Too funny..Getting dusted...

Commentary from the YouTube'er but check out the guy next to the airplane...and his dog...

I was sitting at the Ocotillo Wells Airport on 1640 05Jan2012 watching the U.S.M.C performing some touch and goes with a couple of V-22 Ospreys when a local old guy went onto the make shift flight line to tell the Pilot and his crew how he felt about the dust storm they were causing when the Pilot decided he wasn't going to hear it... I'm sure he took off for the safety of the old dude however it looked REAL BAD... That dog was shitting it's self for about 30min...

UK's defense centered on carrier aviation???

Check out this story from Defence Tech but check out this blurb...

“We are committed to purchasing the carrier-variant and the regeneration of our carrier strike force is at the heart of our defense strategy. We believe it will bring a big gain for NATO and potentially be a big relief to U.S. efforts in the European sphere. We’ve worked with the French to ensure that we will have a European carrier capability [that’s] always available. But of course, we are concerned that any slippage in production or any reduction in U.S. numbers will have an impact [on cost] and with budgets very tight, we’ll be watching very close any movement in the predicted unit costs.”

My take away's...

1.  The UK is solidly behind the F-35C despite public pressure.
2.  The UK appears to be going back to its maritime roots.
3.  The costs of the F-35 is a concern on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific...probably less in the Pacific but a concern none the less.
4.  Delays are going to be fought by partner nations.  This will become a sticking point.
5.  Looks like Loren was right.  Weapon sales are part of the new diplomacy.

Pics of the day...

F-35 delayed again.

Delayed.

Again.

Looks like we're going to get an all STOVL force regardless now.  The F/A-18A/C/D's and the EA-6's are all going to run out of airframe time.  Those spares from the UK will definitely come in handy.  Read the expected news here.  But as always a tidbit below.  I wonder why they dribble this info out instead of just laying it on the table?

The Pentagon is gearing up to restructure Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program for a third time in three years, sources said, with production of more than 120 more planes to be postponed to save money and allow more time for development.
The latest changes should save the Pentagon about $15 billion from fiscal 2013 through 2017 and will be part of the fiscal 2013 budget plan to be sent to Congress in February, according to three sources familiar with planning for the Pentagon's largest weapons program.
President Barack Obama will join Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon on Thursday to discuss overall defense budget cuts and a revamped military strategy.
They are expected to mention the F-35 fighter plane and reiterate continued support for the program, but details of the restructuring plan and plans for other big weapons programs may not emerge until later this month, the sources said. The sources declined to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly ahead of the official release of the president's budget.

I wonder when Black Friday for weapons programs is going to occur.  My prediction for cuts...

1.  Ground Combat Vehicle.
2.  JLTV.
3.  Marine Personnel Carrier.
4.  DDG-51

Reduced buys...

1.  MV-22
2.  F-35
3.  LCS
4.  CSAR replacement


And probably a bunch more that I just can't recall.  The boom times for defense is over.  The lean times are here.  Funny thing.  The ending of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the drivers behind this move.  In all actuality a smaller defense budget has been in the making since the Bush Administration, only the 9/11 attacks destroyed the groundwork that they were laying.  Don't think cutbacks.  Think Revolution of Military Affairs (RMA) or Transformation.

And so it begins...

Remember my warnings about the General's cutting troops before weapon systems?  Well now it begins.  Check this out...

The Obama administration will unveil a "more realistic" vision for the military on Thursday, with plans to cut tens of thousands of ground troops and invest more in air and sea power at a time of fiscal restraint, officials familiar with the plans said on Wednesday.

We're getting transformation whether we want it or not.  

F-35 over Cow Town...

F-35B production aircraft BF-8 flies over the city of Fort Worth during a company acceptance test flight on Dec. 8, 2011. BF-8 is a short takeoff/vertical landing (STVOL) variant aircraft that will be delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps.

F-35B production aircraft BF-8 flies over the city of Fort Worth during a company acceptance test flight on Dec. 8, 2011. BF-8 is a short takeoff/vertical landing (STVOL) variant aircraft that will be delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps.

Pic of the day.

Cpl. William Cox, an armorer at the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, and a native of Amory, Miss., provides security as an MV-22 Osprey lands in Zaranj, Nimroz province, Dec. 30.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard)

Interesting.

Just doing some reading and ran across this article.  Not exactly related to the military but it does concentrate on leadership so in many ways it applies.  Check this part out...

Habit #3:  They think they have all the answers

Here’s the image of executive competence that we’ve been taught to admire for decades: a dynamic leader making a dozen decisions a minute, dealing with many crises simultaneously, and taking only seconds to size up situations that have stumped everyone else for days. The problem with this picture is that it’s a fraud. Leaders who are invariably crisp and decisive tend to settle issues so quickly they have no opportunity to grasp the ramifications. Worse, because these leaders need to feel they have all the answers, they aren’t open to learning new ones.
CEO Wolfgang Schmitt of Rubbermaid was fond of demonstrating his ability to sort out difficult issues in a flash. A former colleague remembers that under Schmitt,” the   joke   went, ‘Wolf  knows everything about everything.’  In one discussion, where we were talking about a particularly complex acquisition we made in Europe, Wolf, without hearing different points of view, just said, ‘Well, this is what we are going to do.’”  Leaders who need to have all the answers shut out other points of view. When your company or organization is run by someone like this, you’d better hope the answers he comes up with are going to be the right ones.  At Rubbermaid they weren’t.  The company went from being Fortune’s most admired company in America in1993 to being acquired by the conglomerate Newell a few years later.
Warning Sign for #3:  A leader without followers

Read the whole thing here...

No cover. Great concealment.

SAFAR, Helmand province, Afghanistan - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. William Campe, a 19-year-old rifleman with 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment and Algonquin, Ill. Native, holds security while halted on a partnered security patrol with Afghan National Army soldiers here, Dec. 30. The ANA soldiers and Marines interacted with local citizens and spoke with an elder about biometrically enrolling the members of his village for identification purposes. America's Battalion is aiding the Afghan National Security Forces in assuming security responsibilities over Helmand province's Garmsir district. This interoperability is designed to further the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance of Afghanistan by defeating insurgent forces and helping secure the Afghan people.

No Costa/Haley Effect (CHE) but I like this holster.

New year, new gear.

Everyone else has been taken care of presents wise so it was time to treat myself.  Let me start off by saying that I carry concealed.  There are a bunch of nice holsters out there and I have a box full of them.

I guess I'm looking for perfection and have only found good enough so far.  A matter of taste, body style etc...I guess but to me more important than comfort is draw speed and retention.  That's where most of my other holsters have come short.

Small of back?

Are you freaking kidding me!  Not only do they print but its a retention nightmare if someone clocks that you're carrying concealed.

Shoulder holster?

Not if you live in the South where it can be 98 degree with 98% humidity!  A jacket is a must with those types of rigs.

Inside the waistband?

Ok, now you're getting there but at the traditional 3 o'clock position you're still easy to make.  If any bad (or good) guy knows what to look for its easy to spot.

Raven type close fit?

Only if you're at a class, the range, combat or in a real deal shit hit the fan situation.  Again, where I live you would need a jacket.

Fanny pack?

I'm not a tourist.

So what does that leave me with?  Let me remind you, comfort isn't the issue.  Retention and speed of employment is.

Easy.  It becomes a case of finding a holster for appendix carry.  I think (don't know yet case I just ordered it) that the Comp Tac 2 o'clock holster is the one for me.

Appendix carry is a retention dream.  Your weapon is in front of your hips so someone  coming from behind and "tackling" your gun is out.  With practice its the quickest to deploy (check out this vid on Teddy Medina from KitUp!).

And lastly its easy to conceal without having to worry about printing from the sides or behind.  I don't expect to have a CHE and you run go buy one because I like it, but I researched this pretty good and I don't think I went wrong.

Check it out for yourself here.

Happy New Year.

This is me.


Wishing you and yours the very best for all of next year.


Be well.


Be safe.


Be alert.


2012 should be interesting!

Shooting sports...what was hot in 2011...

A quick look at what was hot in the gun world in 2011...I'm not saying practical, just what was hot...

Tacos....rather magazine tacos.  I don't know about using them in a tactical situation where you're in and out of the mud etc...but it works great on the three gun circuit.

Travis Haley.  This guy is a rock star in the gun world...He's on his own now and you can bet that when he gets behind a piece of gear that its gonna be a best seller.

Chris Costa.  The other rock star in the gun world.  No particular order with these two guys...if Chris is rocking a new set of ear muffs then expect the price to triple and for them to sell out regardless.

Aimpoint T-1.  This light sight is so popular for two reasons...first up is the fact that you see many guys running around with AR's that weigh as much as an M-14, and then second you have Costa and Haley running these lights on their weapons.

Kydex holsters.  The big boy on the block is the Raven holsters, but everyone is getting into the market.  Raven has a turn around time of 4 to 6 months -- another case of the Costa/Haley effect (known from here on as the CHE)...I don't know anyone with a Raven but kydex seems to be kydex...I'll have to see one up close to know the difference.

M&P pistols.  XD's were the rage last year, in 2011 it was all about the M&P's.  I blame this on Glock.  I'm a Glock fan and I can tell ya that gen 4 was a total clusterfuck.  That left an opening for everyone else and M&P charged right into the breech.

And the most innovative thing to come out of 2011 was the return to the War Belt concept.  Above you see John's setup.  He's serving with I believe the 1stMarDiv, and has the CAR to prove it.  Forget CHE, I'm following his lead.