Rangers----82nd Airborne---watch out------we're training to do your mission....all photos by 2nd Lt. Dave Baugh
Monday, September 12, 2011
Pic of the day. One wrong step and you're a medivac...
Terrible terrain.
A challenging patrol problem.
Mountains suck but at least its not winter...
Sunday, September 11, 2011
It feels....off....
Is it me or does something seem off about the remembrance events that are being held around the nation with regards to the 9/11 attack?
Its not political.
Its not regional.
Its not a statement about the times that we live in (at least I don't think that it is)...but something about it seems --- not real ---- almost artificial.
I won't forget the events of that day. I will always remember where I was when I got word of the attack.
But I also can't shake the feeling that this is more of an orchestrated rather than heartfelt occasion.
I could easily be wrong though and if I am wrong then good. But if I'm right...
*UPDATE*
Now I know why this feels off to me. Its because the story as we're being told it, is incomplete. There is alot more to be said about the events of that day...there are still people AND nations that should be held accountable and we haven't done it.
What do I mean?
Check out this article from BlackFive.
The public knows who the skyjackers were but knows little about their support teams in country nor the nations which sponsored them. All of that needs to be exposed and the people involved hunted down and killed. And that trail will lead back to Saudi Arabia, the author of this religious war of terror.Am I saying that we should declare war on Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran? No. Am I saying that we can't have a proper remembrance event until we're honest with ourselves about who was behind these attacks? Yes! We need to have an adult conversation about this and we're not even close yet.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Combat Camera getting high speed...
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
MAGPUL Angled Foregrip on USMC Close Combat Tactics Course!
Click on the pic to expand it and I do believe you'll see the edges of the MAGPUL AFG on this weapon. |
MAGPUL is taking over! I can't believe it. The most doctrine based, gear standardized organization in the US military is seeing a type of "wildcat" whatever makes you shoot better idea view creep into the very essence of the Corps.
Combat Marksmanship will never be the same.
Hey Gunners, you want to get a handle on this? Instead of fixing what isn't broken (the SAW ... which you're gonna replace with the modern day BAR---the IAR) how about you get this under control?
Get a decent stock on the M4 and M16A4 family....while you're at it how about you decide whether we're going to go with a carbine (like the Army) or whether we're going to get a redone M16A4 with a shorter barrel, adjustable stock etc???
Until you Gunners do your darn jobs, Marines in the field will do it for you. In the meantime, congratulations MAGPUL, seems to me like you've got fans in the Corps..from your Magazines, to your AFG, you guys are taking over!
Close Quarters Tactics Course
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Who's in the cross hairs of the accountants?
I've been wondering what units are in the cross hairs of the accountants because of an article I read over at Information Dissemination that recommends cutting the Army.
So who are the units that are probably on the chopping blocks---or rather who is probably going to get looked at real hard when it comes time to save money? Below is my list....
1. Stryker Brigades.
This one is easy. The US Army is seeking to recapitalize these units with an up armored variant. Limit the number of units and you need less vehicles. Besides, with the move to procure the GCV its obvious that the US Army isn't quite sold on these vehicles.
2. Carriers.
Another easy one. The US Navy and Marines don't have enough aircraft to fully man the ships we do have. At full capacity (about 90 airplanes), we're probably at a point of where we actually have 6 or 7 carriers anyway. The Navy signaled the truth of this when they're voluntarily going down to 10 carriers.
3. US Air Force Tac Air.
An all stealth fighter force is pushing this. Precision weapons are another cause. And the new Air-Sea Battle concept is the final nail in the coffin for Tac Air supremacy in the Air Force. With everyone looking toward the pacific, you can't bet that the Bomber mafia is going to make a come back. That means fewer tac air squadrons.
4. USMC end strength.
The Marines are going to have to take their own ounce of pain so these hopeful figures of an end strength of 180,000 odd Marines is simply wishful thinking. Ideas of establishing an air wing to support Marine Special Ops won't help stop the bleeding either. That force (if its established) will come out of muscle. Expect the end result to be around 150,000.
5. US Army end strength.
I don't know the Army's current numbers but you can bet that even if ID hadn't brought it up, the results will be the same. After these wars, the accountants will ravage Army end strength...if for no other reason as to prevent the possibility of having another war of choice(?).
Winners will be the following....
1. Special Ops...for a while.
Special Ops will be the big winner in this equation...at least for a while. Then the bean counters will begin to notice that it costs more to support a company of special operators than it does to support a regiment of conventional troops. Special Ops has a chance to prevent a bad situation by getting costs under control but the Special Ops Mafia (in and out of uniform) will fight it which will see these forces shrink along with the rest of the military.
2. Sub force.
The boats will be older but the missions more numerous. Most of their activities are secret and with a rising Chinese Navy you can bet that they'll have more than enough work to keep them busy for decades. Its back to the future for the sub force...the Soviets are gone but the Chinese will make a worthy replacement.
3. Helicopter force.
These forces have been used hard in the current wars and the need to at least maintain the capability that we currently have will ensure rotary winged aviation across all the services remains well funded. Add to it the swing role it plays even in peace time and this is a growth industry.
I could easily be wrong but these are my guesses.
So who are the units that are probably on the chopping blocks---or rather who is probably going to get looked at real hard when it comes time to save money? Below is my list....
1. Stryker Brigades.
This one is easy. The US Army is seeking to recapitalize these units with an up armored variant. Limit the number of units and you need less vehicles. Besides, with the move to procure the GCV its obvious that the US Army isn't quite sold on these vehicles.
2. Carriers.
Another easy one. The US Navy and Marines don't have enough aircraft to fully man the ships we do have. At full capacity (about 90 airplanes), we're probably at a point of where we actually have 6 or 7 carriers anyway. The Navy signaled the truth of this when they're voluntarily going down to 10 carriers.
3. US Air Force Tac Air.
An all stealth fighter force is pushing this. Precision weapons are another cause. And the new Air-Sea Battle concept is the final nail in the coffin for Tac Air supremacy in the Air Force. With everyone looking toward the pacific, you can't bet that the Bomber mafia is going to make a come back. That means fewer tac air squadrons.
4. USMC end strength.
The Marines are going to have to take their own ounce of pain so these hopeful figures of an end strength of 180,000 odd Marines is simply wishful thinking. Ideas of establishing an air wing to support Marine Special Ops won't help stop the bleeding either. That force (if its established) will come out of muscle. Expect the end result to be around 150,000.
5. US Army end strength.
I don't know the Army's current numbers but you can bet that even if ID hadn't brought it up, the results will be the same. After these wars, the accountants will ravage Army end strength...if for no other reason as to prevent the possibility of having another war of choice(?).
Winners will be the following....
1. Special Ops...for a while.
Special Ops will be the big winner in this equation...at least for a while. Then the bean counters will begin to notice that it costs more to support a company of special operators than it does to support a regiment of conventional troops. Special Ops has a chance to prevent a bad situation by getting costs under control but the Special Ops Mafia (in and out of uniform) will fight it which will see these forces shrink along with the rest of the military.
2. Sub force.
The boats will be older but the missions more numerous. Most of their activities are secret and with a rising Chinese Navy you can bet that they'll have more than enough work to keep them busy for decades. Its back to the future for the sub force...the Soviets are gone but the Chinese will make a worthy replacement.
3. Helicopter force.
These forces have been used hard in the current wars and the need to at least maintain the capability that we currently have will ensure rotary winged aviation across all the services remains well funded. Add to it the swing role it plays even in peace time and this is a growth industry.
I could easily be wrong but these are my guesses.
No employment worries for Special Ops or CIA direct action teams...
Special Ops and CIA direct action teams are facing full employment thanks to the fruits of a poorly run, sloppily organized and totally mismanaged adventure in Libya. This depressing story is from Defense Talk...
Seems like there will be no end to emerging terrorist threats. Is it time to push this back into the law enforcement pile instead of the military one? No opinion just putting it out there.
Al-Qaeda's north African branch has acquired a stockpile of weapons in Libya, including surface-to-air missiles that are threatening air travel, the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator said Monday.Amazing.
Due to the turmoil in Libya, members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have "gained access to weapons, either small arms or machine-guns, or certain surface-to-air missiles which are extremely dangerous because they pose a risk to flights over the territory," said Gilles de Kerchove.
Seems like there will be no end to emerging terrorist threats. Is it time to push this back into the law enforcement pile instead of the military one? No opinion just putting it out there.
Helicopter raid training into 29 Palms with a day on range 400...
Hmmm. A trip on a helicopter leaking hydraulic fluid on you the entire way...a trip thats going to take at least a couple of hours...and when you touch down you're in 110 degree heat? Not fun training...11th MEU did it and the pics are below...Question though. Where are all the IAR's that the Gunners and the Commandant been raving about. Talk about a limited release and virtually no word on how they're performing from the fleet. Interesting.
Monday, September 05, 2011
This Air Force dude is pure dee bad ass...
Air Commando Gutierrez Nominated for Air Force Cross
Wow.Bleeding Out“We decided that we were combat air effective,” and the high-value target was dead, so “we were going to use one more pass as a cover for us to exit,” Gutierrez said. “I put my kit back on, put my helmet back on, ... [and] gave instructions to the A-10 pilot. He fully obliged [and] came back through. As [he] struck, we pushed out and left the compound.”Determined not to be a burden on his team, Gutierrez got to his feet, with the medic holding his bag and supporting his shoulder.“Since my ears were out, my balance was completely off. I couldn’t really stand up straight,” he said. “I kind of would veer off everywhere.” Gutierrez called in a medical evacuation for himself, the captain, and two other wounded troops, but he was initially denied. It was too dangerous; they had to leave the area, he was told.Sporadic gunfire followed them as they stumbled away from the village. After struggling for about two miles, Gutierrez’s lung collapsed for a second time. The medic did another needle decompression by the side of a four-way intersection as the A-10s continued to provide close air support and ISR assets fed them vital information from above. When he got his breath back, Gutierrez requested an immediate medevac.The troops found a muddy, square vegetation field, roughly 300 feet by 300 feet, which had just enough room for one helicopter to land. They secured the site and waited for the medevac, a joint Spanish and Italian team from Herat Airfield, to arrive.Wet and weak from the loss of blood, Gutierrez waited for an hour-and-a-half. His uniform became soaked and stuck to his arm. At first he thought it was sweat from the difficult trek to the landing zone, or maybe muddy water from the canal he stumbled in as they pushed out.He had no idea he had lost five-and-a-half pints of blood.
Just plain wow.
I fuck with Air Force guys but wow.
That's plain bad ass. Read the whole thing here.
Brits in Canada...
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