Blast from the past. Definitions to guide the F-35 IOC...

The United States and the Marine Corps needs to reacquaint itself with a few definitions.  First lets keep this boot camp simple.  A few pertinent Marine Corps Leadership Traits....

INTEGRITY

Integrity means that you are honest and truthful in what you say or do. You put honesty, sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else.

COURAGE

Courage is what allows you to remain calm while recognizing fear. Moral courage means having the inner strength to stand up for what is right and to accept blame when something is your fault. Physical courage means that you can continue to function effectively when there is physical danger present.

Then lets bump this up a bit and remind the boys that have been to Quantico, or any of the academy's  or even done some online work with that Marine Corps constant....Warfighting (MCDP-1)...this following passage is instructive...especially for those that seem to have forgotten...

PHYSICAL, MORAL, AND MENTAL FORCES

War is characterized by the interaction of physical, moral, and mental forces. The physical characteristics of war are generally easily seen, understood, and measured: equipment capabilities, supplies, physical objectives seized, force ratios, losses of matériel or life, terrain lost or gained, prisoners or matériel captured. The moral characteristics are less tangible. (The term “moral” as used here is not restricted to ethics, although ethics are certainly included, but pertains to those forces of a psychological rather than tangible nature.)10 Moral forces are difficult to grasp and impossible to quantify. We cannot easily gauge forces like national and military resolve, national or individual conscience, emotion, fear, courage, morale, leadership, or esprit. War also involves a significant mental, or intellectual, component. Mental forces provide the ability to grasp complex battlefield situations; to make effective estimates, calculations, and decisions; to devise tactics and strategies; and to develop plans. Although material factors are more easily quantified, the moral and mental forces exert a greater influence on the nature and outcome of war.11 This is not to lessen the importance of physical forces, for the physical forces in war can have a significant impact on the others. For example, the greatest effect of fires is generally not the amount of physical destruction they cause, but the effect of that physical destruction on the enemy’s moral strength

Why am I taking you back to boot camp 101 (or OCS for you Quantico boys...oh and I laughed when the Quigley kicked your ass!)?

Why am I pitting you all and PTing you mentally until you die?

BECAUSE ITS ABOUT MORE THAN ME AND YOU!  Its about the defense of a great nation.  Your interests and the interests of the nation might diverge.  Others in positions of power might be confused, and think that self interest and national interest are one and the same.

THEY ARE NOT!

We are stewards of not only the defense of our nation from the moment that we raise our right hands, but we're also given a special trust.  The public as a whole doesn't worry about defense matters...doesn't keep track of a faulty airplane, not because it doesn't concern them.  They don't worry about it because they have placed special trust in fellow citizens that have promised to keep the bear...or dragon...at bay.  We will do what they won't.

The F-35 in my mind has morphed from simply being a budget disaster and a faulty airplane.

The F-35 has morphed into a test of our Marine Corps' moral courage, integrity and credibility.

A jobs program, keeping allies from getting pissed off, keeping stock prices up or making Congress Critters happy is less important than the credibility and integrity of the United States Marine Corps.

Delay this IOC.  The F-35 is NOT WORTH the loss of faith that the USMC will absorb once the public realizes how shoddy this plane really is.

F-35 ready? It comes back to credibility/integrity...are our leaders credible?

Thanks to Ted for the link!

via Bloomberg.

While the exercise on the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp resulted in useful training for Marines and Navy personnel, Gilmore wrote in the assessment dated July 22, it also documented that “shipboard reliability” and maintenance “were likely to present significant near-term challenges.”

In the assessment submitted to Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, Gilmore said “Marine maintainers had rapid, ready access to spare parts from shore” and “received significant assistance” from Lockheed and subcontractor personnel.
Even with these advantages, “aircraft reliability was poor enough that it was difficult for the Marines to keep more than two or three of the six embarked jets in a flyable status on any given day,” he wrote.
The challenges to keeping the aircraft flying “will be substantially tougher when the aircraft first deploys” on an operational mission under more trying conditions, he said.

Here.

Just plain wow.

So the Assistant Commandant for Aviation has been making the circuit telling us all happy talk about where the F-35 might be at this point in its development...

But to see this?

Sorry.

Its time to start calling a spade a spade.

The Assistant Commandant is lying to us....to the Marine Corps family AND HQMC's plan to clear this procurement trainwreck is 100% shit.

It won't work.

I don't know where Dunford is on this subject outside of his pronouncements to Congress that he fully supports the plane.  Awesome.  But the plane isn't working, it won't work before 2019 and early purchases will only DEGRADE combat efficiency, MIGHT get Marines killed and will continue to drain precious resources that we can't afford to waste.

Its about credibility and integrity.

Declaring IOC with this underperforming piece of hardware is borderline criminal and not in keeping with the finest traditions of MORAL courage that we expect of ALL MARINES!!!  Including the Commandant.

Sidenote:  If by chance the Assistant Commandant for Aviation wants to refute any of this I stand ready to listen.  But be advised.  I won't cower in a corner like many in the defense media lapping up nonsense.  Real questions will be asked.

The Australian Growler: Ready to Fly, Ready to Jam (vid)

The USAF might be ignoring the electronic attack mission but the Aussies, US Navy and Communist Chinese aren't.

Is it possible that the one outlier is right?  Or is it more likely that the USAF is dead wrong?

MC-27J with Winglets...

All pics via Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi...note, the emphasis seems to be on the winglets that were added the airplane.  Besides increased range I know of no other benefits.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

...

Modest Proposal. Save institutional knowledge by forming Combat Assault Battalions Corps wide...

If you remember my post on the grim future of Marine Tanks (here) then you'll understand my reason for concern.  A tidbit from the Defense Media Review article...

Outlining the progression of decline in USMC tank inventories, Bodisch remarked “overall since Desert Storm we had a 54% reduction in tanks and 88% for TOW anti-tank missile systems, it’s pretty significant, if you break it down, in every major conflict since Desert Storm, the Marine Corps has averaged a 25% cut in tanks and HMMVW mounted TOW systems.”
Next February, 2nd Tanks will likely deactivate another of its line companies, “this time Charlie Company, and it will happen about four months before I relinquish command of 2nd Tanks,” he added.

What I didn't outline or emphasize was LtCol Bodisch's justified concern about the loss of institutional knowledge.

If you accept my contention that its necessary to preserve our armored capability then the next question becomes how?  I believe we have our answer in the form of the Combat Assault Battalion in Okinawa along with a reorganization that might rankle some but I believe is the best way to keep our mech knowledge alive.

The reorganization that will rankle is that I propose combining the officer pipeline with the AAV and M1A1 Abrams.  We would have amphibious armor officers that would flow between the two (and then three vehicles once the ACV enters service).  Schooling would be a bit longer but the benefit would be that we infuse "armor from the sea" with new vitality.

Additionally, while I'm a proponent of moving toward an Armored Gun System based on the ACV, we would have a cadre of in house experts that could properly assess the benefits and drawbacks of such a move, recommend whether or not we should follow the Army in procuring M1A2s and determine better ways of integrating and utilizing the AAV/M1A1/ACV with the MEU or even the Company Landing Team.

This is a rough sketch of the proposal and holes can be poked I'm sure but think beyond the negative into the possible.

Considering the number of vehicles that a full strength combined tank/AAV battalion would include, I also propose that it be declared a reinforced Battalion and with the new LSD's coming online we should seek to bump up the number of tanks carried to a more practical and useful 8 M1s and 20 AAVs.  With the size of the new ships coming online and the fact that the LHDs are going aviation centric, the extra ground punch carried by the LPD/LSD will be welcome in case more is done than providing perimeter security for SOCOM or a show the flag operation.

Let me know what you think, but I believe this is the minimum necessary to keep Marine Corps armor as the subject matter experts in armored assault from the sea....if we don't then we might as well read the US Army's "The Armored Division as an assault landing force" just before we case the colors.

China's massive military exercise kicks off...

via Sputnik.

Amid high tensions in the South China Sea, Beijing announced it conducted large-scale military drills at both air and sea on Tuesday, focusing on new information warfare systems.
With over 100 ships and dozens of aircraft, state-run China Military Online reported that Beijing conducted large, live-ammunition drills in the South China Sea.
According to the Chinese Defense Ministry, the exercises concentrated on integrating information warfare systems between air and naval defense, and accomplished "new breakthrough" in China’s military capabilities.
Using a variety of new weapons, as well as "all sorts of information technology tactics," military forces were able to successfully conduct anti-submarine drills, intercept supersonic anti-ship missiles, and engage with high-speed low-altitude targets.

Here.

First, let me applaud Sputnik.  Haven't read about this anywhere in the Western press.  I haven't taken my internet spin around the Pacific nation news sites yet but as far as US, Canadian and European papers?  Nothing.  Zilch.  Nada.

Next,  check out the size of the participating ships.  100?  That's a sizable exercise no matter who you are.

Last, I wonder if US observers were invited to watch?

Once again, let repeat that its not the tech thefts that should worry military leadership.  Its the tactics.  Integrating information warfare systems?  Sorry folks, I know you're tired of it, but....F-35 fanboys talk about that plane being the hub of a new way of warfare.  I've said all along that you could do it cheaper and easier with a few stealth UAVs, E-2D/E-3 and the AEGIS destroyers operating with the Growler/F/A-18.

I think that's exactly what the Chinese are doing.  When their stealth aircraft enter service they'll simply be added to a system that's already up and running.

The anti-sub drills are self explanatory.  The Chinese have identified that weakness and are seeking to correct themselves.

China has the US firmly in its sights.  Taiwan, Japan, Australia, S. Korea, India...they're all sides shows.

Be happy though.  A good enemy can make you better....if you rise to the challenge, look him in the eye....then punch him in the throat.

Fictional account of the "First battle of the Diaoyu Islands"...

NOTE!  This is just a little fiction.  Enjoy the ride and don't pick it apart.  This was done at 2am during a spat of insomnia!

Major Johnson looked at his comm's chief.  Sgt Taylor shook his head.  Still out.  The Chinese were either jamming his communications or they knocked out a sat....they wouldn't be going that far would they?  All he could do is shake his head.  This was a clusterfuck from the beginning. The 15th MEU, his MEU was stretched from here to yonder over the Pacific doing the distributed operations thing.  The San Antonio was conducting training on the beach in Australia, the new LSD, the USS Fallujah was in the Philippines conducting anti-insurgent operations and the USS America...his ride was the only ship close to this dust up.

No one saw this coming.  Yeah, it was 2018.  Yeah the world was in the 2nd year of a "new" great recession but everything was muddling along.  The idiots in the Middle East were still rampaging but at least they were somewhat contained, Africa was in the same shape and everyone was focused on somehow getting the world wide economy moving again.

President Clinton had engaged in new talks about opening the Pacific Partnership to Chinese participation to try and kick start prosperity again but no one was buying it.

But a war?  With China?  Now?  It didn't seem real.

Intel gave a pretty solid picture of what was happening.  The Chinese had assembled and embarked elements of their Marine Corps and Paratroopers aboard their amphibious ships, sortied out the three aircraft carriers in their inventory, loaded up a brigade of tanks and was sailing to the disputed islands.

The idea behind putting his Company Landing Team on the beach was that a demonstration of intent would be enough.  Show the Chinese that the US would stand beside its ally, Japan and they would back down.  The female admiral told him that it might get a bit "tense" but that intel assured them that they wouldn't be involved in a shooting war. This was just a show for the folks back home.

The General in charge of the MEU was aboard the Fallujah and gave him the usual pep talk (command creep filtered down...they justified it because of the distributed operations concept...Majors commanded companies and Generals got MEUs).

But when he got a secure call from the Assistant Commandant for Ground Combat, Major General Simcock, he sat up and took notice.  Simcock didn't bullshit and he told him to ignore the happy talk and load for bear.  Ok.  That's a straight shot of 100 proof to start your day.  Something was going on that made the ACGCE worry.  That isn't to be taken lightly.

His pre-insertion inspection was by the book.  Ammo heavy, three MRE's (one a day), no snivel gear and damn sure no iPhones, iPads, tablets, cameras etc...travel light, freeze at night, wet and miserable but three days?  They could do that standing on their heads.

Alot of people don't realize it but even the Pacific can get crowded so they were steaming circles 200 miles off shore.  They'd launch at distance with 6 MV-22s with an escort of 6 F-35Bs.

Insertion went off without a hitch but almost as soon as they touched down things went sideways.  They didn't see the missile but as soon as two of the MV-22s gained altitude they were shot down.  Off in the distance he could see flashes....he didn't know the particulars at the time but he knew it wasn't good.

Not good was an understatement.  The F-35 makes its money by fighting on its terms.  The planes never stood a chance in this fight.  The MV-22s flew in at 10k feet.  The F-35s were flying figure eights at 15k above them.  The Chinese saw the launch from the America and responded by sending every J-20 in their inventory...about 100 after them.  The only fight that happened in the air was between Chinese pilots struggling to be the one to claim a kill.

The MV-22s didn't fare any better.  Subtlety in warfare is not a Chinese trait.  We would have considered it massive overkill.  The Chinese call it being prudent.  100 more J-11's were sent after the 6 MV-22's that were sending mayday calls and doing there best to make it back to the ship.  The results were sadly predictable.

The aftermath wasn't.

Instead of a demonstration mission that would get a civilized enemy to "back down" the Chinese instead mounted a 100 percent effort to take back what belonged to them.

But wait you ask.  Where are the Japanese in all this?  The Japanese were a bit more cautious than we were.  They were mobilizing their entire defense force and were mounting combat air patrols over their home islands.  The State Dept insisted that they not engage and to allow the US to handle the situation in order to prevent it from becoming a full fledged war.  Consider it another failure on the part of foggy bottom.  They haven't been right in more than two decades and 2018 wouldn't be any different.

But back to Major Johnson.

He found himself in the same situation as Guadalcanal Marines.  An overwhelming invasion force headed his way, little supplies, terrible intel and no way to call for help.  He was screwed.  But not as screwed as Admiral Sanchez aboard the America.

Question.  What do you do when you've just seen your detachment of F-35's erased from the sky, your MV-22s turned into flaming heaps, your nearest Burke Destroyer 500 miles away and the carrier that could save you tied up in San Diego?

You run like hell.  The USS America is listed as being able to do better than 25 knots...unofficial speed runs have it touching 35.  It hardly made a difference.  The Chinese YJ-100 isn't a supersonic missile.  Its subsonic but can reach out to 400 miles.  Add that missile to the H-6 that was being escorted by the refueled and rearmed J-20's flying escort and it wasn't even fair.  Chinese practicality can be beautiful when its 2001, you're trying to maximize profits and you're taking advantage of their cheap labor.  Its brutal and nasty when you're on the receiving end of an all quadrant anti-ship strike.

The Chinese have always been accused of stealing tech.  That should not have been the major concern though.  The tactics that they adopted is what should have made military leaders nervous.

During the Vietnam War, naval aviators in an effort to combat North Vietnamese defenses came up with the all quadrant attack.  Its really simplicity itself.  You attack from every direction on the compass with a time on target strike and your enemy is overwhelmed.  This was applied to the attack on the USS America.  20 H-6's launched 6 missiles each at one ship.  The outcome was never in doubt.  CNN woke the American people to video feeds of the LHD named after their land slipping underneath the waves.

The Navy launched a Tomahawk strike with its missile subs but the Chinese had hardened every military site and knew that a launch against civilian or dual use targets would never be allowed.  They were right so the effort was symbolic at best.

Simcock was in Washington demanding that the 3rd MarDiv be placed on alert for 24 hour short notice deployment but his demands were shot down.  This incident must be contained.  But what about the 200 Marines that were on the island?  Negotiations would be started to get them returned....if any of them survived that is.

There was no longer any doubt about the name of the islands.

Diaoyu it is....until the next fight.  Lets hope we're ready.

How valuable is a leader's integrity?

via Defense News.

US Marine Corps finished tests and filled out the paperwork needed to turn the F-35 joint strike fighter into an operational aircraft.
Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant for Marine aviation, told reporters Monday that once Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joe Dunford signs off on the paperwork, the F-35B fleet will have achieved initial operational capability (IOC), becoming the first model of the joint strike fighter to become operational.
"[Dunford has] got all the paperwork now. He's going through all that," Davis said. "I would say 'soon' but… he and I talked. He's a busy guy and he's working his way through that right now. I'll tell you we met all of the IOC criteria."
Getting Dunford's signature may take longer than it normally would, as he is currently up for nomination as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is possible the decision could slip to Dunford's nominated successor, Lt. Gen. Robert Neller, although that would be surprising.

Here.

Do you sense it?  The rush to get this into service?  The "damn the law" we'll fix it once we get it attitude?  The belief in a weapon system that overrides common sense, demonstrated performance and promises from the manufacturer?

I do and it reeks to high heaven.

I searched for it but my Google-foo is weak today.  When the idea of simply declaring IOC before the plane was finished testing was rolled out, it was with baby steps.  Yeah, it violated the intent of the law ....THE SPIRIT of the law but not the letter of the law.

Nowhere was it written that a service chief couldn't declare IOC before testing was completed....implied, but not written.

So now they're charging ahead with this.  A pencil whip from hell from a substandard underperforming piece of hardware that has effectively wrecked the USMC's budget, destroyed our ground combat power and is set to do more of the same into the foreseeable future.

But now the decision is sitting on the desk of the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

How valuable is a leader's integrity?  Is it worth more than funding that will come from Lockheed Martin and its band of acolytes?  Is it worth having the entire Marine Corps look and wonder?

The F-35 has become about more than the future of Marine Aviation.  Its become a matter of trust between leaders and led.

If it fits into MARINE CORPS plans then lay it out.  If it will prove to be a combat multiplier then explain in plain terms how.

But no more fuzzy talk.  No more pie in the sky wishful thinking.

This has become a matter of trust.

PEOPLE, IDEAS, HARDWARE!   Have we really gotten to a point where hardware has become more important---more valued in the Marine Corps than our people?

PS.  Yes.  I'm violating Commander Salamander's rule for blogging.  Never do it when you're mad and pissed.  I'm both!  One day, hopefully before he retires I need to meet Davis.  I need to look that dude in the eye and get a sense of the man.  

Dahir Insaat - Top Down Anti-Tank Missiles Concept Vid...

No M-16A5? Everyone is onboard the carbine bandwagon?

via Marine Corps Times.

"The Marine Corps conducted an evaluation of its individual weapons (M4, M27 and M16A4), with specific focus on comparing accuracy, shift of impact and trajectory with improved ammunition, and determined the M4's overall performance compares favorably with that of the M27 IAR, the most accurate weapon in the squad," according to the written responses provided by Semelroth.

Read it here.

At what distance does the M4 compare favorably with the M27?  What happened to the M-16A5 concept?  Why the move now to move to the M4?

I suspect its to accommodate women in the infantry and has nothing at all to do with increasing the lethality of the average infantryman.

This is another in a series of decisions that make no sense on the surface, appear to be acts to appease critics that the Marine Corps is not doing anything for its ground forces and is simply a big dose of me too-ism that is definitely Un-Marine Corps like.

On the whole this is no big deal.  Going to the M4 is relatively minor.  When added to everything else it once again makes me wonder who is running the shop, what their priorities are and if they have a clue.

A Mentor once told me to beware of a leader that focuses on minor shit because the tough stuff is too hard.  When minor becomes major you're at the beginning of a tail spin that will be difficult to recover from.

In today's Marine Corps this is minor shit that shouldn't even be on the radar.