What would the greats think about the Marine Corps today?

Quick question.

What would the Marine Corps greats think about the organization today?  Would they be proud?  Would they be ashamed?  Would they think things were awesome?

Would they believe that an organization that many gave their blood, sweat and tears to...an organization that some gave their lives for...would they believe that it was in good hands, making the right moves.

They wouldn't.  

And it starts from the top.

Even professional publlications for the Sea Services have been bitten by the stupid bug.  USNI allowed several articles that amounted to sniveling and whining.  Should I do 4 more years?  You're shitting me right?  Make up your damn mind son.  20,000 Marines are due to be forced out and this is what the Naval Institute publishes?

The Gazette is nothing more than a cheering section for the Commandant.

Procurement is a mess too.  I mean seriously?  Vickers Slings?  50 dollar a piece slings for the most frugal service?

The greats must be punching walls.  They wouldn't recognize the Marine Corps today.  Not because of technological advancements...a grunt is a grunt is a grunt.  It would be because the Marine Corps has lost its reason for being.

Unless we get our act together.  And quickly.  Then the nation doesn't need this type of United States Marine Corps.  Just shut our doors.  Expand the Ranger Regiment and be done with it.  As we curently stand we are NO pillar of strength, no fortress against the silliness that ravages society and no place that a parent should want to send their sons to be forged into men.

Tank scene by Long Ouyang

Workout Motivation Posters...

Motivation in poster form.

But most of all don't be "that guy" that puts his arm around his girlfriend, or wife and realizes that she has better abs than he does.

HMS Duncan (Type 45 Destroyer) begins sea trials.

Brand new Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan is escorted to begin her first sea trials off Scotland.

Duncan, the Royal Navy’s sixth and final powerful new Type 45 Destroyer, has put to sea for the first time (August 31) for trials where a blend of Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems personnel will put her through her paces.

Following her departure from BAE System’s Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow, Duncan quickly set about testing her speed and manoeuvrability, which will see the 7500-tonne destroyer taken to over 30 knots and turning very tight figure-of-eights.

Duncan will also spend four weeks at sea trialling her power and propulsion systems as well as her highly capable weapons systems. A second period of sea trials, set to take place later in the year, will test Duncan’s combat systems and sensors in order to ensure she joins the other Type 45s already commissioned and based in Portsmouth, in pristine condition next year.

Captain Henry Duffy, Captain Surface Ships, said:, This is a significant milestone in Duncan's programme. We wish her every success as we look forward to welcoming her to join the rest of her sister ships into the Portsmouth Flotilla next year.”

 There is something about this ship.  It just looks right.  And of course if it looks right more than likely it is right.

The Brits have lost their minds.

PHOTO: Mike Scott

The King’s Royal Hussars, 1st Troop, D Squadron, supports Prince Harry, among other things

via The Daily.

Strip, strip, hooray for Prince Harry!

These soldiers from the King’s Royal Hussars, a British army cavalry unit, joined thousands of other proud Brits in showing solidarity with their favorite royal rascal after his naked Las Vegas antics landed in tabloids.

These privates were covering their privates and little else under the hot Afghanistan sun to pledge their allegiance to their prince. More than 16,000 others have joined a Facebook group called “Support Prince Harry with a naked salute!” to do the same.

The group has been flooded with steamy pics of soldiers and civilians alike showing a little more skin than a dress uniform typically allows.

Wow.

No freakin' comment on this one.  Just plain wow.

No Easy Day. Should I buy it?

The book is out and the question is should I buy it?

Before I get to that understand this.  Because of the initial reaction from the Pentagon, you can bet your favorite body part that 1000 copies are being purchased by Chinese Intelligence/Military, another 1000 by Russian Intelligence/Military, at least 100 by the head shed over at AQ, and possible several dozen by allied nations that will have analyst trying to determine tactics, techiniques and procedures used by Navy SEALs.

And that's the very reason why I'll buy it.  I'm curious.  I want to know.  And half the challenge will be in determining exactly what is classified info. 

What doesn't fly is responses like this (Major Hat Tip to CDR Salamander for pointing this out)....

This book represents a complete failure and abdication of well known and established code of ethics to which every Navy SEAL pledges. To wit:

My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed upon me by the heroes who have gone before...By wearing the Trident, I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a privilege that I must earn every day...I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans...I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions...Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed.

The Trident is the insignia that designates a SEAL. In every possible way this person has prostituted this Ethos and has brought shame and mockery upon our entire community. He is receiving a very large advance for this book and although he claims that he is donating sale proceeds to the Navy SEAL Foundation, it is my understanding that they are refusing to accept this money as it is tainted by the gross violations of ethics that it represents.

UPDATE: I have spoken with representatives of the Navy SEAL Foundation and they have CONFIRMED that they are refusing to accept any donations resulting from the sale of this book. I have encouraged them to make a press release to ensure that the public is aware of this and they have placed that on the agenda of their executive committee.

Nobody in the Teams likes Obama and we all want him to lose the election, but not this way. This book is not going to be the difference in the election in any case and those of you using that excuse for purchasing and reading this book are fully aware of that.

If you want to know what happens during classified SEAL operations, then nut up and join the fight yourself. You should be satisfied that you are being protected and served by exceptional men who are entitled to your respect if not your gratitude. You are not owed the inside scoop on how we do our business. Rest assured our activities receive oversight from your elected representatives, our chain of command, and most importantly the integrity of the vast majority of the operators. We are not gladiators in the arena to entertain you, and by supporting works like this you are helping to validate a very ugly aberration of our most closely held beliefs.

As we like to say in the Teams, "Let your conscience be your guide." Just understand that by purchasing this book you are rewarding a man who has sold out his brotherhood for money. Your money.

Wow.

Excuse the fuck outta me.  I get the outrage.  I get the anger.  I get the sense of betrayal that SOME in the community feel (I say some because SOFREP has an article out where they contend that this is no big deal).  But the turn against the public for reading a book that might reveal TTP's when its been published, when the Pentagon could take action and hasn't and when you're talking about a SEAL community that's bold enough to go behind enemy lines and kill Bin Laden but lacks the nut juice to take down an author in their own fraternity is a couple of steps too far.

So yeah.  Fuck you.  I'm buying the book.

NOTE:
When I say take down the author I mean that they got word (from reading between the line and hearing several SEALs say that they got word of the book long ago) of the book and weren't able to get their team mate, ship mate, fellow Special Operator to not go ahead with it.  If SEALs are as tight knit a community as we're lead to believe then this should have been an easy fix.

Canada's close Combat Vehicle part 2. Nexter and BAE all in, General Dynamics as usual mailing it in.

Nexter VBCI.

Nexter VBCI.

Nexter VBCI.

BAE's CV90.

 

BAE's CV90.

BAE's CV90.

Thanks for the article Jonathan!

Wow.

The Canadian's are gonna try to pick a Close Combat Vehicle again.  Check this out ....

The bids are in for the Close Combat Vehicle (CCV). At least one company, Nexter Systems, has confirmed it has submitted a bid in response to the government’s Request for Proposals.
Nexter will offer the VBCI 25 – a platform currently in service with the French Army in both Afghanistan and Lebanon, according to the company.
“The VBCI is a state of the art platform with an excellent combination of protection, mobility and firepower” Patrick Lier, Nexter’s Vice President, Sales & Business Development, North America, noted in a statement released Tuesday. “Perhaps its most significant feature is its thick aluminum alloy hull which provides unparalleled protection against mines and IEDs.”
The company points out that the vehicle is capable of speeds over 100 km per hour. The VBCI has a one man turret with a 25 mm NATO standard gun, a 7.62 co-axial machine gun and grenade launchers. With a range of 750 km, it can sustain an infantry section on operations for three days, the firm adds. Nexter has already delivered over 400 of a total of 630 vehicles ordered by the French Army.
DND wants to buy 108 of the Close Combat Vehicles. There would be an option for the purchase of up to 30 additional vehicles. The army has argued that the Close Combat Vehicles, which would accompany its Leopard tanks into battle, are a priority for future missions.
BAE officials told Defence Watch during CANSEC 2012 they would bid. General Dynamics Land Systems Canada took an approach that it was reviewing the RFP material provided by government. No word yet from GD about whether their bid went in but industry sources believe that the firm did/will proceed with a bid.
As you know, the CCV program has run into a number of problems. It went off the rails earlier this year and companies vying for the $2 billion program were told that their bids had been rejected and they would have to submit new proposals. It was the second time that candidate vehicles, some of which are in service with allied nations in Afghanistan, had been rejected by the Defence Department.
The Close Combat Vehicle program, announced with great fanfare by the government in the summer of 2009, has already fallen two years behind schedule, according to industry officials.

Wheels.

The French are all in when it comes to wheeled forces...perhaps it has to do with a LACK of experience in Afghanistan where in my opinion wheeled vehicles showed vulnerability to IEDs and lacked off road capability.

I'm sure that's what BAE is trying to figure out.  Will it offer a vehicle that actually meets requirements and will be able to keep up with Leopard MBT's cross country or will it put forward a trendy option...a wheeled option.

General Dynamics has a totally different issue.  It has a WEAK design studio.  It really seems as if they're not even trying anymore.  If I was a betting man it will be a version of the Stryker/LAV III.  They could go rogue and try to push an ASCOD but in reality that is a tired vehicle and the British move to go with them had to be purely based on a cost, not the best vehicle offered.

I'll keep an eye on this and I'll be monitoring Defense Watch.  They're good on Canadian armored programs.

Pilots Eject, A-6 Intruder Keeps Flying