From PIGs to HOGs the Scout Sniper way

A Marine enrolled in the Scout Sniper Basic Course, clips vegetation to add to his ghillie suit during a stalk exercise on Oct. 15 at Camp Barrett. Marines enrolled in the course have three hours to cover 600yards.

A Marine enrolled in the Scout Sniper Basic Course, uses vegetation to blend in with the environment during a stalk exercise, Oct. 15, at Camp Barrett. Marines must inch their way across 600 yards using a technique called “skull dragging.”

A Marine enrolled in the Scout Sniper Basic Course, observes his terrain as he plans a course across 600 yards in a stalk exercise, Oct. 15, at Camp Barrett. During this stalk exercise, Marines had to move from 800 yards to within 200 yards of an observation post undetected within a time frame of three hours.

A Marine enrolled in the Scout Sniper Basic Course, attaches his rifle to his ankle as he prepares to inch his way across 600 yards in a stalk exercise, Oct. 15, at Camp Barrett. When a Marine first checks in to Scout Sniper School he is referred to as a PIG, or professionally instructed gunman. If successful, he will graduate in nine-weeks and will earn the title HOG, or hunter of gunman.

 

F-35 Maturity Flights

U.S. Air Force pilot Lt. Col. Dwayne Opella and Lockheed Martin test pilot David Nelson fly F-35A aircraft AF-6 and AF-7 from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for maturity flight software testing.

Pic of the day. Nov. 7, 2011.

A U.S. Marine amphibious assault vehicle exits the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill to transport Marines attached to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to Matuntugo, Colombia, in support of Amphibious - Southern Partnership Station 2012 Nov 5. (Photo by: Spc. Juancarlos Paz)

Scimitar Mk2 in Afghanistan.

Jonathan sent me this article about 3 British soldiers surviving an IED attack in Scimitar Mk2. Thanks Jonathan...but to be honest I didn't know what a "Scimitar" was...low and behold its a recce vehicle thats been in service forever plus one day.  Read the article here but the good part...

The members of 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Dragoon Guards were unhurt because their new 35-ton Scimitar Mk2 combat vehicle has been specially designed to absorb IED blasts.
The Welsh Cavalry trio were on patrol in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand, when they were hit by the explosion last week.
Vehicle commander Lieutenant Peter Gordon-Finlayson said the massive blast stunned the crew for a few moments before they realised they had survived.
Scimitars, deployed in Afghanistan only two months ago, are part of the British Army’s new CVRT – Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked fleet – which have had improved plates of armour attached to protect crew against blasts.
Lt Gordon-Finlayson 26, from Marlborough, Wiltshire, said: “It felt like a car crash, and it took me a few moments to take it all in. But the training soon kicked in for all of us."

Interesting.  I thought for sure this vehicle was south of 20 tons but at 35 tons its an absolute beast!  Its practically in Bradley and Puma territory size wise.