Friday, May 06, 2011

Where is the line between support and product endorsement?



I wonder where the line is ethically for the Army Colonel in the video above.  Bell Helicopter is making an upgraded OH-58F for them currently and is also in competition to build the next scout helicopter.

With that in mind, does a video like this cross the line?

I hope that someone experienced in military ethics 101 can explain the hows and whys when it comes to the difference here.

Oh and understand:  I don't blame Bell Helicopter one bit.  They're capitalist and are trying to put the best light on there products possible.  What I'm wondering about is where the line is for the military.

Alpha Company 1/5 on patrol. Photos by Cpl. B. Crilly.

PATROL BASE JAMIL, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Pfc. Jared D. Poppe, a designated marksman for 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, moves through a compound in Sangin, Afghanistan, April 30. Poppe was returning from a patrol as part of their efforts to employ counterinsurgency in the outer parts of their area of operations. Poppe, 21, is from El Paso, Ill., and graduated from El Paso-Griddley High School in 2008.

PATROL BASE JAMIL, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, return to their patrol base from an overnight patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, April 30. Night patrols give the Marines a different perspective, limit enemy maneuverability and give 3rd Platoon the ability to compensate for some of the obstacles in their surroundings.

PATROL BASE JAMIL, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Grant D. Schick, a dog handler for 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, holds security for Marines moving into a compound in Sangin, Afghanistan, April 30. An overnight patrol is a way that the Marines of 1/5 have found to conduct counterinsurgency in the outer parts of their area of operations. Schick, 23, is from Toledo, Ohio, and graduated from Morrison R. Watie High School in 2006.

PATROL BASE JAMIL, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Clinton A. Bible, a grenadier for 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, climbs a ladder to post security on the roof of a compound in Sangin, Afghanistan, April 30. Posting up on the roof of compounds gives the Marines a different perspective and a better vantage point to observe insurgent activity. Bible, 21, is from Chelsea, Okla., and graduated from Hallsville High School in Missouri.

PATROL BASE JAMIL, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Benjamin J. O’Donnell (right), the platoon commander for 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, speaks to a homeowner at his compound in Sangin, Afghanistan, April 30. O’Donnell and the rest of 3rd Platoon develop relationships with the people of Sangin through their overnight patrols. O’Donnell, 26, is from Apalachin, N.Y.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Questions about the Raid that I'd love answered...

Just a few questions I'd love answers to...

1.  Why do Navy SEALs trace their ancestory to UDT instead of Navy Scouts and Raiders?
2.  Why did JSOC choose to go with the 160th instead of AFSOC?
(a) Is it because AFSOC chose the wrong platform? (CV-22 instead of MH-47)
(b) Does this indicate that the 160th is considered a higher tiered unit?
(c) How have they been able to keep a top secret aircraft under wraps in the middle of Kentucky?
3.  What was the backup force?  Army Rangers?  More SEALs?
4.  How did SEAL Team 6 get the mission instead of DELTA?
5.  What has DELTA been doing?  SEAL TEAM 6 has been all over the news lately...what are the other Supermen in the DoD doing.
6.  Was a package of fast movers available to provide assistance?  How many, what type, what branch?
7.  How big a force was the SEALs thought capable of engaging?  If a platoon of terrorist were inside the compound...detected 10 minutes before landing would that have scrubbed the mission?
8.  Is it common for the President to personally observe these type missions?  I'm fairly certain that they've thought that they had "him" before.
9.  What other assets were dedicated to this mission?  A commenter on ARES suggests that jammer aircraft, command and control platforms etc were assisting.  Is this true?  If so then why is that considered a secret?
10.  Once it was determined that the helicopter was not completely destroyed, why wasn't an airstrike called in to finish the job.  Could the remnants give clues to our enemies about our classified aircraft?
11.  Who was in control of this mission?  JSOC?  Central Command?  CIA?  Or was it run out of the Sec of Defense's office?

Just a few quick questions.  If you have more then send them my way.

They should have named an aircraft carrier after him.

Thanks Craig for sending me this vid.

Remember this post on the naming of a new Destroyer after LT Murphy?  They should have named an aircraft carrier after this American hero.

This is the story that the Navy should be shouting to the rooftops. 

3/8 is going home.

HSM-71 Commander Highlights MH-60R Capabilities

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

A proper tribute.

WASHINGTON (May 7, 2008) A photo illustration of the guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112). The ship will be named after Lt. Michael P. Murphy (Sea, Air, Land) who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during combat in Afghanistan on 27 and 28 June 2005. U.S. Navy Photo Illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay Chu (Released)

F-35B hits another milestone.


NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Lockheed Martin test pilot David “Doc” Nelson flies F-35B test aircraft BF-3 on its first flight in short take-off and vertical landing mode (STOVL) in an Atlantic operating area April 25, 2011. BF-3 is a test aircraft dedicated to structural loads evaluation; its first STOVL flight and subsequent first vertical landing April 29 demonstrated growing maturity in STOVL mode flight for the F-35B. The F-35B is a supersonic stealth fighter with next generation mission systems capable of short take-offs and vertical landings suitable for the U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary environment. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River in preparation for delivery to the fleet. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)


NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – U.S. Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Fred “Tinman” Schenk lands F-35B test aircraft BF-4 on its first vertical landing April 27, 2011. BF-4 is a test aircraft dedicated to evaluating mission systems and currently flies with Block 1.0 software. With this milestone, the F-35B test aircraft at NAS Patuxent River demonstrated growing maturity in short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) mode flight with all four aircraft completing STOVL flights. The integrated test force at NAS Patuxent River has completed all of the vertical landings and more than eighty percent of the short take-offs needed for upcoming shipboard testing this year. The F-35B is a supersonic stealth fighter with next generation mission systems capable of short take-offs and vertical landings suitable for the U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary environment. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River in preparation for delivery to the fleet. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)