11th MEU. Range time in Jordan.

Photos by Cpl Tommy Huynh

Commando Helicopter Force Mobile Air Operations Team

Hey Weak Body...the next time you don't feel like working out....

Hey Weak Body...the next time you don't feel like working out...don't feel like getting off your ass and going the extra mile, then remember this video....



Feel like a straight up pussy yet?

Feel like you aren't quite thankful enough yet?

Yeah I thought so.

Get on your knees...Thank the Lord up above for what you have...and live your life to the fullest.  Some gave, some gave more and some gave all.

F-35A AF-16 First Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew F-35A AF-16 (USAF serial number 09-5003), on its inaugural flight on 3 May 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB. The aircraft will be assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida.

Silencers for Marine Infantry. Let's fund it through Obama's health care plan!

The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, Schools of Infantry and Marine Gunners Symposiums have given us things we didn't ask for and could make do without...

*Infantry Automatic Rifle.
*Multi-round grenade launcher
*Serpa Holsters.

But they identified a need and are standing pat.

What's that need?  Silencers.  Cans.  Sound Suppressors.

Whatever you call them we need them.  The racket on the battlefield while you're communicating...muzzle flash despite the flash suppressors on our weapons and the need to fully integrate night vision devices with our firearms all show the need for the average Grunt on the line to have a can on his weapon.

I personally like the Mini4 from AAC (got to shoot one and its fantastic...you can literally hold a decent conversation with someone rocking out on it next to ya).

But whatever the choice we need to get this done.  We definitely need it more than we need the M27 IAR or a new holster!

Update:
Sferrin made a good point.  We should fund this through Obama's Health Care Scheme.  We can list it under preventative medicine.  Hearing loss is an issue in the military after all.  Hey, if energy can get the military to fund green energy why can't we get health to fund silencers for the Marine Corps!

Battle Rodent.

This guy never taps out!

He'll battle you even after he collapses!

Marine Personnel Carrier. Why the Army needs it and not the GCV.

The US Army is in procurement hell.

First they've managed to almost...not quite but almost combine their Ground Combat Vehicle Program with their M-113 Replacement Program....

They're proceeding with these programs despite having difficulty describing the need for them and they're making these procurement decisions without any acknowledgement of combat in the Pacific.

Suggestion:


They then need to piggy back on the USMC's Marine Personnel Carrier buy.  If the Army is going to be effective and a player in the Pacific then they need a couple of things that the MPC will provide.

1.  Fully amphibious.
2.  A capability to carry at least 9 fully equipped Marines/Soldiers.
3.  Ship board capability from the start.
4.  An established supply chain.

Lets be quite honest here.

The Army doesn't appear to know what it wants and why it wants it.  Teaming with the Marine Corps on the MPC will show that they're serious about participating and planning for warfare in the Far East.
.

The Marine Corps can help this process by separating the MPC from the Amphibious Combat Vehicle and AAV upgrade offices.

Time to get this done.

31st MEU & The unseen test of strength in the Pacific.

Everyone was focused on the activist in China hiding in our embassy but the Philippine Nation and the US Marines were conducting exercise Balikatan and their Navy was facing off Chinese fishing boats and Destroyers.

The Pacific is where America will be tested.