Marines Clear Afghan Villages of Insurgents

A simplistic view of Flag Officer Ranks in the USMC.

Ultimate Ratio Reg and CDR Salamander are banging hard on the number of Admirals in the Navy.  I'm sure URR will come back (he said he would) and take a serious look at the number of Generals in the Marine Corps.

I want to beat him to it.

My simplistic view of the appropriate number goes like this.

2 four star Generals.  The Commandant and Assistant Commandant.
4 three star Generals.  They would be in charge of each of the Marine Corps Divisions.
4 two star Generals.  They would take care of Marine Expeditionary Brigades and serve as Asst Division Commanders.
20 one star Generals.  They would fill out all joint billets.  If the number of joint billets is greater than this number (and it most assuredly is) then it would be filled with a Colonel that is given a temporary promotion to the flag rank until his assignment is over.
Colonels and below would be as currently assigned with the exception that billets that are deemed more appropriate to the rank of Major will go to that rank and by this method we will also reduce the number of Colonels.

This is just off the top of my head but I was tweaked by URR and Sal on this issue. 

Evolution of the Combat Helmet.

WW I Helmet

WW II thru Vietnam Helmet (with modifications)

PASGT

MICH

ACH

OPS CORE

ACH with Mandible

The evolution that we're seeing with combat helmets is .... unexplainable.

From World War 1 up until the Second Gulf War we saw a movement toward more coverage.  During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we see a new movement toward less coverage.

Then Special Ops decided that they basically only needed a shell covering only a portion of the head.  Conventional forces followed suit and brought the MICH first and then the ACH into service.

Now we have the services deciding that mandible protection is needed.

WHO IS COMING UP WITH THIS STUFF!

At least from the outside looking in, this makes absolutely no sense at all.  I wish PEO Soldier would explain the rationale behind this...or if you can then please hook me up!

The F-35 Program Office would like to thank the People's Republic Of China.

A special thank you goes to the People's Republic of China.


You have successfully scared the shit out of your neighbors, risk making your number one trading partner your mortal enemy (despite attempts by liberals, misguided capitalist, and silly free market junkies) and are on the brink of societal collapse.


With all those issues you still found the time to cobble together a slightly stealthy, oversized, weak engined, single man fighter with questionable avionics....but because of your inferiority complex...because of your desire to beat the US militarily instead of economically with your poorly paid labor force you have finally woken the fools in Congress.


The critics of the F-35 MIGHT have carried the day if you had planned properly.  If you had presented yourself as only an economic and not military competitor things might have turned out differently.


Now.  All bets are off.


The F-35 will go into production.

You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.

The J-20 is an indication that the F-35 scares the Chinese.  That's a good thing.

24th MEU. More Eager Lion 12

Photos by Cpl. Michael Petersheim

CH-53E Super Stallions and MV-22 Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are arranged and organized by aircraft category in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 9. More than 1,000 Marines from the 24th MEU are participating in Eager Lion 12, which is taking place throughout the month of May and is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of 19 partner nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU which, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater security and crisis response force.

U.S. Navy beach masters from Amphibious Squadron 8 guide Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion hovercrafts onto the beach in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 10. More than 1,000 Marines from the 24th MEU are participating in Eager Lion 12, which is taking place throughout the month of May and is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of 19 partner nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU which, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater security and crisis response force.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit offload Humvees from Navy Landing Craft Air-Cushion hovercrafts with Assault Craft Unit 4 in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 10. Eager Lion 12, taking place throughout the month of May, is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of 19 participating nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU who, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater security and crisis response force.

A Navy Landing Craft Air-Cushion hovercraft from Assault Craft Unit 4 parks after offloading Marines and tactical vehicles with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from the USS New York in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 10. More than 1,000 Marines from the 24th MEU are participating in Eager Lion 12 which is taking place throughout the month of May and is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of 19 partner nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU which, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater security and crisis response force. The USS New York can be seen in the background.

Marines and Sailors with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, ride Assault Amphibious Vehicles ashore from the USS New York in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 10. More than 1,000 Marines from the 24th MEU are participating in Eager Lion 12 which is taking place throughout the month of May and is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of 19 partner nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU who, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater security and crisis response force. The USS New York can be seen in the background.

Marines and Sailors with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, ride Assault Amphibious Vehicles ashore from the USS New York in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 10. More than 1,000 Marines from the 24th MEU are participating in Eager Lion 12 which is taking place throughout the month of May and is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of 19 partner nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU who, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater security and crisis response force. The USS New York can be seen in the background.

Jordan - Marines and Sailors with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, ride Assault Amphibious Vehicles ashore from the USS New York in preparation for Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 10. More than 1,000 Marines from the 24th MEU are participating in Eager Lion 12 which is taking place throughout the month of May and is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of 19 partner nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU who, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater security and crisis response force. The USS New York can be seen in the background.

Kydex craziness follow up!

Hey Gents.


A quick followup on my rant against Kydex.


YES.  I remain against the tons of items that are being pushed onto the American Shooter all in the name of the latest and greatest...I hate trends...I hate the trendy....I hate those that follow them just because, without any thought to there actual needs.


But there is one aspect of Kydex that I love.


The fact that people are forming there own holsters, gear holders etc...


The Do It Yourself aspect is awesome.  Awe inspiring.  Cool.


Rant over.

USMC Blood

Pics of the day. USAF edition.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alyssa Gomez demonstrates proper use of camouflaged ghillie suits at the Nevada Test and Training Range on May 11, 2012. Snipers wear the ghillie suits to blend into their surroundings and conceal themselves from enemies or targets. Gomez is with the 99th Ground Combat Training Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft pulls away from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft after refueling off the East Coast on May 10, 2012. On Dec. 15, 2005, the Air Combat Command commander, along with the 1st Fighter Wing commander, announced the 27th Fighter Squadron as fully operational and capable to fly, fight and win with the F-22. The F-22 is with the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and the KC-135 is with the 756th Air Refueling Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew members conduct slingload operations with Airmen at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 10, 2012. Both units were preparing for a Marine airpower demonstration at the bases’ open house and air show, which took place May 12 and 13. The CH-53E crew is with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 and the Airmen are with the 621st Contingency Response Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Edward Gyokeres)