When have you become old Corps? When morning PT becomes Dynamic Conditioning.

We did beach runs all the time.  Our crusty ass old 1stSgt loved to add a little "variation" to it by having us do sit-ups, push-ups etc...with the surf washing into us.  Made us 'hard' he would say.  This is what being a Marine is all about he would sing.

Now its called Dynamic Conditioning.  

Read it and weep, old Corps (and if you're like me you didn't even realize you qualified for that label!).

Amazing!

But lets be real...this isn't Corps wide, this is a Marine Logistics Group!  Strike two for you guys (and girls)...first a Cpl's Course in Afghanistan (1st MLG) and now this cluster (2nd MLG).  Thank God I never got a whiff of this outfit.  Just drop the beans and bullets and be gone!

Marines ‘take’ Onslow beach for dynamic conditioning 

7/22/2010  By Lance Cpl. Katherine M. Solano, 2nd Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs  , 2nd Marine Logistics Group 

 

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.  — Nearly 100 Marines with Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27 overran Onslow Beach, literally, aboard Camp Lejeune, July 22.   The early morning company run, led by acting first sergeant, Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Stovall, and commanding officer, Capt. Amy Upton, was concluded with various squad exercises followed by a cool-down, compliments of the ocean.

MagPul Dynamic Handgun Vid.

This is going to be my next gift to me. 

Bettina Chavanne of Aviation Week and the MH-60R at Farnborough.

C-130 Demonstration Flight at Farnborough.

Let's see if the A400 is this nimble.  Oh and for those that think that the C-27 is an answer to anything...Really?  Really?  Say it out loud and see if it sounds right.  The US Army wanted C-27's because they couldn't get C-130's...the C-27 is an answer to a problem that doesn't exist.

F-111's at Pitch Black.

22 July 2010
No. 6 Squadron F-111 Aircraft Taxiing
The Royal Australian Air Force's iconic F-111s are participating in Exercise Pitch Black for the final time before they are decommissioned from service at the end of the year. Four F-111s from RAAF Amberley, Qld are operating from RAAF Darwin, NT during the three-week long exercise.

The venerable F-111 long-range strike aircraft has provided excellent service to Australia for the last 37 years and continues to perform a vital role in maintaining air power in the region in conjunction with the F/A-18 Classic and Super Hornets. The F/A-18F Australian Super Hornets are set to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2012.

The F-111s will return to Darwin later next month to participate in Exercises Kakadu and Singaroo. 

 

VMM-261 back home.

The unit that first took the MV-22 to Afghanistan is back home....

VMM-261 Raging Bulls complete historic deployment 

7/21/2010  By Lance Cpl. Nichole R. Werling  , Marine Corps Air Station New River 

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, Jacksonville, N.C.  — Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, “The Raging Bulls,” returned to Marine Corps Air Station New River from Afghanistan July 16.  They were stationed at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, under the command of Lt. Col. Anthony Bianca, as an assault support unit.
 Due to a change of command in May, the Squadron completed their tour under the command of Lt. Col. Ivan Thomas.
The Squadron was the first MV-22 Osprey squadron to operate in Afghanistan, and the unit’s primary mission was to serve as assault support.
“The V-22 was used (in Afghanistan) to exploit its capabilities to the maximum extent,” said Maj. Timothy Miller, executive officer for VMM-261. “We were able to range the entire country. We flew to places that could only be ranged by plane, but only be landed by helicopter.”
This was the squadron’s fourth deployment. Before the recent tour in Afghanistan, the squadron supported Operation Iraqi Freedom during three separate deployments.
Miller said he believes the unit did very well, and performed all missions asked of them to the utmost of their abilities.
 “This environment was more challenging (than Iraq),” said Miller. “We performed all missions that were asked us and brought back all aircraft and Marines. Certainly, this was a mission success.”
More than twenty Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 were attached to VMM-261 for the return trip.
It was approximately 8 p.m. when the buses carrying the Marines arrived onto the flightline.
One of the Marines who came back was Sgt. Frank Mershon IV. His family was anxiously waiting for him, wearing bright yellow shirts that read “Frank the Tank.”
“We are very excited he’s coming home,” said Terry Mershon, Frank’s mother.
“We are very proud of Frankie, and all the Marines that worked twenty-four-seven,”said Frank Mershon III, Sgt. Mershon’s father.

Another example of a weapon system that has been vilified by many before it even entered into Marine Corps service (strangely people seem to have no problem with US Air Force Special Ops flying this airplane) that has gone on and proven its worth in the war zone.

And now we start hearing from Canadian Aviation Blogs....

More good news and another sign of strong support for the F-35...this from Aviation.ca

“It’s pretty exciting to be part of the change that’s about to occur with the new aircraft coming in,” says Captain Forrest Rock, the fighter pilot who flew in a CF-18 from 425 (Tactical Fighter) Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville, Que. for the news conference last Friday.
“I love flying the CF-18, but obviously flying the F-35 one day will be pretty exciting. I love what I do. It’s not every day you can wake up, and go to work and do something you love. Every time you put the throttles in afterburner you get a smile on your face.”
In announcing the $9 billion acquisition, Defence Minister Peter McKay emphasized why the conventional take-off and landing variant of the F-35 Lighting II is the right replacement for the CF-18 Hornet.
“The F-35 Lightning II’s technology in terms of sensors, stealth technology, weapons systems, survivability and the integrated nature of its systems make it a truly fifth generation aircraft,” said Minister McKay. “It is the only fighter to meet the Canadian Forces operational and interpretational requirements and needs.”

Read the whole thing but the Canadian Air Force seems pretty happy with this development.