finished their resupply mission unopposed.

“It was amazing to see the MAGTF’s integrated strength in action combining convoy operations and close air support (CAS),” Lt. Ezona Haile, the convoy commander for B Company during AMOC said, “For convoy operations, having air on station is critical for our survivability, enabling maneuver and sustaining tempo for mission accomplishment. AMOC provided an unparalleled training environment allowing ground and air elements to refine coordination and communication through realistic conditions.”

As Force Design calls for more maneuverable, dispersed forces, in a battlefield where the traditional deep, close, and rear areas are increasingly blended by developing technologies such as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), rocket artillery, and spectrometers, AMOC helps highlight how the Logistics Combat Element, traditionally operating in the rear area, can wield logistics as a form of maneuver in the close area to gain positional advantage over the enemy.

“Convoy operations in distributed environments rely on seamless air-ground integration,” said Lt. Col. Lewis, battalion commander of CLB-8, “Rotary-wing assets provide crucial air support, mitigating threats and enabling the freedom of maneuver necessary to gain and maintain positional advantage. This includes vital assault support for rapid casualty evacuation and crucial resupply, ensuring sustainment even while on the move and enabling continued pressure on the adversary.”

Increasing the survivability of units on the battlefield by conducting the actions demonstrated in AMOC, allows units to extend their culminating point. The culminating point is a moment when a force, either on offense or defense, can no longer effectively continue its current form of operations. More survivable logistics convoys ensure more survivable ground units, as the Ground Combat Element (GCE), in addition to the LCE and ACE, can receive the sustainment they need to stay in the fight. By staying on the battlefield longer, ground units can maintain positional advantage over enemy forces by continuing to apply pressure on them, and occupy key terrain.

By synchronizing effects across the domains of warfare with integrated, distributed, and mobile units, Marines can enhance our resilience as a force and prevent adversary disruption to our operations.

CLB-8, HMH-361, HMLA-367, VMM-165, and MASS 3, are currently attached to Marine Air Ground Task Force-6 (MAGTF-6), a MAGTF composited under the command element of 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, for the conduct of Service Level Training Exercise (SLTE) 4-25.

MAGTF-6 is conducting SLTE 4-25 to train for high-intensity, multi-domain combat operations against a peer adversary in an expeditionary environment, and prepare 6th Marine Regiment for command and control of high-intensity combat operations and crisis response.

Open Comment Post. 14 Aug 25

I don't even know how to title this post except to say its another case of senseless violence...

 

Guy accuses 68 y/o dude in a wheel chair of stolen valor provokes a fight. Wheel chair man charges at him with a knife, pulls out an airsoft gun. Provoker pulls out a pistol from his man purse and blasts the guy.

(wheel chair man survived, is a vet)pic.twitter.com/gqYi0HDIYj

— WeaponOutfitters.com (@WeaponOutfitter) August 13, 2025

The title says it all. The only thing left is to say how do you decide who's right or wrong in this case. The law is simple. If the dude pulls out an airsoft gun and the "real" shooter thought that it was real then its a solid case of self defense. But still....just geez....

Open Comment Post. 12 Aug 25

 

Illegal immigrant population down 1.6 million under Trump crackdown via Washington Times

 WT

President Trump is booting out illegal immigrants faster than President Biden added them, according to the latest Census Bureau numbers, which show an unprecedented drop in the number of immigrants living in the U.S.

The total number of foreign-born people dropped by 2.2 million from January to July, and most of that — 1.6 million — was among the illegal immigrant population, said Steven A. Camarota, the research director at the Center for Immigration Studies who crunched the numbers.

It’s an almost unfathomable turnaround from the Biden years, when illegal immigrants surged into the U.S. at record rates, netting about 120,000 new people each month.

Here 

Ok cool.  But are we making allowances for legal immigration especially in STEM fields?

Personally (after proper vetting) I'll take an immigrant from freaking Jupiter if it can advance our tech.

How does the Marine Littoral Regiment stop Chinese grey zone behavior when they're hunting PI ships to ram?

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Do you see this shit? Chinese ships are literally hunting a PI vessel in order to ram/harass it. How does the Marine Littoral Regiment deter this type of grey zone behavior? How is it even credible in this type environment?

AI video of Chinese Landing Barges

 

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31st MEU | Anti-submarine warfare training...Photos by Cpl. Alora Finigan

The Marine Corps is flailing about looking for missions to justify the MLR. This ain't it and is an insult to the sub hunters doing the exacting work especially during the days of the Soviet Union when nuclear annihilation was on the table. Dropping sonobuoys from a supposedly low density/high demand airplane isn't what they should be doing. If its just dropping sonobuoys for other assets to monitor (I see no indication that the USMC is doing the low, risky, highly technical side of subhunting) then they should rig UAVs to do this job. The idea that the USMC thinks they can slam their way into this mission profile is more a glaring indictment of how far the Navy has fallen in the skill of hunting enemy subs (assuming that they have). Once we had carrier based S-3 Vikings that handled this mission with flair. Even SH-60s did their part. But they were specially equipped for the mission, not cargo or troop carrying MV-22s.

 

Can Europe Defend Itself Without US Military Support? via National Interest

 The answer is no!  An unequivocal NO!  But the reasons aren't what you think.  It's not that the US is keeping Europe down.  Its not that the US industrial base "demands" it.  Its that the Europeans don't actually want to spend the money necessary to be "free" of the US.

Don't believe me?  Then check out the points I've highlighted from the article (make sure to read the whole thing for yourself though...here).

Via National Interest.

European militarism keeps the United States happy, especially if it means enriching American defense companies. “Buying American kit will be the quickest and easiest way to dispense all the extra billions pouring into defense budgets,” says Nick Witney of the European Council on Foreign Relations.  

Utter bullshit.  The war in Ukraine has opened the door to S. Korean imports most notably in Poland.  Why not more homegrown investment?  The pussification of Europe by Europeans, not America.

 There are other reasons to believe that this militarization plan will neither make Europe safer nor boost economic growth. It fails to address crucial national security threats, such as climate change, and risks the retrenchment of social programs, which is likely to be unpopular with Europeans. The same IGA survey found that some Western Europeans are open to more military spending, but only a quarter or fewer think their country should spend “much more” on its military.  

This is the real issue.

Even if you're a climate change supporter then how is that a military problem?  Its not.  But it is an additional pot of money to dip into to push for changes that won't work and will allow feel good emotions.  I mean how can't "saving the planet" make the baby boomers that are back to smoking weed everyday and gen z not feel like they're doing there part.

But that's not even the biggest issue.  Its the social programs that has the Europeans skeptical.  They want and need them.  They would rather be under the US umbrella and keep all the goodies than do the adult thing and fund their own self protection.

Even now Europe claims that Russia will attack them once they're done with Ukraine.  Yet they still hesitate to fund their own defense?  The biggest refrain is that it will trigger article 5 and the US will come to their rescue so we should do as they want on their continent instead of standing up themselves.

 “Europe could perfectly well defend itself against Russia even if the US packed up and went home tomorrow,” says Witney. But a simple reality of NATO is that European dependence on the United States is a feature, not a bug. Trump may take credit for forcing Europe to spend more on defense, but he follows in a long lineage of presidents wary of Europe gaining too much independence.  

If this isn't a weak, pathetic, lame ass excuse I don't know what is.  We've degraded our own war stock to plus up what the Europeans aren't doing.  They've used all kinds of fancy accounting tricks to make the numbers bigger but at the end of the day we're hurting ourselves to prop up a people that are too lazy to do it themselves.

I'm done with this debate.

Europe makes excuses while work needs to be done.  Either they step up or sit down and shut the fuck up. 

Is the IDF using personnel chutes to drop cargo?

 

Israeli air drop of food into Gaza.

It went about as you'd expect.... #war #gaza #israel #food #airdrop #airborne pic.twitter.com/sJFW2Fkwjg

— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) August 10, 2025

Fuck me. The IDF is either showing gross incompetence or they've reached a point of not at all giving a fuck about the optics. Assuming this is real (don't know...AI is a monster if used in a bad way) then someone needs to be up on charges. Whoever rigged this shit needs to go to jail. Its almost like Netanyahu wants to be an international villain.

Damn. Wasn't there so I don't know....

pic.twitter.com/ngvnYAIJjr

— Police Clips (@crazycopvideos) August 10, 2025

I wasn't there so I don't know. BUT! It sorta seems like a lower use of force could have been applied. But fuck man. I wasn't there. I can't get a read on the dude from a vid. I don't get the "vibe" or the energy he's giving off. I don't know if the deputy had dealings with him before. I said it right the first time. I don't know.

Open Comment Post. 10 Aug 25

CH-53K King Stallion attached to Marine Heavy Squadron (HMH) 461 conducts flight operations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship

 

Training for interoperability or planning for a carrier or two to be sunk?

There’s a first for everything…

The 1st 🇬🇧 F-35B jet lands on a Japanese ship. #OpHighmast #CSG25 pic.twitter.com/87Y0vICdu8

— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) August 9, 2025

Everyone doing the "lightning carrier" concept is or soon will participate in the cross decking exercises with allies. My question is simple. Is this about interoperability or is it really about planning to lose a carrier or two?

During WW2 the US cross decked aircraft from one carrier to another due to battle damage or in extreme cases because one had been lost.

Fast forward to the 60s and 70s (Vietnam war period) you had aircraft land on the wrong carrier and it was met with humor and graffiti on aircraft.

Now?

I don't know if its technology or just having fewer aircraft deployed together but you rarely see such a thing on big decks (which brings up another point, the cross decking is only done with the F-35B, no other ally operates non STOVL aircraft from carriers except France).

The weird thing?  This all became a thing when the UK couldn't man the HMS Queen Elizabeth because the ship was ready before a full complement

of aircraft could be onboarded.  To save the Royal Navy face the USMC offered up some F-35Bs to fill the gap.

After that event it became all the rage.

So is this actually a useful exercise or just glorified motion to simulate a real war time capability?

Today's funny

pic.twitter.com/xNibOtccBs

— Hazel Appleyard (@HazelAppleyard_) July 22, 2025

Open Comment Post. 9 July 25

 

IDF to occupy Gaza. What a huge mistake....

 The IDF is set to occupy Gaza by order of Netanyahu.  Huge mistake.  I can't imagine why there isn't pushback from the Trump admin...well at least publicly anyway.

One thing that I can't ignore is that while this is a mistake in my opinion, I can't let go of the fact that HAMAS is indeed blocking efforts to stabilize the situation.  The food situation?  I blame HAMAS.  Plenty of evidence that they're stealing aid meant for their people.

Why the international community is ignoring that part of the puzzle is beyond me but it is what it is.

Biggest fear.

While I don't believe the Israeli govt "controls" US policy, I do believe that where once our interests were uniform they're now drifting apart.

When I acknowledge that full throated support might no longer be in our best interests then the Israeli leadership needs to pay attention.  Not me in particular but I get the feeling that I'm not alone in my concerns.  When you have right wing, christian, and evangelical Americans beginning to wonder then you have an issue.  Netanyahu has issues.

Open Comment Post. 8 Aug 25

Gas prices in California?  Is this real?