Wednesday, March 14, 2012

US Marines are fighting in Africa...

They slipped this one past me.

Marine Forces Europe touts the training mission that its engaged in with the Georgian military and training exercises with our NATO allies.

What they've been less forthcoming about is the fact that Marines are involved in the fighting in Africa.

KONY 2012 supporters should be pleased.  Force Recon is training Ugandan soldiers.  Check out this article from Shadow Spear.  Read the whole thing but this stood out to me....
“We are answering a stated need by our African partners,” said Lt. Col. David L. Morgan, commander of SPMAGTF-12 and 4th Force Reconnaissance Company. “Our mission in Uganda is yet another example of what this versatile force can do.”

The task force has dispatched teams across a wide swath of Africa over the course of their six month deployment in support of Marine Forces Africa, sending anywhere from five to 50 Marines into partner nations for days to months at a time. The unit is among the first of its kind and the mission in Uganda is one of its last.
So we have a Special Purpose MAGTF setup thats sending units into Africa.

Amazing.

What isn't making sense is how the Marine Corps is approaching this.  The Georgian military has conventional US Marines doing the training.  In Africa, its being done by Force Recon.  A reserve unit at that.

What gives?  Are we doing a SOCOM light and are we going to start tasking Force Recon with training or is it like I suspect.

US Marines are engaged in the fighting in Africa.

It shouldn't be surprising.  The stories have been leaking out for months but I didn't want to go ahead with saying anything because I didn't want to be called a loon.  But with Australian SAS, SEALs, a HUGE number of Special Forces and Air Force Special Ops (Para-rescue, Combat Controllers and Weathermen...along with a couple of MC-130's that I saw at Djubouti) its beyond apparent that the US is involved in the fight against terrorist on that continent.

The problem is this WILL turn into a 3 way affair.  The US and its allies on one side.  Terrorist on another and then China on the other.

More to come on SPMAGTF-12.

Special Ops fanboys are gonna wet themselves over these pics....





Thames River Police Boarding Teams in Olympics Security Exercise, London

Members of the Metropolitan Thames River Police are pictured practicing boarding techniques in a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) during an Olympic Games security exercise.
The Thames River Police lead maritime security exercise in conjunction with the Royal Marines was carried out on the river Thames in preparation for the Olympic 2012 Games. Photographer: POA(Phot) Terry Seward

Pic of the Day....

U.S. Army Pfc. Cristian Franco, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, carries an M240B machine gun while descending a mountain path during a security patrol overlooking the Pesho Ghar valley and the Enzarkay Pass in Paktya province, Afghanistan, on March 2, 2012. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Epperson, U.S. Army. (Released)

Porcupine Prototype 155-mm self-propelled howitzer

In the well deck...(11th MEU at sea)

All photos by Seaman Dominique Pineiro

A Marine drives an amphibious assault vehicle down a ramp in the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18). New Orleans and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

A Marine guides an amphibious assault vehicle in the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18). New Orleans and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

A Marine guides an amphibious assault vehicle in the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18). New Orleans and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

T-90MS



Hmmm.  That remote weapon station sure looks "borrowed" and I can't help but wonder about the optics systems.  Almost as interesting as the T-90MS is the Terminator.  I would label it an Infantry Support Vehicle (ISV).  Twin 30mm cannons against infantry in an urban setting must be devastating.  But the high tech trend for Armored Vehicles does have a silver lining for the Infantry in defense.  If your designated marksman can get hits on the optics then you wouldn't have the vaunted hard or mobility kill but you would in essence degrade a fighting vehicle greatly.

I wonder if anyone's School of Infantry has tested the concept.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Undignified bullshit.


Via Marine Times.

Read there take on the story but this is mine.

This is undignified bullshit.

You're a MARINE GENERAL by God!

If this is what it takes to win hearts and minds then its just not worth it.

Everyone asks what would Jack Bauer do?

I ask, what would Chesty Puller say?

It would start with What the fuck are you doing General, end with have you lost your fucking mind General and conclude with Chesty getting time in the Brig for punching a fellow officer.

My Marine Corps has lost its way!!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile a Chinese General (Army) is commenting on the Piracy issue.  Via CDR Salamander....Read it over at his place.  I'm too depressed to add it here.

Just a note.  This is what happens when you try to be HIP instead of striving to be HARD CORPS!

Phantom Eye taxi test vid...



Massive hat tip to Ed for the vid.

AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) Tests...

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 conducts a captive carry flight test of an AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Greg L. Davis/Released)

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 conducts a captive carry flight test of an AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Greg L. Davis/Released)

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 conducts a captive carry flight test of an AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Greg L. Davis/Released

31st MEU completes long distance raid covering 1,100 miles