The USMC will NOT ground the MV-22 following the crash off Australia.

via Military.com

Despite calls from the Japanese government to ground Marine Corps V-22 Ospreys in the wake of an Aug. 5 crash off the east coast of Australia, the service will continue flight operations, the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force said Wednesday morning.

After an initial examination of the facts and circumstances leading up to the mishap, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit determined the fleet is still safe to fly, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson said.

The aircraft that crashed was assigned to the deployed 31st MEU, and went down shortly following a launch from the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard.

Nicholson said a 48-hour operational pause was observed by the MEU in order to review unit safety procedures, and a full investigation, still underway, will include eyewitness accounts; reviews of aircraft maintenance logs and crew training records; and analysis of all factors contributing to the mishap.

Story here. 

Of course the Marine Corps wasn't gonna ground the MV-22.  That was fucking obvious when the Commandant put his own wife on the plane to visit the MEU in Australia ... supposedly as a show of solidarity but in reality a freaking dog and pony to express confidence in his floundering air wing.

You air bubbas speak up.

Is it normal for air safety issues to be pushed down to operating units?  They're leaving this decision in the hands of the MEU?  Is that normal?  So the Marine Corps is leaving air worthy decisions to a Colonel that's leading a MEU?

I haven't seen that before.  Am I wrong?  Is this new?

I can see how this conversation went.  Hey John you like these stars?  You think you might want to have some on your shoulder?  You think you're gonna get within 5 feet of them if you ground this airplane?  Yeah.  You know what to do.  No promises on what happens but we'll remember this at the next selection board.  Way to be a team player son.  The Marine Corps needs more like you...people that can do what's best for me...I mean the Corps.