Social Disorder. What the EBT fiasco taught me.

I was able to observe the mess that was the EBT mess this weekend and you can call me a nut if you want but I'm going full speed into prepping.

I've seen the issues that arise from hurricanes.  I've watched the run on supermarkets just before they hit and the mass purchasing of essential gear if/when the lights go out or roads are closed due to flooding or debris afterwards.

But the drama in the supermarkets from this EBT stuff was on a different level.  I walked into my neighborhood Wally world and within two secs was clutching my sidearm, was grabbing the wall with my back in 10, and within 30 seconds was doing a tactical retreat to my truck, all the while wondering why I had no overwatch, watching how I was bounding to evac and hoping that I didn't set off a trap on the way.

Lessons learned...

1.  Stay armed regardless.  I don't care if you're going out to grab the paper, have your G26/19 on your hip.
2.  If you have been delaying prepping and stated to yourself that its a fad, get past it.  This shit ain't fringe.  If you saw what I saw then you'd be aboard too.  The federal govt says that you should have two weeks worth of food and at the same time says that preppers are suspicious individuals.  Screw them.  Get a pantry that will sustain you for a month.  I'm going for more (won't tell you how long...opsec).
3.  Public places are public places.  I got into the habit of thinking about things like "nothing good happens after midnight" and if you're hanging out with "stupid people, then stupid shit happens" but that's wishful thinking.  We live in a society that appears frayed at the edges.  If something as simple as this could cause commotion then what happens during something more serious (what that could be, I don't know but imagine it).  If you're out in the public when the bad stuff goes down then you stand a chance of getting swept up into it.
4.  Grow your own food.  I don't even want to think about how fragile our "modern" just in time supply system is.  Its built to fail and it will.  When that happens and food supplies are disrupted by forces beyond local control then what will happen?  Not only can't you buy food but there is no food to buy.
5.  I don't know what Washington is thinking but this nation is a powder keg ready to blow.

Final lesson learned.

We're inches away from a mad max moment.

F-35. Lockheed bought the S. Koreans, and now the Israelis.

via Israel Today.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon last week visited the Lockheed Martin assembly factory in Texas and called the new F-35 fighter jet "a cornerstone in building" the Israeli Air Force of the future.
Israel is one of the first countries on the list to receive the F-35 when America begins shipping to its foreign allies.
Like the F-16 before it, Yaalon said he had no doubt the F-35 would be a great asset and "give the Israel Air Force great operational abilities."
In a related development, the Pentagon has made the decision that F-35 pilots will use a helmet developed jointly by Rockwell Collins Inc. and Israel's Elbit Systems Ltd.
The decision knocked out of competition a helmet being developed by a British defense contractor. The Pentagon chose to go with the Rockwell-Elbit helmet following significant improvements and a lower price tag.

Forgive me but that's a big kettle of fish to swallow.

This helmet deal has left me scratching my head.  For weeks we've heard that progress is being made but that issues remain.  Additionally we heard that the second helmet by BAE was kicking butt and that it would be a very nice (if evolutionary) backup plan in case the revolutionary helmet by Rockwell and Elbit went tits up.

Then the Israeli Defense Minister shows up, tours the F-35 facility and out of nowhere we hear that the backup helmet is being canceled.

This smells to high heaven.

First the S. Korean retired Generals are bought off and lobby for Lockheed Martin, and now we see an Israeli defense corporation getting a huge gift right after a visit from a high ranking dignitary.

Who gets what?  The F-35 program gets the press that the well respected Israeli Air Force is sold on the plane and an Israeli company gets a piece of an overpriced scheme.

Everyone wins except the taxpayer.  Additionally I have to wonder about this business model.  How can prices go down when you have so many companies are seeking to profit off the bits and widgets that are being built worldwide?

Critical Mass is approaching.  If sequestration doesn't end (and I don't believe it will...the Republicans can't afford to not kill Obama Care and then let spending go up) then the F-35 WILL be the next target of cuts.  They can't cut personnel fast enough and if they accept voluntary outs the Marine Corps will empty.

They're between a rock and a bad place.

Policia from above..

China would lose 40% of its fleet to sink one US aircraft carrier????

via IDRW.org.

I wonder what the classified war games the Pentagon runs says about this...if the Russian think tank is right then that's pretty impressive and a better performance than I thought.  Four carriers would in theory be able to neutralize the PLA by themselves.

China would have to sacrifice up to 40% of its People’s Liberation Army Navy fleet in an attempt to sink a super aircraft carrier like the USS Gerald R Ford in a campaign, according to a report from the Moscow-based Military-Industrial Courier.
China currently possesses several effective weapons systems that could be used against a US carrier battle group, including its DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles and 12 guided-missile destroyers.
The country’s two Type 051C and six Type 052C destroyers are all equipped with anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-83, C-805 and YJ-62, and they would also pose a serious threat against US carriers within the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, China has purchased four Sovremenny-class destroyers equipped with Moskit SSM P-270 anti-ship missiles from Russia, the report said.
Aside from the Liaoning, the country’s first aircraft carrier, the PLA Navy currently has 15 Type 054A frigates carrying HQ-16 surface-to-air missile within its vertical launching system. With the capability to defend the Chinese fleet against the US carrier-based aircrafts, Type 054A is able to sink enemy vessel with its C-803 anti-ship missile as well.
If a US carrier battle group were to enter the waters of the Chinese coast, the PLA Navy could also deploy its 10 Type 056 corvettes and 40 Type 022 missile boats to fight in guerrilla warfare at sea against the US Navy, the report said. Both vessels able to launch anti-ship missiles such as YJ-83 and C-803 and the United States Navy would loses 10% of its strength in the region if one of its carriers were to be sunk.
However, the PLA Navy would not be able to sink a US aircraft carrier easily. According to the Forbes magazine, several countermethods have been developed by the US Navy to defend its aircraft carriers from Chinese attacks. While long-range unmanned aerial vehicles are able to destroy Chinese missile facilities, F-35 fighters with a combat range of 200 and 300 nautical miles enables the US ships to fight without entering the Chinese coastline.
The Military-Industrial Courier estimated that between 30%-40% of China’s total naval strength would be lost to simply destroy one US carrier. Meanwhile, the biggest weakness for the US Navy in a potential conflict with the PLA Navy would be how to deploy its 11 carriers, 88 surface combat vessels, 55 Littoral Combat Ships and 31 amphibious assault ships to the Western Pacific in a short period of time, the report said.

F-18 Super Hornet Concept Art by Macross Zero.

Re-awakening the Corps????

Thanks to Don for sending me the link...

Click here to read the USNI article for yourself but consider me unimpressed.

The arrogance, condescension, "mightier than thou", "do as I say-not as I do" ism's running through the document are stomach churning.

My takeaways....

*  Arrogantly accuses Marines of rampant bad behavior, yet outside of a few minor incidents excuses the real breakdown in leadership that has at times been encouraged by HQMC.  Dance videos at Camp Leatherneck mouthing "Call me maybe" or whatever the fucking song is????  Marines asking celebrities out on dates???  SNCO's participating in both and I do believe I even saw silver or gold in some of those videos???!!!!  The videos were endorsed by HQMC and I saw a Marine Corps Spokesman talk about how they were encouraged (don't ask me  the news program...I know I saw it on MSNBC, the guy was a Major and it was a "fun" talk).

*  Talks about re-awakening the Marine Corps when in essence the Marines are in reality being shaken to the Corps in order to accommodate Women in the Infantry.  The many are going to pay the price to satisfy the desires of a few.  Moving NCOs back into the barracks?  Micro managing units from HQMC to the extent of deciding whether or not a freaking television is allowed in the duty room on a 24 hour shift???

*  Most disturbing is the apparent hatred and contempt that is held by the higher ups toward lower ranking Marines.  There is no mentorship being spoken to here except in passing.  There is no leadership being expected of higher ranking Marines except in passing (and I would know if that info had been passed on in an Officers or SgtMajor's symposium).

Trust me.

This bitch session could stretch for a couple of pages but I'll end it here.

Its real simple.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps is not up to Marine Corps standards.  I've seen Lt. Colonels dismissed from service for less than what the Commandant is accused of doing by a fellow 4 star.

Undue command influence is a crime under the UCMJ.  Amos should have been fired by the SecDef but Hagel lacks the balls to do so.

Everyone in the Marine Corps knows all this.  Amos has lost the respect of the Corps and as I've seen happen with other fucked up leaders, he's trying to harden up to cover his fuck up.  Amazing, but not surprising.

You want to see the Marine Corps re-awaken?  Prove that the rules apply to everyone and get Amos out of the big chair.

It was a long, long day and tomorrow won't be better. via Full of Weapons.

Your team loses AND you get pepper sprayed. Filed under life sucks.

Ok.  Call me a wuss.  But I hated Marine Corps pepper spray training.  Not only do you get blasted in the face with it by some sadistic Training NCO that I suspect took great pleasure in the pain, but then you have to fight a couple of guys in redman suits while tears are flowing, snot bubbles are bubbling and you're coughing like you have bronchitis.

But considering all that...this had to suck more.  Read about it here.

Sidenote:  LSU beat Florida and is ranked number six in the nation.  Expect the rise to continue with the real national championship game occurring Nov 29th when we face Alabama.

The US Army, Australia, and the UK all wear the same combat uniform.

The Marine Corps has been accused of "going it alone" when it came to adopting its combat uniform.  While I once cheered the decision not to share, now I'm not so sure.

One thing has occurred that no one is talking about though.

The US Army, Australia and the UK (I believe) are all wearing Crye Precision as their combat uniform.  I'm not sure how I feel about that one.  First I'm not sold that Crye is the best of breed and second I'm not solid on the idea of US forces wearing the same kit as our allies.  Its a small thing and maybe it doesn't really matter but I would think being able to identify US personnel from those of another country could prove valuable in certain situations.

I'm gonna have to chew on this some more.

It does highlight what I feel is a growing problem.  World wide standardization on US gear.  Even the Chinese are wearing our old style Kevlar helmets.  If it isn't an issue now (standardization) then I think one day it will be.  Gear, techniques, even training.  Something is unsettling about it.

Schools Of Infantry running low on ammo?

Interesting.

Scuttle Butt has it that the Schools of Infantry on both coasts are low on ammo and MRE's due to the govt shutdown.

Supposedly if the situation doesn't improve, training will either be curtailed or amended.  What does that mean?  I don't know.  Maybe instead of using live fire for training they'll revert to some force on force drills and utilized sims or miles gear.

What I'd love to know is if this is true and if training in the fleet is being affected by the shutdown.  

The future of amphibious assault is NOT airborne!

Task Force 58.

It is a footnote in the history of the war in Afghanistan but its caught the attention of the Commandant, the Air Wing, Think Tanks, Opinion Makers and Marine Corps futurist.

And they're all wrong.

A down and dirty....Task Force 58 was composed of Marines from the 15th MEU (Battalion Landing Team 1/1) flew into Afghanistan across Pakistan from the sea, in essence conducting the longest heliborne assault in our nations history.  They were also the first conventional forces in theater (although they earned the Special Operations Capable designation) and they were led by General Mattis.  Long story short, it was a successful operation and the Marines were relieved in place by the 101st Airborne (Air Assault).

SIDNOTE:  Many people confuse the fact that the 26th MEU linked up with the 15th AFTER the initial assault and believe it was a combined op.  Technically it was but as I stated earlier.  The initial assault was conducted by the 15th MEU and BLT 1/1.  Information is spotty on the net but a fairly brief and not well written account of the action can be found on Wikipedia under Camp Rhino (click here to read it for yourself).

Procurement is not matching doctrine.

Marine Corps leadership is currently infatuated with the idea of an "Airborne Marine Corps".  I found an article written by Major General McKenzie, the USMC representative to the Quadrennial Defense Review is quoted by Foreign Policy as saying....

"I think the best example of what being amphibious means to the Marine Corps is Task Force 58. I think it's Brigadier General Jim Mattis launching off the Pakistan coast, striking deep into southern Afghanistan. No amphibious vehicles crossed a beach in that operation," said McKenzie

Unfortunately for Marine leadership, the premise of that type thinking was based on a perpetual war on terror.  US involvement in hotspots all over the globe and no "pivot to the Pacific".

Its been said that the Pentagon is like an aircraft carrier at sea.  It changes slowly.  I'd say its more like a crack addict waiting on a fix.  If certain "mafia" organizations inside that five sided building can tailor a particular administrations thinking to fit their worldview then they latch onto it like a bulldog on a bone.  That's what the Marine Corps did in pushing this "Airborne Marine Corps Concept," in attempting to tailor its "Sea Base" to the current administration's emphasis on humanitarian assistance and protecting populations worldwide but NOT in its pivot to the Pacific.

And that's where the Airborne Marine Corps falls apart.

In a A2/AD world, a heliborne USMC is far more vulnerable both in the assault and follow on assault phases.  Additionally the number of personnel available to conduct either a raid or more ominously a deliberate assault will be so small and so dependent on aerial support as to make cutting them off and destroying them in place a real possibility.

The main problem is simple.  

An Airborne Marine Corps does not fit with the Air Sea Battle Doctrine (as I read it anyway). If AOL Defense is correct in the US Army actually seeking a seat at the table (read it here) then the "airborne" portion of the equation is actually covered.  What is needed is a robust, sea going, combined arms force capable of carrying out missions across the spectrum.

The real answer is painfully simple.

Enhance the capabilities of the MEU.  Practice real contingency operations with the MEU/Army Airborne & Stryker Brigades, integrate Army Air Defense Artillery (and other capabilities found in their ground formations) into MEU's and MEB's through detachments that can fly in and are trained in how "Marines operate"...and develop interoperability across the services (you can toss the USAF a bone by getting their Red Horse Group some sea legs and have them follow the same type planning as with Army units detached to Marines).  Not in the ponderous COIN model, but in a fluid-high intensity warfare model that will highlight strained communications, intense small unit actions against capable foes, increased reliance on artillery instead of air assets etc.

Remember the pic below?  I wondered aloud where the CH-53's were.  Now I think my suspicions have been confirmed.  I think a dry run was being practiced to see whether or not the Marine Corps should/could transition to an all MV-22 force.

An all MV-22 based force would be a mistake.

During the late 1950's and early 1960's, heliborne assault was the wave of the future.  Helicopters would rule the battlefield and if our vehicles were air transportable then they were no good out the box.  What did we get for that type thinking?

Above you see the Mighty Mite.  It was designed to be lifted by the UH-34.  It was rendered obsolete when regular helicopters could easily transport the standard jeep.  Below the pic of the Mighty Mite you see the Ontos AntiTank Vehicle.  It was designed to be air transportable and provide antiarmor punch and infantry support for air transported Marines.

Both had extremely short service lives because they were narrowly tailored weapon systems designed around a need that had no doctrinal basis.

We'd be repeating the mistakes of those futurist before that wanted to transform the Marine Corps into something it was never meant to be.    If America needed another Air Assault Division the Army would marinize some UH-60M's and teach its soldiers how to swim.  The future of the Marine Corps is found in its past.  Most ready when the nation is least.  Shock Troops.  Teufel Hounds.
Aviation centric thinking at the highest level of the Marine Corps is leading to basic mistakes.  The desire to "leave his stamp" on the Marine Corps is leading to bigger mistakes.  I don't know how to do it, but the "Airborne Marine Corps" talk must be crushed (Like how I did that?)

J-10 totting 6 long range air to air missiles....

Pegasus Mechanized Amphibious Vehicle VMA 8331 via Blitzkrieg Korp.

First if you get a chance, you need to check out Circulotrubia blogspot to keep up with the latest on general armor happenings in S. America and general military related news.  And second, check out this new blog that Circulotrubia pointed to...Blitzkrieg Korps.

The photo above is from his blog and it tells a brief history of the VMA 8331.  It was designed to act as a surrogate LVTP-7 for the Spanish Marine Corps (if my Google translator is working right) and its another of those vehicles that came along that I didn't even know existed.

The internet is a wonderful thing.  Armor history is big and its found in the strangest places....gaming, modeling and blogs.  Christopher Foss better watch out...he has some serious competition.

Cops thru time...

Major thanks to Terrence for forwarding me this....too awesome and true....

Cops in the 60's....Just the facts Ma'am...

Cops in the 70's....One Adam Twelve in route....

Cops in the 80's...Be careful out there....

Cops in the 90's....

Swat Teams, MRAPS, Balaclavas, full on combat gear found in a Marine Rifle Company...WTF happened?????

F-35 Quote of the day, with a little blast from the past (from earlier this year)

“The rapid expansion of computing power also ushers in new sensors and methods that will make stealth and its advantages increasingly difficult to maintain above and below the water.”........Admiral Greenert.

This sums up the whole argument when it comes to the F-35.

If its stealth will soon be rendered irrelevant then what kind of plane do we have?  If its stealth is nullified do we have an airplane that equals the F-16, F-18 or Harrier?

Maybe the Harrier.

But is the cost of maintaining it worth the added cost?

I say no.

Make the planes that have been built, gate guards, museum pieces and experimental aircraft.  But its past time to bin the entire program and start over.  We did it with the EFV.  We can do it with this plane.  

F-35 with Amos' name on it.

Read about it here at Defense News.

Interesting.

Some of the Marine Corps greats would have been happy with an engraved sword, or firearm.  I just can't imagine Puller, Ripley, Shupe, Mundy, Krulak, Gray, or others being arrogant enough to have the most expensive and poorly run program in our nations history justified by having the Commandant of the Marine Corps name on the side.

The Marine Corps is being bitched out to a corporation.

It sickens me.

Cops behaving badly.

Thanks to Jason for the vid!

NOTE:  Need to clarify that I'm not painting with a broad brush, but there is a growing problem with this type of stuff.  The American community is fracturing.  Our system is under intense stress and it seems that the powers that be are either ignoring the reality of the situation OR they're egging it on.  Either way, trouble is coming.  Shit is gonna get real and when it does all bets are off.  Check out the vid below and think about your wife, sister, daughter or female relative getting treatment like this after having made a mistake...not a felony but sleep behind the wheel of her car at the side of the road.

World of Tanks Update 1.

Hey all.

This serves as an update to my jump into World of Tanks  First.  I killed a night playing the damn thing.  Its addictive.  Second.  Thanks to all for the advice.  Gunthy!  I watched the vid you suggested and the guy is a pro.  I had seen his stuff before but earlier it didn't interest me because I wasn't playing.  Now?  Words to live by in the game!

Andrew!  Spot on.  No money will be spent on the Lowe Heavy.  Its a dog of a vehicle.  But I might have to break the no spending pledge for the higher tiers.  I don't see how you can survive in a stock tank.

Speaking of game play.  Why does my moderately upgraded M5 Stuart...a tier 4 tank...land me in the battlefield littered with Tier IX, VIII, VII and VI ????  I was blasting away and I imagine some British 14 year old was talking shit saying stuff like...don't you understand I'm a rock son? when my  rounds would bounce off him.  Several times I turned into a running joke.  They would kill everyone else and save me for last.  Surrounded by Panthers, E-100s and American T26s.

It sucked.

It was fun.

I'll be doing it again tonight. 

Japanese Maneuver Combat Vehicle Vid.

Damn!  That's one beast of a vehicle!  I like it.

T-50. Flight Demo Vid. via Defense Update.

Partial stealth.

Full agility.

Super Cruise.

Huge AESA.

More than 200 to be produced.

Why do I think we headed down the wrong path?  Consider the fact that China and Russia are getting closer militarily (remember the joint exercises earlier this year?).  Consider the fact that despite the USAF's best efforts those F-22's are getting long in the tooth in airplane years.  Consider the fact that the F-35 is in reality a bomb truck.

What should send chills down the spines of aviation enthusiast, engineers and pilots is the obvious that I had trouble wrapping my head around.

Flashback in time to the 1960s.  BAE had developed the Harrier and someone decided that to save money we would use that airplane for all three services.  The land and carrier based versions wouldn't have STOVL capability and the carrier based model would have larger wings but all three would use it.

That's basically what we're doing with the F-35!

The Harrier is perfect for the role intended by the USMC, but fails when pushed into requirements for the USN and USAF.  The Marines need a bomb truck.  The USAF and USN need fighters.  Fleet defenders.  Interceptors.

What was needed was a hyper upgraded, carrier capable F-16 (oh wait the USN already has the Ultra Hornet waiting in the wings).  What we got was a mess that is going to be the end of allied airpower within a decade.