So now we supply our allies with ground troops too? TF 51/5 Marines deploy aboard French Ship Tonnerre...pic by Sgt. Jessica Lucio

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OPERATIONS (Dec. 5, 2017) - Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) Sailors and Marines participate in unit physical fitness training aboard the French amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre (L9014). The French ship, with embarked Marines and Sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and TF 51/5, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. 

Hmm.  So its not enough that the US Army, Air Force and now Marines have troops in Europe supporting the EU...even though they have a larger population base, larger GDP, spend less on defense than the US and have a higher standard of living.

No.

Now we supply our allies with ground troops.  We take up boat spaces so their guys can relax on the beach?  Or we take up boat spaces so they can cut the size of their own Marines like the Brits are doing?

But it gets better.  Today its ships, tomorrow its gonna be our aircraft filling the deck of a Brit carrier.  Why?  I have no idea.  USMC Air is in shit shape and needs to do an immediate reset.  The SPMAGTF-CR is running our aircraft and people into the ground.  The endless deployments for God knows what reason is doing the same.  And what is the answer?  Leadership is still looking for ways to increase ops tempo instead of trying to preserve the force for the big fight coming. 

Simply amazing.

Side note.  Spare me your idiocy.  This "exercise", cross decking, whatever you want to call it is a feel good exercise with NO benefit to the US.  Ask yourself a simple question.  How does this increase our combat capability?  How does this make us more lethal?  If it doesn't then its time to rethink our drink.  From my seat the only people that benefit are our allies...as usual.