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| MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, ready themselves to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles., Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:26 AM |
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| MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, ready themselves to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicles during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles. , Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:27 AM |
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| MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, prepare to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles. , Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:15 AM |
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| MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles. , Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:22 AM |
Flight and ground tests of the 20-strong F-35 Joint Strike Fighter force could be suspended “for a few weeks,” according to an industrial source close to the program, after the secondary power system of F-35A AF-4, a USAF-variant test aircraft, failed on Aug. 2 at Edwards AFB, Calif., during a ground maintenance engine run. However, another government source says that foreign object damage has not yet been ruled out, and notes that such a finding would allow a more rapid return to flight. A clearer picture is expected to emerge next weekTwo sources.
Update: Program officials are preparing for a long stand-down, measured in weeks. We should know more next week. Foreign object damage hasn't been ruled out, in which case the program will breathe a large sigh of relief and move on. But if it's not FOD....Just plain wow.
TWO OHIO Air National Guard (ANG) C-27J Spartans left Mansfield-Lahm Airport, Ohio, on July 26 for the type’s first deployment to Afghanistan with the ANG to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The first of these, 08-27012 (callsign ‘RCH579’), subsequently arrived at Prestwick Airport, Scotland, on July 28, before leaving for Bucharest, Romania, early the next day and then heading onwards to Afghanistan. The second aircraft, 08-27015 (‘RCH714’), followed it into Prestwick on the afternoon of July 29, having been delayed by technical problems. It also then became unserviceable again at Prestwick, resulting in USAF/AFRC/459th ARW KC-135R 58-0075 arriving from Italy on July 31 with spares. It finally departed for Bucharest early on August 1 to follow its partner into theatre.Wow.
Both of these C-27Js are operated by the Ohio ANG’s 179th Airlift Wing/164th Airlift Squadron, which recently became the first US Air Force unit to re-equip with the type, having previously operated the C-130 Hercules. The Afghan deployment is a join mission with aircrew from the 179th AW and soldiers from the Georgia and Oklahoma National Guard. They will be working in conjunction with the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade in direct support of the US Army for airlift and airdrop operations.
Cartwright went on to brand the EFV with the scarlet "E" for "exquisite": "As we look at anti-access threats, is the exquisite nature of the vehicle appropriate? It's going to have a hard time.""Now I can't be a Marine any more", he added. According to other sources, the QDR may downplay the Marines' role as a forced-entry assault force versus security assistance and the Corps' currently dominant role on the ground.Under development by General Dynamics since the early 1980s, the EFV is intended to combine payload and protection with 25-knot overwater speed and long range. It has been criticised for high cost, technical snags and delays, and for the potential vulnerability of its flat-bottom design to mines.
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| Sgt. Brian Zygmant, a parachute rigger with 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, 4th Marine Division, and soldiers with Special Operations Command, Pacific, walk toward an Air Force C-17 transport aircraft before parachuting over Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 28, 2011. Over a two-day training event, the recon Marines combined forces with Army, Air Force and Navy parachutists from SOCPAC and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 to conduct static-line and free-fall parachute operations. Conducted bi-monthly as part of the recon Marines' sustainment training, the parachute operations served to better parachutist jump proficiency, and allowed jumpmasters to gain experience supervising their parachutists. |
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| A soldier with Special Operations Command, Pacific, glides to the ground during parachute operations on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 28, 2011. Over a two-day training event, soldiers, sailors and airmen from SOCPAC combined forces with force reconnaissance Marines from 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, 4th Marine Division, and Navy SEALS from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, to conduct static-line and free-fall parachute operations. Conducted bi-monthly as part of the recon Marines' sustainment training, the parachute operations served to better parachutist jump proficiency, and allowed jumpmasters to gain experience supervising their parachutists. |
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| Reconnaissance Marines with 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, 4th Marine Division, and service members with Special Operations Command, Pacific, glide to the ground during parachute operations on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 28, 2011. Over a two-day training event, the recon Marines combined forces with Army, Air Force and Navy parachutists from SOCPAC, and Navy SEALS from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, to conduct static-line and free-fall parachute operations. Conducted bi-monthly as part of the recon Marines' sustainment training, the parachute operations served to better parachutist jump proficiency, and allowed jumpmasters to gain experience supervising their parachutists. |
Well no shit.It was a tough winter for us. First we lost the EFV in January, then in March of this year we released the Report of the 2010 Force Structure Review Group and in it the Corps did two big things, we'll see if they're both good. Basically, we're going from 202k to 186k, reserves still stay roughly 40k.
