CLB Conducts HST Training

 

U.S. Marine Crew Chiefs with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), disembark a MV-22 Osprey during a Helicopter Support Team (HST) training at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, May 20, 2021. VMM-265 and CLB-31 conduct HST training in order to increase proficiency in logistics tasks and enhance the ability to execute potential contingency missions carried out by the 31st MEU. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Grace Gerlach)

3/2 and MARSOC Integrated Training

 

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment (3/2), 2d Marine Division, and Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) board a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook as a part of Exercise Raven 2-21 in Nashville, Tenn., May 21, 2021. Exercise Raven is an integrated training event with Marines from 3/2 and MARSOC which simulates real-life tactical scenarios to enhance overall unit interoperability, effectiveness and lethality against an adversarial force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick King)

Brianna Keilar: How the Wuhan Covid-19 lab leak theory evolved

 For the "scientist" on the blog...

  

City Wide "ASSIST OFFICER"

 

The event led to a city-wide ‘Officer in need of aid’ call after someone managed to open the passenger-side door. The mayor of St. Louis criticized the attack in a tweet, writing, ‘I’m disappointed in those people who will now have to face consequences for their behavior.’ pic.twitter.com/02RVZmcu2a

— RT (@RT_com) May 26, 2021

Are you shitting me?

We're tilting toward anarchy.

Sadly some will say they're just having a good time but if you know anything about crowd dynamics then you know this can go from dancing to fighting in a microsecond. 

All it takes is a spark.

Big cities are done.  Why anyone would live there is beyond me but to each his own.

Russia deploys Tu-22M3 bombers to Syria to "assure allies", "deter threats" and to "stabilize" the region

The arrival of Russian long-range bombers at the Hmeymim airbase in #Syria is intended to demonstrate #Russia’s resolve and stabilize the situation in the region, Coordinator of the Coop. between the State Duma and the People’s Assembly of Syria Sablinhttps://t.co/SauYSHmFMa pic.twitter.com/fwW3cKncxa

— Enrico Kremlin-affiliated :) (@Russ_Warrior) May 25, 2021

Weird isn't it.

Have you noticed the pace of exercises by the US this year?  We've seen INCREASED activity in both the Pacific and Europe.

Now we're seeing the response by China and Russia to this increased exercise tempo.

Just a few short years ago I complained by exercise tempo and how it appeared to be wearing out the force unnecessarily.  

Before the battle of cry "we must compete" came about we even saw the Joint Chiefs start talking about the need to reign it now.

Those days are over.  Its full speed ahead again.

Question.

When you're conducting large scale exercises on separate lines of a map, I believe that the possibility of an incident occurring increase.  I hope I'm wrong about that.

Hezbollah SOF Propaganda Vid

#Lebanon: Pretty crazy RuSOF-style #Hezbollah "Special Forces" video. Quite obvious what the influences are. Note MP5K/MP5A3 and B&T stock. Rather interesting. pic.twitter.com/1LjYtk7CBB

— Cᴀʟɪʙʀᴇ Oʙsᴄᴜʀᴀ (@CalibreObscura) May 25, 2021

Rheinmetall – a key player in the world of military vehicles – MOVE SENSE STRIKE

 

New Cold War against China has been declared...

JUST IN - China: "We clearly have a new cold war," Senate GOP leaders at a press conference.

— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) May 25, 2021

Wow.

This is such utter bullshit....they're gearing up to throw more money at the Pentagon in the upcoming defense budget negotiations but this time its different.

Why?

Because this is NOT a rerun of the Cold War against the Soviet Union. 

This is truly a WHOLE OF GOVT conflict on EVERY LEVEL.  

Quite honestly the military aspect of this conflict could be the most noticeable but LEAST CONSEQUENTIAL part of this brewing fight. 

The stark reality?  If we lose territory we can win it back.  If we get pushed back to fortress America we can roar back to the steps of their door.

The real battle field will happen in economics, finances, trade, science, infrastructure and other areas.

Don't get me wrong.

The military aspects are important and every life loss/damaged is horrific.  But I'm talking on the nation state level not on the personal level of our citizens.

My fear is that we are behind in many areas in relation to China.  We ARE IN COMPETITION with the Chinese but not militarily.  It's bigger than that.  But unfortunately we've conditioned the American people to just throw money at the military and they'll fix it.

Well it ain't so this time.

Australian Army Block 1 Boxer MPVs on exercise

 

Arctic paratroopers and HIMARS build combat power during Northern Edge 21...The US Army does the "Missile Marines"/Stand In Force Mission too....

 Thanks to John F for the link!

via Army.mil

 Paratroopers with 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, conducted an airborne operation May 11, 2021, onto Allen Army Airfield, Fort Greely, Alaska, as part of Northern Edge 2021.

Following the seizure of the airfield, an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) battery from the 17th Field Artillery Brigade out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord arrived and conducted a live fire exercise at nearby Donnelly Training Area.

Approximately 300 paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, exited from U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft while A-10 Thunderbolt IIs orbited, providing close air support. Once on the ground, paratroopers moved to their assembly areas to consolidate and secure the airfield as additional C-130s and C-17s landed with more paratroopers, equipment and the HIMARS battery.

Just plain wow.

This "STAND IN FORCE" reason for being that the Commandant is pushing ain't so freaking unique is it?

Apparently the US Army does the Missile Marine/Stand In Force mission too.  

Being a FORCE IN READINESS, READY WHEN THE NATION IS LEAST READY, MEDIUM WEIGHT/MODULAR FORCE THAT CAN SCALE UP AND DOWN THE SPECTRUM OF BATTLE AND CONDUCT FORCIBLE ENTRY OPS actually is something special huh?

 

China’s mysterious H-20 strategic bomber ‘may be able to strike second island chain’

 

via South China Morning Post

China’s next-generation Xian H-20 strategic bomber may have adopted a stealthy flying wing design that can help it strike targets in the second island chain and beyond, an analyst said after images of the aircraft’s design were published.

The latest edition of Modern Weaponry, a monthly magazine run by state defence corporation China North Industries Group, or Norinco, has released four computer-generated pictures of the design of the Xian H-20. The bomber has been under development for years and photos of it have never been officially disclosed.

The four pictures suggested that the aircraft has a weapon bay, two adjustable tail wings, an airborne radar at the front and two stealth air intakes on both sides, all covered in a dark grey radar-absorbent material.

Article is behind a paywall.

82nd Airborne Paratroops jump from the ramp of a KC-130...

Utilizing T-10C #parachutes, @usacapoc Soldiers exit a KC-130 #aircraft during a static line jump over Sicily Drop Zone, Ft. Bragg, N.C., May 1.

The tail ramp jump allowed #Soldiers the opportunity to refresh their skills and update their #jump qualifications.

Interesting.

If Marine Air is going to be serving as rides for the 82nd then I'd think a simple modification to allow them to use the jump doors is in order.

One thing is becoming increasingly clear.  

STAND IN FORCE = Joint Force Support Service.

The new moto for the new Marine Corps?  We support the warfighters!