Wednesday, December 28, 2011

NAVAIR K-Max photo release.

A new era in unmanned aviation began earlier this month when Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 operated a K-MAX unmanned helicopter during its historic 90-minute flight, Dec. 17. K-MAX is the Marine's first unmanned helicopter designed for resupplying troops in remote locations. During its maiden flight, K-MAX successfully delivered about 3,500 pounds of food and supplies to troops at a forward operating base in Afghanistan without risk to a pilot.

Check out this funky co-witness system...


I just noticed this setup on this Marine's rifle.  This unit is using the carrying handle as a funky kinda co-witness system.

I like.  Its unusual but I like it.

31st MEU Boat Company...

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marine scout swimmers with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security for a beach assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. , Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 9:22 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, get on line to provide security after landing here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. , Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 9:51 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Lance Cpl. Lance C. Coolidge, a scout swimmer with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security for an assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. , Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 10:39 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, get in combat rubber raiding crafts to conduct an assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 8:26 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, get in combat rubber raiding craft to conduct an assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 8:28 AM

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

And you thought you had a bad day.

Watch the whole thing but the fire works are near the end...



Sorry but I'm feeling a bit ghoulish...don't know why...




BlackFive nails the anti-gun crowd!


A must read from BlackFive (with a major hat tip to National Review)...
Did you know there is a nationwide rampage going on where crazed fanatics with concealed carry permits are slaughtering innocent citizens? Neither did I, but thankfully the NY Times is on the story. With their usual, thoroughly accurate, fact-checked, journalistic professionalism propaganda, they have concocted a faux outrage that simply doesn't add up. National Review Online points out the fallacy.
The only thing I can add to Jimbo's wonderful analysis is this.  A couple of days ago a young man was chased down by a gang of animals (the two legged kind) and stabbed to death in a British mall on 'boxer day'...The UK has some of the most restrictive gun laws on the planet yet murders continue to happen everyday.  Restrictive gun laws placed on law abiding citizens only makes those very same citizens potential victims.

I understand that some are anti-gun.  That's your right but don't impose your false sense of security on me and mine!

How about we get some off the shelf solutions to the JLTV issue.

Marine Corps procurement is becoming slow, cumbersome and costly.  Its time to change gears and get it jump started.  The JLTV program is one that we can get off the table by making a decision at HQMC as to what type of vehicle we need and then picking one thats already on the market to fulfill those requirements.  Stuff a 5 year development timeline for a battlefield utility vehicle...lets get this done.  Potential candidates????

Force Protection Cheetah..


Force Protection Foxhound..(I'm sure doors for drivers and passengers can be added, but supposedly vehicles lose strength when doing so...I don't understand our insistence on that feature)


Iveco LMV Panther...


And those are just a few of the vehicles off the top of my head that fulfill this requirement.  We've been squeezing this for too long...time to make it worth it.

A book that should be on the Commandant's reading list...

If you consider yourself a warrior then reading books on the subject is simply part of the job. 

Want a book that covers the warrior mindset?  Want a book to explain the preparation necessary to fight and win?  Then the book "The Five Rings" is definitely for you.

It was written by Miyamoto Musashi, probably the greatest swordsman of feudal Japan.  If you have the time I highly recommend it.  If you don't then place it on your list of books to read for the new year.  You can find an online version here.  Enjoy!