This is why the SgtMajor of the Marine Corps should have crushed this shit!

It happened again.  A Marine asked a celebrity to the Marine Ball.


Battle Rattle was happy to post it.

Even MSNBC's social reporter was asking when is it going to stop and isn't enough enough....

SgtMajor, get your head up cowboy and squash this shit ricky tick quick!

This is already out of hand...already looks bad...and is bringing discredit to the Marine Corps.

31st MEU in Australia.

A U.S. Marine amphibious assault vehicle carries Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, to shore during an amphibious assault rehearsal in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. TS11 demonstrates the United States and Australian commitment to their military alliance, and enhances stability and security throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation's force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 10:14:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Lance Cpl. Brennan O'Lowney

Amphibious Assault Vehicles with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land on Freshwater Beach during a mock amphibious assault rehearsal, July 18. TS11 is the largest joint military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. Around 14,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian personnel will participate. TS11 provides an opportunity to conduct operations in a combined and joint environment that will increase both countries’ bilateral war-fighting capabilities to respond to crisis and to provide humanitarian assistance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 11:02:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch

U.S. Marine amphibious assault vehicles carry Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, to shore during an amphibious assault rehearsal at in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. TS11 demonstrates the United States and Australian commitment to their military alliance, and enhances stability and security throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation's force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 10:13:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Lance Cpl. Brennan O'Lowney

Amphibious Assault Vehicles with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land on Freshwater Beach during a mock amphibious assault rehearsal, July 18. TS11 is the largest joint military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. Around 14,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian personnel will participate. TS11 provides an opportunity to conduct operations in a combined and joint environment that will increase both countries’ bilateral war-fighting capabilities to respond to crisis and to provide humanitarian assistance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 10:04:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Capt. Caleb Eames

An Amphibious Assault Vehicle with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land on Freshwater Beach during a mock amphibious assault rehearsal, July 18. TS11 is the largest joint military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. Around 14,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian personnel will participate. TS11 provides an opportunity to conduct operations in a combined and joint environment that will increase both countries’ bilateral war-fighting capabilities to respond to crisis and to provide humanitarian assistance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 11:12:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch

An Amphibious Assault Vehicle with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, drive along Freshwater Beach to set up a blocking position during a mock amphibious assault rehearsal, July 18. TS11 is the largest joint military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. Around 14,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian personnel will participate. TS11 provides an opportunity to conduct operations in a combined and joint environment that will increase both countries’ bilateral war-fighting capabilities to respond to crisis and to provide humanitarian assistance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 11:26:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch

Amphibious Assault Vehicles with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land on Freshwater Beach during a mock amphibious assault rehearsal, July 18. TS11 is the largest joint military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. Around 14,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian personnel will participate. TS11 provides an opportunity to conduct operations in a combined and joint environment that will increase both countries’ bilateral war-fighting capabilities to respond to crisis and to provide humanitarian assistance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 10:02:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Capt. Caleb Eames

Multiple U.S. Marine amphibious assault vehicles carry Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, down a beach during an amphibious assault rehearsal at Freshwater Beach in Queensland, Australia, in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. TS11 demonstrates the United States and Australian commitment to their military alliance, and enhances stability and security throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation's force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 10:25:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Lance Cpl. Brennan O'Lowney

Amphibious Assault Vehicles with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, drive along Freshwater Beach to set up blocking positions during a mock amphibious assault rehearsal, July 18. TS11 is the largest joint military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. Around 14,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian personnel will participate. TS11 provides an opportunity to conduct operations in a combined and joint environment that will increase both countries’ bilateral war-fighting capabilities to respond to crisis and to provide humanitarian assistance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Date Photo Taken: 7/18/2011 10:23:00 AM
Unit: 31st MEU
Photo ByLine: Capt. Caleb Eames

Fifth F-35 Marine Corps Variant Delivered To Navy Test Site

Pic of the day. July 17, 2011.

11th MEU is either dialing up the training like a bunch of raving madmen (I like that) or else the Public Affairs Office is really hitting on stories that are catching my interest.  Either way, their upcoming deployment will be one worth watching.  I don't know the CO of this unit from Adam but it appears that he's about to put the Special Operations Capable back into the MEU(SOC) concept.  And that my friends is long overdue.

Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force prepare to depart a raid site in a CH-46E Sea Knight during a night training operation here July 15. The MRF, along with a section of the unit's aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), and command element, are taking part in a large-scale exercise with ocean and urban-based scenarios.  Photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Carpenter

Quote of the day. July 17, 2011.

Thanks Phil!   via SLDInfo.

SLD: As a Harrier pilot, could you comment on the potential arrival of
the F-35Bs [Eglin AFB]?

 
Col. Tomassetti: It is ultimately disappointing constantly to see in the
news all of the things that the F-35B hasn’t been able to achieve yet or can’t
do and people completely missing what we’ve already achieved.

The fact is that we have a STOVL airplane that every pilot who has flown it
says that it’s easy to fly. In 60 years of trying to build jet airplanes and
do this, we’ve never ever been there before. We’ve never had a STOVL
airplane that was as full spectrum capable as it’s conventional
counterparts. We’ve never done that before in 60 years of trying.
It’s an amazing engineering achievement; [what] we’ve already accomplished
is completely being missed by some observers.”

That about wraps it up.

To think that you have NOTED, once RESPECTED, and LAUDED aviation writers from a number of publications that have missed this truth is amazing.

I contend that they haven't missed it.  Its been ignored.  Its been ignored as part of a larger agenda.

Hey Thomas! I'm your huckleberry...

Thomas...you're no daisy...you're no daisy at all....

Is this an M27 with 2nd LAR?

AZIRABAD, Helmand Province, Afghanistan-Lance Cpl. Frank M. Garrison III, a Shinnston, W. Va., native and rifleman with Company C, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), provides security as the Afghan Border Police partnered with the Marines and sailors of the company move through the town. Company C accompanied the ABP on a clearing mission through the town in order to deny the insurgency a transit location for smuggling illicit drugs. , Cpl. Jeff Drew, 6/27/2011 5:49 AM

Take a look at this Marine's weapon.

I'm not sure but it doesn't look quite like a M16A4....but it doesn't exactly fit the profile of the M27 either.  Anyone know what it is?