First F-35C flight for the United Kingdom

11th MEU training in the 5th Fleet AOR.

Photos by Cpl. Ryan Carpenter and Cpl. Tommy Huynh

A Marine serving with Company L kneels beside an amphibious assault vehicle here Feb. 12 during field training. The company is one of three rifle companies with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts here.

Lance Cpl. Josh J. Haish prepares ammunition before live-fire training here Feb. 12. The 19-year-old Royce City, Texas, native serves as a machine gunner for Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts here.

Company L Marines move in an amphibious assault vehicle here Feb. 12 during field training. The company is one of three rifle companies with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts here.

Weapons Company scout sniper and Lufkin, Texas, native Sgt. Hunter Bernius takes a shooting position here Feb. 12 during field training. The company provides specialized firepower for Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts here.

Machine gunner Lance Cpl. Charles B. Childers fires an M240B machine gun here Feb. 12 during field training. The 20-year-old Fort Smith, Ark., native serves with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts here.

A Marine would have received a Big Chicken Dinner.

via Military.com

A former Navy SEAL has received an other-than-honorable discharge and awaits sentencing in a Las Vegas jail for his arms-smuggling conviction.
Nicholas Bickle, who was convicted in October on 13 charges, was supposed to have been sentenced this month but his lawyer, John Arrascada, asked for a delay because he just joined the case, The San Diego Tribune reported Monday. His sentencing is scheduled for April 27.

Bickle faces as much as 20 years in prison for smuggling AK-47 rifles and handguns from Iraq and giving them to co-conspirators to sell on the black market.
Lt. Cmdr. Frank Magallon of Naval Special Warfare Group 1 told the Tribune an other-than-honorable discharge was the most severe discharge Bickle could have received -- dishonorable and bad-conduct charges are only given at military courts-martial.
The discharge means Bickle can't use the GI Bill, get separation pay or wear his uniform at special occasions, the newspaper said.

This guy got off easy.

Real easy. 

Its funny.  Marines got other than honorable discharges for refusing the Anthrax shot.  BCD's were handed out for hazing.  And I'll check but in the Army and Marines this has occurred with people ending up in the brig with unhonorable discharges. 

US Marines train the Republic Of Georgia's 23rd Light Infantry Battalion.

*Note* The USMC and the Republic of Georgia are forming a very tight partnership.  The President of Georgia has two of his countrymen at the Naval Academy to be trained and commissioned as Marine Officers for the Georgian nation.  The Republic of Georgia has determined that it needs a Marine Corps.  OUTSTANDING!

Hohenfels, BY, DE-Two Georgian soldiers from Scout Platoon, Delta Co., 23rd Light Infantry Battalion keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area after the platoon engaged in a firefight with enemy insurgents while on a reconnaissance mission for a mission rehearsal exercise at Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 17. The MRE is the culminating event for the Republic of Georgia's 23rd Light Infantry Battalion prior to deploying to Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations in support of the Georgia Deployment Program - International Security Assistance Force (GDP-ISAF). The total training exercise runs Feb. 1 - 24. , Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero, 2/17/2012 2:43 PM

Hohenfels, BY, DE-Georgian soldiers from Scout Platoon, Delta Co., 23rd Light Infantry Battalion keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area after the platoon engaged in a firefight with enemy insurgents while on a reconnaissance mission for a mission rehearsal exercise at Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 17. The MRE is the culminating event for the Republic of Georgia's 23rd Light Infantry Battalion prior to deploying to Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations in support of the Georgia Deployment Program - International Security Assistance Force (GDP-ISAF). The total training exercise runs Feb. 1 - 24. , Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero, 2/17/2012 2:46 PM

Hohenfels, BY, DE-Two Georgian soldiers from Scout Platoon, Delta Co., 23rd Light Infantry Battalion keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area after the platoon engaged in a firefight with enemy insurgents while on a reconnaissance mission for a mission rehearsal exercise at Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 17. The MRE is the culminating event for the Republic of Georgia's 23rd Light Infantry Battalion prior to deploying to Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations in support of the Georgia Deployment Program - International Security Assistance Force (GDP-ISAF). The total training exercise runs Feb. 1 - 24. , Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero, 2/17/2012 2:46 PM

Hohenfels, BY, DE-A Georgian soldier with Scout Platoon, Delta Co., 23rd Light Infantry Battalion, practices first aid on a another soldier who was identified as wounded in action during a firefight with enemy insurgents at a mission rehearsal exercise at Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 17. The Scout Platoon was conducting a reconnaissance mission for Alpha Co., 23rd Light Infantry Battalion, when they were ambushed by enemy insurgents about three kilometers into its reconnaissance mission., Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero, 2/17/2012 2:50 PM

Sentinel Off Road Patrol Vehicle, the video.

Sentinel Off Road Patrol Vehicle.

I really should have been paying more attention to BAE USA.  They've been quite busy lately.  The Sentinel Off Road Patrol Vehicle is obviously aimed squarely at the Homeland Security and local Police Depts.  As much as US law enforcement likes to play with military equipment, its just not kosher to patrol anywhere in an MRAP.  The Sentinel easily bridges that gap.  I like it.

Team GCV. BAE comes out swinging.

It looks like BAE is coming out hard on the GCV.  Check out there website here. And the product card and vid is below.  To be honest I'm starting to look forward to what kind of upgrades they'll be offering for the AAV.



GCV 0112

BAE's Ground Combat Vehicle.

Massive hat tip to Think Defence.

Oshkosh MMRS

Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV)

Kennedy is the father of Special Forces...Obama is the father of Navy SEALS's?.

Watch this video and cringe like I did.  

From the Ministry of Defence. French Marines and Arctic Training.

A French Marine is pictured on Exercise Boar's Head at the Otterburn Training Camp, Northumberband with a Famas assault rifle.

Exercise Boar's Head was a company level live firing exercise which took place at Otterburn Training Area involving a British Army infantry company from 5 SCOTS, a unit of 16 Air Assault Brigade; and a company from 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment a unit of the French 11th Parachute Brigade.

The exercise was part of the continuing relationship between French and British Army units following the signing of the Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty by Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in November 2010.

The exercise involved a wide range of live firing exercises from platoon to company level involving a range of supporting weapon systems and saw the French company conducting live fire attacks supported by a British fire support team in a demanding environment.

Royal Navy Sea King Mk4 helicopter pilots and aircrews from Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) carry out a load lifting exercise as part of their Arctic flying training in Norway.

The training takes place some 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle at the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) base near Bardufoss, Norway. The JHC base known as “Clockwork” provides survival and operational training and support facilities to enable aviation capable unit’s arms to survive, operate and fight in extreme C2 environments.