Directing fire.

Canadian Army Warrant Officer Robby Fraser, a platoon warrant officer with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, directs machine gun fire at a support by fire position during a platoon-size live-fire assault, July 22, as part of Rim of the Pacific 2012. Approximately 2,200 personnel from nine nations comprise Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 3, Combined Force Land Component Command. The land component of RIMPAC is conducting amphibious and land-based operations in order to enhance multinational and joint interoperability.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert Bush)

Interesting.  A platoon warrant officer.  The Marine Corps could benefit from such a program.  It would allow experienced SNCO's to lead platoons.  It would never fly but it is a thought.

F-35B BF-17 First Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew F-35B BF-15 (US Navy Bureau Number 168313) on its inaugural 1.2-hour flight on 24 July 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas. The aircraft will be assigned to VMFAT-501 at Eglin AFB, Florida.

The Costa Effect hits hard.

You knew this was coming.

Once the beard (Costa) started running LaRue guns, everyone and their mother would be ordering the same one.  It might be time to start calling it the Costa Effect (CE) 'cause Haley's been low profile of late.  Rumor has it that he's transitioning to training only high profile units and individuals...

Anyway, this news is burning up the internet in the gun culture.  You too can owe your very own Costa Edition LaRue Offensive Optimized Battle Rifle!

In memory of Army Sgt. Eric E. Williams...

Don't know the guy but would feel a kinship when we meet in the beyond.

Read about his all too common tragic death here, but take the time out to read his last blogspot here.  If that doesn't touch your heartstrings then you haven't been anywhere or done anything.

The Admiral that called the kettle black!

This guy is a trip!

He's the same person that joined journalist in laughing at an old skool Special Ops General when he told him to stay out of the media and now he's talking about leaks possibly endangering Special Ops guys!

Amazing.  Read it all but check this out.

 Recent national security leaks have put lives at risk and may ultimately cost Americans their lives unless there is an effective crackdown, the head of the Special Operations Command Admiral William McRaven says.

Just plain wow. 

I have never seen a head of Special Operations so in the limelight (this was a forum) and he has the nerve to make this kind of statement!  Geez, please put Special Forces in charge of SOCOM!

Quick Rant. The President did it again.

Sorry guys.  Rant time.

The President did it again.

He grabbed onto a cultural issue when he was getting kicked in the head over economic issues.  The Romney campaign has been making hay over the gaff that the President committed by stating that government builds small businesses.

Polls indicate that he was losing ground because of this issue.

So when he's getting hit over the economy he latches onto a cultural issue to make up ground.  He was losing ground earlier this year and he repealed DADT.  He was getting hit by unemployment news in the Latino and Black communities so he put forth the dream act and an African American studies office.

This might work short term but the 10 ton Gorilla in the room is the economy.  And thats what people will be voting on in November.

Bill trips out.

I first heard about this from BlackFive and didn't want to believe that Bill really made such an ass of himself.

I checked out the video and yep.  B5 was spot on.  But even better the internet is exploding in rage (at least in the gun culture) at how stupid he is.  Since when is an AR-15 or an AK-47 in the same class as a bazooka or a mortar?  Bill is so misinformed that it hurts.

Simply amazing.

On a sidenote, if you're not getting B5's feed you're missing out.  Between McQ, Uncle Jimbo and the Laughing Wolf (not to mention the others) you're getting guys that are really tapped into guys that know what tugs on the heart strings of military, vets and right thinking people.  Check them out.

A General gone bad?

If the allegations against this general is true then he needs to be retired immediately.  This is unsat.

MV-22 Ospreys now in Japan

Sidenote:

1.  I don't know what's going on with Marine Public Affairs but this "experimental" camera work is annoying.  They purposefully fuzz the outlines of the vid?  If that's artistic then I want no parts of it.
2.  With HQMC emphasizing MARSOC at the expense of conventional Fleet Marine Forces, how can we justify the MV-22?  I've been a huge supporter but that was with the thought that FMF would be leading the fight.  If the emphasis for the MEU is to turn to disaster and humanitarian relief then the MV-22 is severe overkill.  Better to give the V-22 to SOCOM and get MH-60's to replace the CH-46.  It would save money, maintenance hours and the MH-60 could still get the job done.

Someone You Should Know: Lance Corporal Cody R. Goebel

LCpl Cody R. Goebel.

This guy is hard as woodpecker lips and someone you should definitely know. Click this sentence to hear his story. On a sidenote, I'm gonna be slamming McQ's inbox to find out where this show lands so I can pass it on to you. In the meantime subscribe to the RSS feed and browse through it. Heroes all and stories that we can't afford to forget.

F-35C flying a more comfortable ball

Combat Doc talks eye protection.

Quite honestly I've been waiting for someone to do a run down on ballistic eye protection.  To me at least its about everyday safety.  The modern world is a hazard place, your eye sight is precious and I want to know what works so I can keep me and my loved ones as safe as possible.

Think I'm a bit overboard?  How about the aftermath of car accidents?  Construction accidents.  Chemical splatter (and I'm talking about something as simple as outside bleach) and even debris from cutting your grass.  Ballistic protection that works is important.  And that's even before we start considering what guys going down range are facing.

Check this out.

See more analysis on our Eye Protection and Shooting Glasses Review

The author of the video was an FMF Corpsman...a real deal Devil Doc.

Foxhound vehicle on display

The Infantry "call me baby"

Thanks for the link John! Terminal Lance's Grunt "call me baby"...check it out.

Eurcocopter X3 and Airbus A400M in flight

Eurocopter handled the US tour of its X3 badly.  I guess its another example of a large corporation that has little experience with marketing its products to the American people.  Quite honestly it didn't even get that much play in the aviation media. Consider this a missed opportunity.

Is the SCAR-17 the weapon of choice for SEAL Teams?

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (July 21, 2012) Navy SEALs participate in the capabilities exercise portion of the 43rd annual Underwater Demolition Team (UDT)-Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) East Coast Reunion at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. The annual reunion started in 1969 and has expanded into a weekend of events, contests, and a SEAL capabilities exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Harding/Released)

Every pic I've seen of SEALs lately shows them sporting SCAR-17's.  Is that the new weapon of choice?

30 vs. 250. Marine leads his men against the Taliban. Someone You Should Know.

Hear the story of GySgt Blonder by clicking on this link.  Its well worth your time.

The French Marine's stairway to heaven.

Marines from Security Cooperation Task Force Africa Partnership Station 2012 (SCTF APS-12) train together with French Marines from France's 3rd Marine Brigade on an obstacle course at Fort De Penthievre. SCTF APS-12 is conducting a series of training events with the French Marines to strengthen relations between France and the U.S.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jemssy Alvarez)

Are these considered Special MAGTF's or SCTF's??  I've seen it written both ways.

Bronies. The pussification of the US Army IS complete.

I would hope that a Marine would get skull fucked, throat punched, wall to wall counseled and made to dig a fighting position for a platoon of tanks if he was caught doing this.

Parts of the Army?  Hey its ok, roll with it.  Other parts?  They'd do it the Marine way.  Either way, ATF is funny as hell, Every Day No Day's Off you guys rock and to the dude in ACU's with the rainbow joy patch.  Just go punch yourself.

Now what unit or group affiliation does that patch represent? 

Argonaut Search and Rescue Amphibious Vehicle Concept

Pretty cool.  Saw it on this website.