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.

Blast from the past. Rules of engagement for the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit in Lebanon.

via Ibiblio.

The Marines were drilled and redrilled on the rules of engagement, including "what-if" sessions in which all possible contingencies were hopefully covered. In addition, each Marine was issued wallet-size card with the following rules printed in all capital letters:

Guidelines of Rules of Engagement

1. When on the post, mobile or foot patrol, keep loaded magazine in weapon, bolt closed, weapon on safe, no round in the chamber.
2. Do not chamber a round unless told to do so by a commissioned officer unless you must act in immediate self-defense where deadly force is authorized.
3. Keep ammo for crew served weapons readily available but not loaded. Weapon is on safe.
4. Call local forces to assist in self-defense effort. Notify headquarters.
5. Use only minimum degree of force to accomplish any mission.
6. Stop the use of force when it is no longer needed to accomplish the mission.
7. If you receive effective hostile fire, direct your fire at the source. If possible, use friendly snipers.
8. Respect civilian property; do not attack it unless absolutely necessary to protect friendly forces.
9. Protect innocent civilians from harm.
10. Respect and protect recognized medical agencies such as Red Cross, Red Crescent, etc.

I'm going to have to find it but I once read that overly restrictive rules of engagement caused the tragedy in Lebanon.  Years later some of the same mistakes were repeated in Khobar Towers...the Cole incident and could even be blamed for the attacks in Kabul.

Leadership being more concerned about local sensitivities rather than ensuring mission accomplishment and force protection.

On a different note.

The Marine Corps should perhaps consider (since name changes are all the rage...and since everyone is using the term "expeditionary") going back to Marine Amphibious Units.  It will make Marine formations unique again.  As I said.  Expeditionary is all the rage and has lost any luster it might have once had.

ARISGator.

The ARISGator.  An interesting vehicle based on the M-113.  The thing that has my attention though isn't the base vehicle, isn't the hydro-dynamic nose attached but rather its propulsion system.  That water jet system is huge and I'd love to see a comparison between it and the USMC's AAV and those that are to be applied to the upcoming Marine Personnel Carrier.  Oh and for the reformers in the crowd forget any thoughts about the USMC adopting even a few of these.

Read about the ARIS here.



Sidenote:  Stats according to Army Guide give it a water speed of 6 kmph and the ability to carry 8 troops.  Supposedly its been tested with a RWS 50 cal machinegun.  And according to some Italian websites its in limited use by the San Marco Battalion (Italian Marines...I think).  We can look forward to these vehicles being retired as soon as the Super AV 8x8 comes online.

Best of Devinsupertramp!

Great movie making and some hellacious athletes.  Pretty awesome.

Porcupine C-RAM.

via DefesaGlobal.

Finmeccanica´s Oto Melara SpA has developed the Porcupine (or Porcospino) counter rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) protected weapon system.

The ground based weapon system is intended to serve as a defensive system for land based military facilities or critical infrastructures against destroy incoming artillery, rockets and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets, or simply provide early warning capability.

Each remotely controlled firing unit comprises the supporting mount along its protected covers, a General Dynamics Armament & Technical Products (GD ATP) M61A1 Gatling 20mm six-barrel externally powered lightweight cannon, the ammunition handling and feeding system, the drive system, the power management unit, stabilized optronic day/night infra-red tracking system for target engagement and as well as associated mechanical components.

I don't know how effective this system would be if it were mounted on the Marine Personnel Carrier, but if it could be made to work then it should be a winner.

We can expect even insurgents to start getting their hands on rockets...and some groups will get advanced weapons.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them get advanced rockets.  This system or others like it might save a Command Post or two in those vaunted humanitarian missions HQMC is so jazzed about doing.

Zapper Boss.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 18, 2012) An EA-18G Growler assigned to the Zappers of Airborne Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is underway conducting flight deck certification. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyler Caswell/Released)