11th MEU mourns the loss of one of its own.

A Battalion Landing Team 3/1 rifle detail fires a salute at a Feb. 17 memorial service aboard USS Makin Island honoring hospital corpsman Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, who died in a Djibouti training accident Feb. 14. Estrada, who served with the landing team's Company I, was 21 and a native of Maricopa, Ariz. Doc died in the company of his brothers, said company commander Capt. Matt McGirr. The landing team is the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility.

Military training is rigorous.  A euphemism used at all Marine Corps School Houses for extremely difficult and challenging training.  Being a Corpsman attached to a Marine Corps Unit opens you up to all those dangers.

God Bless you Doc.

Semper Fi.

F-35 at Edwards AFB -- 2011 in Review

BAD ASS!

A Wounded Warrior swims laps during practice for the 2012 Marine Corps Trials at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 15, 2012. Wounded Warrior Marines, veterans and allies are competing in the second annual trials, which include swimming, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, track and field, archery and shooting. The top 50 performing Marines will earn the opportunity to compete in the Wounded Warrior Games in Colorado Springs in May.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers)

 

 

First he volunteered for service.

Then he went to war.

He was gravely wounded but instead of sitting on his ass getting fat and lazy, he's out there busting his butt--still competing.

Beyond impressive.  Every time a Marine drops out of run 'cause he hurts or whatever, he should be shown this pic.

Bad Ass!

NOTE*
This photo represents every Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Coast Guardsman that are participating in these events.  You guys and gals put a whole lot of shit into perspective.  Thanks.

Dutch Marines still training hard...

Dutch Royal Marines patrol through the Military Operations in Urban Terrain compound here with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Feb. 14, 2012. 24th MEU conducted the final mission for their Certification Exercise (CERTEX) with the Dutch Royal Marines as a way to integrate partnered operations with allied countries. The 24th MEU's CERTEX with Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group included a series of missions from Jan. 27 to Feb. 16 intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.  Photo by SSgt.  Robert Fisher

U.S., Thai Marines practice urban combat during Cobra Gold 2012

Photo Release: F-35 naval variants commence weapons testing

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Marine Corps Maj. C. R. “Jimi” Clift flies F-35B Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft BF-3 Dec. 19, 2011 with a 1,000-lb inert test GBU-32 in an open internal weapons bay for loads testing. Significant weapons testing for the F-35B and F-35C variants is scheduled for 2012, including fit checks, captive carriage, pit drop and aerial drop tests.

The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter for the U.S. Marine Corps, capable of short take-offs and vertical landings for use on amphibious ships or expeditionary airfields to provide air power to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River prior to delivery to the fleet. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Marine recon and scout snipers train marksmanship with Thai and Korean special forces

An outstanding Marine Corps artist...

Graphite Illustration of Lance Cpl. Terrance Thorp, a rifleman with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, providing security for his fellow Marines during a simulated airfield seizure at the Farmville Municipal Airport Jan. 14, 2012. The training was part of the 24th MEU's Realistic Urban Training exercise that took place Jan. 5-20, which had the unit prepare for the various missions they may face during their upcoming deployment. (Official USMC Illustration by: Corporal Michael J. Petersheim/ Released)

Cpl Petersheim is beyond good. 

Impressive!

Marine conduct amphibious assault during Cobra Gold 2012

Not sure if this is a repeat or not but you can never get enough AAV's on tape.

The Marine Infantryman is the most Marine Corps specific weapon system...the AAV is second.  No other service uses or can match the capabilities of either of them (easy Army guys...just showing service pride).

Aviation mystery...why isn't the SpeedHawk gaining traction?

It looks right.

Its performance is impressive.

Current helicopters can be modified easily (I think).

So why isn't the SpeedHawk gaining traction.  I also wonder why Piasecki isn't screaming to high heaven that it can solve the helicopter speed problem but is being ignored by the DoD.

Well, this mystery demands a solution.  Time to contact Piasecki and find out whats going on with this fantastic concept.

Note*
I also wonder if this concept hasn't gone black.  SOCOM produced a stealth BlackHawk, why would we doubt that they have this in their toolbox too?