Marine Corps News Room

The Associated Press 11:41 a.m. EDT March 16, 2016

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. — The Iwo Jima Monument at the Parris Island Marine Recruit Depot on the South Carolina coast has been refurbished, extending its life by at least 20 years.

Continue reading "Iwo Jima monument at Parris Island refurbished" »

Posted by KC at 10:39 AM | Permalink

CBS NEWS March 13, 2016, 9:55 AM

There are gun lovers -- and then there are Marines.

Continue reading "The M4: The Marines' new weapon of choice" »

Posted by KC at 9:28 PM | Permalink

By Pfc. Julien Rodarte, Defense Media Activity
Mar 1 2016

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- The Marine Corps wants to be more innovative. Yes, the organization that has a rich history of innovation is trying to strengthen its culture of innovation across the force and not just on the battlefield or in a crisis. Marine Corps leaders recognize that in order to meet the challenges of future operating environments and face enemies that don’t follow the traditional rules of warfare the Corps must find a way to harness the untapped cognitive and creative abilities of its Marines, Sailors, and civilians.

Continue reading "WARFIGHTING LAB PROMOTES INNOVATION ACROSS FORCE" »

Posted by KC at 7:23 PM | Permalink

February 23, 2016 5:57 PM

On February 23, 1945, U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima captured Mount Suribachi and raised a pair of American Flags that gave Americans hope that World War II would be coming to an end soon.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines Raised The American Flag Over Iwo Jima 71 Years Ago Today" »

Posted by KC at 7:49 PM | Permalink

Jeremy Berke and Amanda Macias
Feb. 19, 2016, 3:52 PM

America's military is known for its high standards — but of all the sister service branches, the Marine Corps take perfection to another level.

Continue reading "19 photos of the Marine Corps’ pursuit of perfection" »

Posted by KC at 8:01 AM | Permalink

6 p.m. EST January 11, 2016

ROANOKE, Va. — A Virginia couple was surprised after receiving a letter their son sent almost 11 years ago while serving in Iraq.

Continue reading "Marine's parents get letter from Iraq almost 11 years later" »

Posted by KC at 7:22 PM | Permalink

By Michael S. Darnell
Stars and Stripes
Published: December 29, 2015

All eyes are on the Marine Corps as a new commandant looks to navigate through challenges that will shape the future of the Marines. From integrating women into infantry battalions to planning the future of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, the Marines have a busy year ahead.

Continue reading "LOOKING AHEAD TO 2016" »

Posted by KC at 5:35 PM | Permalink

By Demetri Brown, Special to Military Times 3:02 p.m. EST December 6, 2015

Integrity, courage, initiative and dependability are just a few of the 14 traits attributed to leaders in the United States Marine Corps. However, one trait is missing that describes all leaders and all Marines: confidence. It should be added as the Corps’ 15th official leadership trait.

Continue reading "Confidence: An essential part of who we are as Marines" »

Posted by KC at 10:10 AM | Permalink

By DawnThea Price Posted 04/10/2015

Fog hangs low over the firing range, obscuring everything beyond the closest outcropping of trees.

Continue reading "Marines learn how to call the shots" »

Posted by KC at 9:57 AM | Permalink

Gina Harkins, Marine Corps Times 8:26 p.m. EDT March 21, 2015

The Islamic State group has reportedly posted the names, photos and home addresses of 100 American troops, urging sympathizers inside the U.S. to carry out attacks against them.

Continue reading "Islamic State releases troops' IDs, urges attacks" »

Posted by KC at 8:08 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn, Staff writer | 6:34 p.m. EDT March 19, 2015

Marine officials announced sweeping plans to redesign the service's rifle tables — an effort primarily meant to avoid confusion.

Continue reading "Marine Corps revises rifle marksmanship training tables" »

Posted by KC at 11:46 AM | Permalink

by CWO2 Paul Mancuso and Cpl Eric Moreno
Date Taken:06.10.2014 | Date Posted:12.31.2014 10:40AM

This film explores the genesis behind the Marine Corps approach to training non-infantry Marines in basic infantry skills. Originally produced for families of Marine Combat Training Battalion entry level students, it gives a unique look at training from the perspective of the instructors and staff that make it happen.

Continue reading "Video: Every Marine a Rifleman" »

Posted by KC at 9:44 PM | Permalink

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff writer 2:34 p.m. EST December 15, 2014

A new military occupational specialty for infantry squad leaders will refine training and education for enlisted Marines in the key leadership positions, officials announced today.

Continue reading "New MOS approved for Marine infantry squad leaders" »

Posted by KC at 6:09 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Terry Brady, Defense Media Activity
Sept 12, 2014

NEW YORK, New York --

The Quantico Marine Band journeyed to New York City, New York, to perform at various ceremonies as part of the New York 9/11 Commemoration event, Sept. 11, 2014.

Continue reading " Marine band plays respects to 9/11 fallen, first responders" »

Posted by sr at 11:15 PM | Permalink

Photos by Lance Cpl. Sullivan
Date Taken:08.29.2014
Date Posted:08.30.2014 10:37

Sergeant Maj. Irvin Howard (center left), the sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and Lt. Col. Corey Collier (center right), the battalion commanding officer, roll and case the battalion’s colors one final time during the unit’s deactivation ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 29, 2014. The colors will be stored at Headquarters Marine Corps until the battalion answer’s the Nation’s call to active service.

Continue reading "The Walking Dead’ roll up their colors" »

Posted by AC at 9:01 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Samuel Ellis | Headquarters Marine Corps | August 11, 2014

WASHINGTON -- The Marine Corps Uniform Board released a special uniform survey Aug. 11 to gather Marine opinions concerning two female hairstyles — locks (dreadlocks) and twists.

Continue reading "Uniform board seeks Marine feedback on female hairstyles" »

Posted by sr at 2:22 PM | Permalink

By Hope Hodge Seck
Staff Writer
Jul. 31, 2014 - 06:00AM

The Corps’ top general said the service plans to adopt a gender-neutral screening test that would assess Marines’ physical qualifications for various military specialties. The plan follows a separate announcement that immediately opened 11 new jobs to female Marines that were previously closed to women.

Continue reading "Marines developing gender-neutral MOS tests as 11 new jobs open to women" »

Posted by sr at 10:32 PM | Permalink

Story by Capt. David David
07.26.14

MORON, Spain - On Saturday, July 26, 2014, the Marines and Sailors of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response (SP-MAGTF CR) provided support to a military assisted departure of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya.

Continue reading " Marines secure departure of Tripoli Embassy personnel" »

Posted by sr at 4:15 PM | Permalink

By Claudette Roulo
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2014 – The world is very dangerous, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos said today but the United States has global responsibilities and cannot become isolationist.

Continue reading "Smaller Marine Corps Likely to Deploy More Often, Commandant Says" »

Posted by sr at 4:22 PM | Permalink

By PHILIP EWING | 7/13/14 9:36 PM EDT

Many leathernecks might argue there’s no such thing as a bad day inside the United States Marine Corps — but even they might also admit there have been better times than this.

Continue reading "Joe Dunford to inherit Marine Corps in flux " »

Posted by sr at 10:15 PM | Permalink

By Hope Hodge Seck
Staff Writer
Jul. 12, 2014 - 06:00AM

A key course correction may help ensure the Corps gets its first female graduates from Infantry Officers Course in Quantico, Va., before the deadline next year.

Continue reading "New training requirement marks key shift in Marines' female grunt strategy" »

Posted by sr at 4:07 PM | Permalink

Stars and Stripes
Published: June 28, 2014

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were among the guests at Friday's evening parade at Marine Barracks Washington.

Continue reading "Obamas attend evening parade at Marine Barracks Washington" »

Posted by sr at 5:15 PM | Permalink

By Nathan L. Hanks Jr. | Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany | June 26, 2014

June 26, 2014 -- “Corpsman up” yelled Sgt. Deryl Stockton as he ran to help his squad leader, who lay injured inside the motor pool at Al-Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, after the Marines had been hit by six rockets from enemy fire, June 17, 2005.

Continue reading "Unsung heroes: Corpsmen hold special place among Marines" »

Posted by KC at 12:25 PM | Permalink

Story by Sgt Jon Holmes
Date Posted:05.08.2014 13:08

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - As a young man, Charles Krulak respected the values of his father – selflessness, moral courage and integrity. His father, Marine Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak, imparted in his son the same values introduced to him as a Marine.

Continue reading "The Values of a Marine" »

Posted by KC at 11:53 PM | Permalink

May 8th, 2014 | Battle Rattle | Posted by Hope Hodge Seck

Look at the two pictures below. One is a controller for your average Playstation 2 machine. One flies the $14 million K-Max drone, which the Marine Corps uses to transport up to 6,000 pounds of gear and equipment at a time. Can you tell which is which?

Continue reading "A video game controller flies this $14 million drone" »

Posted by sr at 11:43 AM | Permalink

May 07, 2014 | by Bryant Jordan

While Pentagon leaders tell Congress it must cut pay and benefits to maintain readiness at a time of lean budgets, the commission with the actual task of recommending changes to compensation is preparing an interim report due in June.

Continue reading "Commission Could Decide Future Pay and Benefits" »

Posted by KC at 7:19 PM | Permalink

Final Exit: Afghanistan War Diary

Gretel C. Kovach
1:05 a.m. May 4, 2014

QUANTICO, Va. — We stopped on our way to Afghanistan so I could accept the Gen. Oliver P. Smith award for local reporting from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Nel Cepeda, the photographer I work with in the war zone, was worried my head might swell too big for my Kevlar helmet. He reminded me that the medal I got for preserving Marine Corps history ranks just above Cracker Jack status, compared to the one on the pale blue ribbon worn by another guest at the annual awards gala last month at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, near Quantico, Va.

Continue reading "Modern Marine heritage" »

Posted by sr at 10:07 AM | Permalink

Story by Sgt Ed Galo
Date Posted:04.30.2014 07:22

MT. ETNA, Italy – In observance of Earth Day, Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14 hiked up Mt. Etna, April 26, 2013.

Continue reading "Task Force Marines climb volcano for Earth Day" »

Posted by KC at 8:26 AM | Permalink

By Sgt. Justin M. Boling | Headquarters Marine Corps | April 28, 2014

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. --

The Marine Corps recently launched a website and mobile application, which outline its operational and structural future.

Continue reading "New Marine Corps website, application shares future with public" »

Posted by sr at 8:51 AM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Joshua R. Heins | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | April 25, 2014

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. --

Marines from across Cherry Point attended the career transition road show at Miller’s Landing April 15.

Continue reading "Marines explore Reserve options during road show" »

Posted by sr at 10:04 AM | Permalink

DVIDS | Apr 22, 2014 | by Monique Randolph

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - On patrols in Afghanistan and Iraq, Marines must crawl through tight spaces, maneuver steep, uneven stairs and climb through small windows while lugging around weapons and combat gear. But patrols aren’t the only times Marines face these obstacles.

Continue reading "Course Leads to Better Gear for Marines " »

Posted by sr at 6:34 PM | Permalink

Story By Gina Harkins
Staff Writer
Apr. 10, 2014 - 06:00AM

The Marine Corps will form a new land-based unit in the Middle East during fiscal year 2015 that is designed to respond to crises in the region, including emergencies at embassies, sources have told Marine Corps Times.

Continue reading "Marine Corps to stand up crisis response unit in CENTCOM in 2015" »

Posted by KC at 8:30 PM | Permalink

April 10th, 2014 | Africa Battle Rattle Commandant Crisis-response force Deployment map Deployments Pacific issues | Posted by Hope Hodge Seck

Water scarcity, regional conflict zones, and the “youth bulge:” these are all problems that may become the Marine Corps’ business in the near future.

Continue reading "Commandant gives preview of the global Marine Corps in 2020" »

Posted by sr at 5:56 PM | Permalink

Features, Marines Uncovered // April 8th, 2014 // By Marine Corps News

Although the Marine Corps has proudly defended the United States since its founding in 1775, it wasn’t until 1918 that women first donned the uniform. Since that time, the role of female Marines has evolved over the years as women continue to show what they are capable of accomplishing for the Corps.

Continue reading "The Evolving Role of Women in the Corps" »

Posted by sr at 10:07 PM | Permalink

Apr. 6, 2014 - 01:41PM
By CHRISTOPHER P. CAVAS

WASHINGTON — The US Marine Corps is in a period of transition, working to reconstitute itself as a sea-based fighting force after more than a decade of fighting land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Corps is rolling out Expeditionary Force 21 (EF 21), a new construct intended to organize its forces to deploy and respond worldwide to whatever need it’s assigned to.

Continue reading "New US Marine Concept Re-establishes Maritime Roots" »

Posted by sr at 11:44 AM | Permalink

By Mark Berman
April 4 at 6:10 pm

Since the grueling Marine Corps’ Infantry Officer Course was first opened up to women in September 2012, 14 female officers have attempted and failed the test (and, of course, a lot of men have also failed; around 20 to 25 percent of Marines are typically dropped from the taxing course). And since that time, all 14 of these officers have not been allowed to take it a second time, unlike many of their male peers.

Continue reading "The Marines will let women try the Infantry Officer Course a second time" »

Posted by sr at 11:48 AM | Permalink

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2014 – Since the founding of the Marine Corps in 1775, Marines have answered the nation's call, faithfully protecting the American people and maintaining a world-class standard of military excellence, the Marine Corps commandant said today.

Continue reading "Marines ‘Will Do Same With Less,’ Amos Says" »

Posted by sr at 5:42 PM | Permalink

By THOMAS BRENNAN Daily News Staff
Published: Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 17:24 PM.

A ceremony this week that called for reflection also sparked conversation about the future.

Continue reading "Women Marines celebrate 71 years in Corps" »

Posted by sr at 9:54 PM | Permalink

By Kristen Wong | Marine Corps Base Hawaii | February 28, 2014

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII --

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - More than 30 employees at The Lodge at Kaneohe Bay recently completed training in the new standardized procedures that will be applied to more than a dozen temporary lodging facilities Corpswide.

Continue reading "The Lodge at Kaneohe Bay standardizes with Inns of the Corps" »

Posted by sr at 5:28 PM | Permalink

Top Marine sounds off on women infantry, warfighter legacy, budget pain

By Gretel C. Kovach
noon Feb. 15, 2014

Gen. James Amos plans to retire in October at the end of his four-year turn as commandant of the Marine Corps.

Continue reading "State of the Corps" »

Posted by sr at 11:34 PM | Permalink

By Carol Jackson
Mon February 3, 2014

Camp Lejeune is one of the Marine's largest bases. Here at WUNC, we report on the base regularly because it's located in North Carolina. We used to call it Camp "Luh-JOON". But we recently started pronouncing it "Luh-JERN". How come?

Continue reading "Why Does WUNC Pronounce 'Camp Lejeune' With An 'R'?" »

Posted by sr at 2:33 PM | Permalink

By Jim Michaels
USA TODAY
Published: February 1, 2014

WASHINGTON — Over its storied 238-year history the Marine Corps has built a powerful brand.

Continue reading " 'Semper Fi' for sale: Marines increasingly raise money from branding" »

Posted by sr at 6:38 PM | Permalink

By Linda McIntosh
6 a.m.Jan. 28, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON — A ribbon cutting for the new Community Counseling Center at Camp Pendleton was Friday.

Continue reading "Pendleton opens counseling center" »

Posted by sr at 10:23 PM | Permalink

By Gretel C. Kovach
3:35 p.m.Jan. 27, 2014
Updated7:46 p.m.

The Miramar Air Show, grounded last year by the federal government shutdown, is a go for 2014, the Marine Corps announced Monday.

Continue reading "Miramar Air Show a go for 2014" »

Posted by sr at 10:30 PM | Permalink

Latest warrior technology featured; feedback sought from active-duty Marines

By Linda McIntosh
6 a.m.Jan. 21, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON — The latest technology to support Marines will be showcased at the Marine West Expo Jan. 29-30 on base.

Continue reading "Marine West Expo opens Jan. 29" »

Posted by sr at 10:27 PM | Permalink

Story by LCpl Alejandro Bedoya
Date Posted:01.08.2014 20:53

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The Marine Corps has greatly changed since its birth in 1775. This past year has further contributed to its evolution. Leaders toured bases across the Corps, addressing Marines face-to-face, female Marines faced the challenges of new physical fitness standards and were afforded new military occupational specialty opportunities. Combat readiness was revolutionized with the implementation of the Integrated Training Exercise aboard the Combat Center. Every year, the Corps reflects upon its successes and areas of opportunity in order to maintain its status as America’s elite fighting force. In 2013, the Corps attained many historic milestones. Not only have our uniforms and standards improved but new avenues have been made for every Marine to pursue.

Continue reading "Changes in the Corps" »

Posted by KC at 12:46 PM | Permalink

Geoffrey Ingersoll
Jan. 5, 2014, 2:44 PM

Early this week, wind chills across the U.S. could reach as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service.

Continue reading "Here Are Some Winter Survival Tips From The US Marine Corps " »

Posted by sr at 4:45 PM | Permalink

By Pauline Jelinek
The Associated Press
Jan. 3, 2014 - 09:28AM

WASHINGTON — More than half of female Marines in boot camp can’t do three pullups, the minimum standard that was supposed to take effect with the new year, prompting the Marine Corps to delay the requirement, part of the process of equalizing physical standards to integrate women into combat jobs.

Continue reading "Marines delay female fitness plan after half fail" »

Posted by sr at 9:29 PM | Permalink

December 27, 2013
CNN

A canine combat vet who used to sniff out roadside bombs in Afghanistan is now patrolling the halls of the Pentagon.

Continue reading "Canine Combat Vet Guards Pentagon Halls" »

Posted by sr at 7:16 PM | Permalink

Town’s first combat loss since Vietnam

Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Erin Smith

The Abington community was left mourning the loss yesterday of a young U.S. Marine — the town’s first serviceman to die in combat since the Vietnam War.

Continue reading "Abington Marine dies in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 8:46 AM | Permalink

By Hope Hodge Seck
Staff writer
Dec. 19, 2013 - 06:00A

Ten women graduated from the Marine Corps’ enlisted infantry training course on Thursday, part of the service’s ongoing research to determine what additional ground combat jobs should lift their gender restrictions.

Continue reading "10 more women graduate from Marine Corps' enlisted infantry training" »

Posted by sr at 11:02 PM | Permalink

Commandant orders postwar "Reawakening"

[email protected]; Twitter @gckovach
noon Nov. 30, 2013

The most dangerous time during a patrol is the end, when your guard is down on tired last steps at the threshold of friendly lines. The Corps is at that point now, Gen. James Amos said, pacing an auditorium filled with Marines during a recent visit to Camp Pendleton.

Continue reading "Marines get refresher in values, discipline" »

Posted by sr at 10:21 PM | Permalink

Story by LCpl Justin Rodriguez
Date Posted:11.21.2013 15:43

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Three Marines made history by becoming the first females to ever graduate from the School of Infantry East, Camp Geiger, N.C., Nov. 21.

Continue reading "First Female Marines Graduate Infantry School, Make History" »

Posted by KC at 3:29 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Mondo Lescaud | Marine Barracks Washington | November 08, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- All week long, at the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, Md., people have been walking by the kitchen in awe. Inside, a few Marines have been working on a massive cake for the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ birthday ball.

Continue reading "Marines make super cake for CMC Ball" »

Posted by KC at 10:26 AM | Permalink

Story by LCpl Paul Martinez
Date Posted:11.06.2013 19:43

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The Marine Corps Hymn was adopted as the official hymn of the Marine Corps in 1929 during Gen. John Lejeune’s tenure as the Corps’ 13th Commandant. When The Marines’ Hymn is played, Marines stand at attention as a gesture of respect, expressing reverence in their fellow Marines, their Corps, their country, their heritage, and their hymn.

Continue reading "A look at the Marine Corps Hymn" »

Posted by KC at 11:26 PM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Janelle Y. Villa | Marine Corps Base Hawaii | November 01, 2013

Marine Corps Base Hawaii --

The Marine Corps Birthday is a tradition celebrated throughout the history of the Corps. This year, Marines and their dates may be excited to dress up in their best and enjoy dinner during their 238th birthday ball but must understand that this is a formal event.

Continue reading "Marine Corps Birthday Ball etiquette, do’s, dont’s for Marines, guests" »

Posted by sr at 9:39 PM | Permalink

Oct. 28, 2013 - 06:00AM
By James K. Sanborn
Staff writer

CAMP GEIGER, N.C. — Four female Marines have passed what is considered the most strenuous aspect of enlisted infantry training, prompting officials here at the Marine Corps’ School of Infantry – East to surmise that at least some of the 15 women who began the course in September will graduate next month.

Continue reading "Four female Marines pass key hurdle during enlisted infantry training" »

Posted by KC at 10:25 PM | Permalink

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: October 25, 2013

The Marine Corps Uniform Board has pulled its survey of options for a gender-neutral dress and service cover after widespread negative reaction to one of the options, which has been slammed as “girly” and “appalling.”

Continue reading "Marine Corps pulls uniform survey after ‘loud and clear’ opposition" »

Posted by sr at 7:03 PM | Permalink

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: October 24, 2013

The story is sweeping the Internet: President Barack Obama is trying to emasculate male Marines by making them wear a girly cover with their famed dress uniforms. The only problem? It’s not true.

Continue reading "Marines shoot down Internet story on Obama’s alleged push for ‘girly hats’" »

Posted by KC at 10:49 PM | Permalink

By Hope Hodge Seck
Staff writer
Oct. 22, 2013 - 05:00PM

The Marine Corps’ representative for the Pentagon’s Quadrennial Defense Review said a pared-down Marine Corps force of 150,000 would require significant changes across the military services, but stopped short of saying such a cut would not happen.

Continue reading "Marine Corps 2-star: Force of 150K 'unviable'" »

Posted by sr at 10:41 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn
Staff writer
Oct. 21, 2013 - 06:00AM

The Marine Corps Uniform Board may recommend the adoption of a universal cover for men and women to be worn with dress and service uniforms.

Continue reading "Marine Corps seeks feedback on universal cover for men and women" »

Posted by sr at 6:19 PM | Permalink

Jim Michaels, USA TODAY
6:02 p.m. EDT October 17, 2013

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps' top officer is calling on the service to renew its focus on discipline and standards amid early signs that 12 years of combat have caused some "fraying" of the service's values.

Continue reading "Commandant calls for renewed focus on discipline" »

Posted by sr at 11:38 PM | Permalink

Oct. 17, 2013:
By Suzanne S.K. Whang, Public Affairs

Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State
Talk to anyone who has served overseas, and they will have something positive to say about the Marine Security Guards (MSG) at U.S. embassies and consulates who help safeguard missions worldwide. Here is what a State Department’s regional security officer says about the MSG detachment at U.S. Embassy Tunis.

Continue reading "Meeting Milestones: The Expansion of the Marine Security Guard Program" »

Posted by KC at 2:19 PM | Permalink

Measure cleared Senate Thursday
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
Oct. 10, 2013 - 09:05PM

The Senate moved Thursday to put an end the embarrassing situation of military death benefits being canceled because of the partial government shutdown.

Continue reading "Obama signs bill to restore military death benefits" »

Posted by KC at 8:52 PM | Permalink

By Tony Perry
October 5, 2013, 5:33 p.m.

A brush fire Saturday afternoon at Camp Pendleton burned more than 250 acres, damaged three buildings and forced evacuation from an housing area, officials said.

Continue reading "Brush fire at Camp Pendleton forces housing evacuation" »

Posted by sr at 9:34 PM | Permalink

Australia opened infantry to female troops this year; U.K. remains opposed

By Gretel C. Kovach
6:14 p.m.Sept. 27, 2013

As the Marine Corps weighs whether to open the infantry to women, the service is studying how other countries approach the issue of female troops in direct ground combat.

Continue reading "Marines study foreign women in combat" »

Posted by sr at 10:58 PM | Permalink

Corps to spend year researching prospects for female riflemen
By Gretel C. Kovach7:04 A.M.SEPT. 25, 2013 Updated10:57 A.M. SEPT. 27, 2013

The first female Marines began enlisted infantry training today as the Corps launched a year of research into prospects for women in the service’s defining combat specialty – the “0311” rifleman.

Continue reading "Marines try training women to be grunts" »

Posted by KC at 9:53 AM | Permalink

Tragedy created bond for military and civilians

By Gretel C. Kovach
9:18 p.m.Sept. 10, 2013
Updated12:24 p.m.Sept. 11, 2013

Twelve years ago, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, hitting symbols of the industrial and military might that underpin American power.

Continue reading " Unity felt after attacks endures" »

Posted by sr at 11:59 PM | Permalink

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 03, 2013

TOWNSHEND ISLAND, Queensland, Australia -- The fire mission came from an Australian command center, was relayed through an American forward observer, and executed by a team of American artillerymen followed by Australian helicopters in close air support.

Continue reading "31st MEU coordinates large-scale destruction with Australian counterparts" »

Posted by KC at 9:25 PM | Permalink

Geoffrey Ingersoll and Brian Jones
Aug. 3, 2013, 5:04 PM

A recent post in the Fiscal Times quipped that Afghanistan may be the "Marines' last fight.".

Continue reading "49 Reasons Why America Can't Fold Its Marine Corps" »

Posted by sr at 8:41 PM | Permalink

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 03, 2013

TOWNSHEND ISLAND, Queensland, Australia -- The artillery pieces, ammunition and skills were all the same, the only difference was the accent.

Continue reading "Collaborative cannons in Australia" »

Posted by KC at 1:42 PM | Permalink

Story by LCpl David Bessey
08.02.2013

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. – After overcoming a medical mystery that prevented him from accomplishing his dream, one Marine achieved his goal and finally graduated recruit training Aug. 2, 2013, on Parris Island, S.C.

Continue reading "Recruit survives medical mystery, claims title of Marine on Parris Island" »

Posted by KC at 10:05 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Michael Iams | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | July 31, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Camp Pendleton’s Legal Service Support Section and attorneys from counties around the base held the first Help for Heroes event at the Joint Legal Assistance Office here, July 27.

Continue reading "Legal Service Support Section, attorneys provide pro bono service" »

Posted by KC at 8:24 PM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Justin Rodriguez | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | Date: 07.31.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Volunteer opportunities are abundant aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and the Single Marine Program provides single and unaccompanied service members an opportunity to serve their community.

Continue reading "Single Marine Program abounds with opportunities" »

Posted by sr at 7:28 PM | Permalink

Jul. 28, 2013 - 09:51AM
By James K. Sanborn
Staff writer

Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command wants help conducting an elaborate role-player exercise to prepare soon-to-deploy operators for missions in the Philippines

Continue reading "Exercise highlights MARSOC's role in Philippines" »

Posted by sr at 5:13 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Codey Underwood | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 22, 2013

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Queensland, Australia --
Outside a local Australian village, a large group of Marines emerge from the tree line. They quickly set up a circle of security while the leaders of the village come forward to greet them. The Marines’ mission is to identify the needs and wants of the people.

Continue reading "31st MEU ground forces begin talks with local populace" »

Posted by KC at 1:34 AM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Cuong Le | Marine Corps Base Quantico | July 22, 2013

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. -- All Marines will be required to take one operations security class every calendar year, according to new Marine Corps order 3070.2A implemented on July 2, 2013.

Continue reading "New Marine Corps order fortifies operations security" »

Posted by KC at 1:17 AM | Permalink

By Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | July 21, 2013

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea --
Many Marines strive for greatness. It is forged into their blood the first day they step on those yellow footprints at boot camp; the day the transformation begins.

Continue reading "From deployment to drill instructor" »

Posted by KC at 2:36 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Codey Underwood | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 21, 2013

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Queensland, Australia --
The gust of the rotors covered the area in dust as the aircraft departed the landing zone, leaving a company of Marines behind. Rifles at the ready, the troops move forward into the seemingly endless Australian vegetation, heading northeast toward their objective.

Continue reading "“Helo” company inserts into Talisman Saber 13" »

Posted by KC at 1:23 AM | Permalink

By Daily News Staff
Published: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 18:04 PM.

Camp Lejeune will host a deactivation ceremony on Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. for 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines at WPT Field aboard the base.

Continue reading "3rd Battalion 9th Marines set to deactivate" »

Posted by KC at 1:49 AM | Permalink

By Sgt. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 20, 2013

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Queensland, Australia -- Waves of steel vehicles swarmed the beach as helicopters thundered overhead, both units making a formidable show of force as they pushed inland. On the horizon, behind the waves of oncoming armor and weapons, the rising sun silhouetted the two ships responsible for launching the air and ground assets.

Continue reading "Company G. lands ground forces during Talisman Saber 2013" »

Posted by KC at 1:08 AM | Permalink

By Cpl. Trevon S. Peracca | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | July 19, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --
Fifteen Marines and four coaches from Wounded Warrior Regiment, participated in a swim camp at the Wounded Warrior Hope and Care Center here July 18.

Continue reading "Swim camp held for wounded warriors" »

Posted by KC at 2:51 PM | Permalink

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Steven Fox
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., July 18, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel highlighted the value of special operations forces during a visit with Marines at the Stone Bay facility here yesterday.

Continue reading "Hagel Stresses Value of Special Operations Forces to Security" »

Posted by KC at 4:35 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan
07.18.2013 00:15

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- As an instructor at the School of Infantry, a Marine is expected to be physically fit, mentally strong and have a vast amount of knowledge in their occupational field.

Continue reading "Amputee continues to lead Marines at School of Infantry" »

Posted by KC at 12:15 AM | Permalink

By Pfc. Samuel Ellis | Marine Corps Base Quantico | July 17, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (July 17, 2013) --
Disability. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a disability is a limitation in the ability to pursue an occupation because of a physical or mental impairment.

Continue reading "Transition class offered to disabled Marines " »

Posted by KC at 3:24 PM | Permalink

By Sgt. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 17, 2013

USS GERMANTOWN, At Sea -- He spoke at length on plotting courses and directing a ship in the event of unknown contact. He stressed the importance of factoring in distance, weather and sea state. He spoke knowledgeably and without error as only a trained nautical expert could.

Continue reading "The ‘drive’ to learn: Marine qualifies to pilot Navy ships" »

Posted by KC at 12:35 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe
Staff writer
Jul. 15, 2013 - 09:22AM

CHESAPEAKE, VA. — When Staff Sgt. Cliff Wooldridge arrived here in 2011 to serve as an instructor with Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, he was less than a year removed from beating a Taliban fighter to death in Afghanistan with his own machine gun.

Continue reading "Legendary warrior exemplifies what it means to be a Marine" »

Posted by KC at 2:16 PM | Permalink

July 12, 2013 10:48 PM
By Chris McDaniel

After nearly seven decades of service, Marine Attack Squadron 513 (VMA-513) was officially deactivated during a ceremony Friday morning at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

Continue reading "'Flying Nightmares' end service with pride" »

Posted by KC at 7:40 AM | Permalink

By Megan McCloskey
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 11, 2013

WASHINGTON – As political unrest continues in post-coup Egypt, two amphibious assault ships have moved to the coast there, the commandant of the Marine Corps said Thursday.

Continue reading "USS Kearsarge, USS San Antonio 'parked off of Egypt'" »

Posted by KC at 7:02 PM | Permalink

By The Associated Press 11:27 A.M.JULY 11, 2013

SAN DIEGO — Authorities say a tree has fallen and hurt 15 people at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego but none of the injuries are life-threatening.

Continue reading "Falling tree hurts 15 at San Diego Marine depot" »

Posted by KC at 3:49 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | July 07, 2013

USS KEARSARGE, At sea --
Sailing through the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of responsibility on three Navy vessels assigned to the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have made it to the halfway mark of returning home to their friends and family during their 2013 deployment.

Continue reading "Halfway to home" »

Posted by KC at 6:11 PM | Permalink

Male, female Marines slog through combat endurance test at Quantico

By Gretel C. Kovach
9:09 a.m.July 6, 2013

QUANTICO, Va. — On opening day of the infantry officer course, two Marine lieutenants stand facing each other. One man. One woman. Gnarled ropes, the rough fibers slicked with rain, sweat and blood, dangle at their muddy boots.

Continue reading "Infantry course humbling" »

Posted by sr at 7:42 PM | Permalink

Story Number: NNS130704-03 Release Date: 7/4/2013 9:58:00
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Lindahl

DARWIN, Australia (NNS) -- Dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Darwin, Australia, July 4, prior to scheduled operations in the region.

Continue reading "USS Germantown Arrives in Darwin, Australia" »

Posted by KC at 10:50 AM | Permalink

By Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Logistics Group | July 03, 2013

7/4/2013 -- CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and sailors with 1st Marine Logistics Group celebrated the unit’s 66th anniversary aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 1, 2013.

Continue reading "1st MLG celebrates 66th anniversary by remembering its roots" »

Posted by KC at 8:34 PM | Permalink

Recruits taught to understand the ideals they are defending

By Gretel C. Kovach
8:54 p.m.July 3, 2013

QUANTICO, Va. — Each of the Marine lieutenants bounding down the firing range during basic officer training on Wednesday carried an important document into battle — a pocket edition of the Constitution of the United States.

Continue reading "Fourth reminds Marines why they serve" »

Posted by sr at 7:50 PM | Permalink

By Megan McCloskey
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 2, 2013

WASHINGTON — About 500 crisis-response Marines who recently deployed to Italy and Spain are positioned to respond to the brewing chaos in Egypt.

Continue reading "US Marines in Spain, Italy remain on heightened alert" »

Posted by sr at 11:18 PM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Cuong Le | Marine Corps Base Quantico | July 01, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. --
The permanent personnel of The Basic School conducted a 10-mile conditioning hike aboard the west-side of Marine Corps Base Quantico on June 28, 2013.

Continue reading "It’s not just training, it’s a way of life" »

Posted by sr at 5:05 PM | Permalink

By Sgt. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | June 29, 2013

USS GERMANTOWN, At Sea -- It’s not unusual for Marines and Sailors assigned to Marine Expeditionary Units to find themselves embarked on naval vessels for a significant amount of time during scheduled patrols. But their time on these ships is not a cruise to their destination - the Marines are on a floating, functional base of operations

Continue reading "Marines keep skills, equipment fresh while at sea" »

Posted by KC at 9:06 AM | Permalink

Marine Corps to remove all equipment from warzone or give it to another country, Commandant James Amos says

By Paul D. Shinkman
June 27, 2013

Marines are not planning a repeat showing of the rusting carcasses of Russian military equipment that litter the ground in Afghanistan following its unsuccessful campaign in the 1980s.

Continue reading "Top General: Marines 'Not Leaving a Single Thing' in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 11:11 PM | Permalink

Video by Lance Cpl. Lisette Leyva
06.27.2013 4:34PM

Marine Barracks Washington makes history with their first female post. Sgt. Major. Lance Cpl. Lisette Leyva brings us the story. Available in high definition.

Continue reading "Marine Barracks Washington Makes History with First Female Post Sgt. Major" »

Posted by KC at 9:26 AM | Permalink

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2013 – If sequestration’s annual spending cuts continue past this year, the Marine Corps will lose 8,000 in troop strength, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos said today.

Continue reading "Budget Cuts Mean 8,000 Fewer Marines, Commandant Says" »

Posted by KC at 1:17 AM | Permalink

By Gina Harkins
Staff writer
Jun. 23, 2013

Officials with Marine Corps Forces Pacific are trying to match past doctrine with new capabilities as they return their focus to the Unit Deployment Program, which shrank significantly over the past eight years.

Continue reading "1-star: Corps must 'relearn' UDP rotations" »

Posted by sr at 9:50 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Ali Azimi | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 06.21.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The High Intensity Tactical Training Program arrived at the Combat Center’s West Gym and Fitness Center more than a year ago. Since then, it has helped Marines increase their strength, speed, core stability and flexibility. Now a new workout program at the Combat Center Training Tank aims to do the same in the water.

Continue reading "Training Tank offers new in-water workout program" »

Posted by sr at 8:36 AM | Permalink

By: Dave Majumdar
Friday, June 14, 2013

After ten years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Marine Corps is retooling and repositioning itself back into its traditional role as a medium-weight maritime force that can operate with agility from the sea. Instead of training almost exclusively to fight insurgents deep inland, the Marines will focus on roles ranging from conventional warfighting, to conducting humanitarian missions, and to training the armed forces of partner nations. In essence, it will be a case of back to the future for the Marine Corps as it shifts back into its traditional role as the nation’s 911 quick-reaction force, former officials and analysts told USNI News.

Continue reading "The Future of the Marine Corps" »

Posted by sr at 9:15 PM | Permalink

By Martha Raddatz, Richard Coolidge & Jordyn Phelps
June 12, 2013

Gen. John Allen recently retired from the military following his post as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force, but the memories of the 561 troops who died under his command - and the many thousands who were wounded - have not retired from his mind.

Continue reading "561 empty chairs: Ret. Gen. John Allen on the sacrifices of the Afghanistan war" »

Posted by sr at 9:02 AM | Permalink

"The cancer is growing, and we have got to do surgery now"

By Gretel C. Kovach
11:58 a.m.June 8, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — In the Pentagon’s latest report on sexual assault, the Marine Corps is a sobering standout.

Continue reading "Marine general on sex assault: It's toxic" »

Posted by sr at 3:42 PM | Permalink

Author: Roxanne Baker
06/01/2013

Tourists may know the Emerald Coast as a vacation destination with sugary white sands and tur­quoise waters. But the Marines based at Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) 21 in Pensacola, Fla., aren’t looking toward the beach. They have their sights locked in on the sky.

Continue reading "Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21—The Crossroads of Marine Aviation " »

Posted by KC at 12:53 PM | Permalink

Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Story and photo by Melissa Buckley

Fort Leonard Wood’s Advanced Law Enforcement Training Division is responsible for the military law enforcement Special Reaction Teams responding to threats on installations around the world.

Continue reading "Special Reaction Teams ramp up skills on post" »

Posted by KC at 1:37 PM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Orrin G. Farmer | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | May 19, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --

Fighters, big and small, from all over Southern California’s military installations joined together in the 5th annual U.S. Military Pankration Championships at the 52-area fitness center here May 18.

Continue reading "Pankration breeds brotherhood, promotes safety" »

Posted by sr at 8:40 AM | Permalink

Col. Scott Campbell of the 15th MEU talks about the amphib future.

By Gretel C. Kovach
5:59 p.m .May 17, 2013

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to Camp Pendleton this week after an eight-month deployment aboard the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group. The Corps kept its infantry afloat while most Marines fought in the deserts of Iraq or Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marines set sail post-Benghazi" »

Posted by sr at 9:06 PM | Permalink

Story by Sgt. Bobby Yarbrough | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.13.2013

EDITOR'S NOTE: The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq influenced most Marines before they could even comprehend it. Many of them are the progeny of conflict and survival, inflicted with the physical and psychological wounds of war. The realities of combat controlled and directed their growth, combining aptitude, instinct, and courage equally. As the war in Afghanistan comes to an end, Marine leaders reflect on their service over the last decade and how combat has shaped them as leaders and as men. This is part one of a three part series.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The violence in Iraq was reaching its pinnacle in 2004 when Chris Taylor received his deployment orders to Al-Anbar province. Marines had just bloodied their way through the first Battle of Fallujah and insurgency within the country was beginning to expand as sectarian clashes divided the nation.

Continue reading "Generation at War" »

Posted by sr at 10:08 PM | Permalink

By John Vandiver
Stars and Stripes
Published: April 25, 2013

STUTTGART, Germany — An Africa-focused Marine rapid reaction force is bound for Morón, Spain, which will serve as a temporary base for the 550-strong unit, Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos told Congress on Wednesday.

Continue reading "550 Marines head to Spain in support of AFRICOM" »

Posted by sr at 2:16 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe, Gina Harkins and James K. Sanborn, Staff writers
Apr. 19, 2013 - 10:42AM

As the Marine Corps and Navy expand their presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region, officials are examining how best to move personnel and equipment and tackle the logistical challenge of operating in a theater so vast and dispersed.

Continue reading "With Pacific pivot, Marines eye ‘Single Naval Battle' strategy" »

Posted by sr at 3:22 PM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Lauren Kurkimilis | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 04.19.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - No matter how mentally prepared your attempt may be, this place will take you by surprise; pleasantly and sometimes miserably. Many Marines will offer up their complaints about Twentynine Palms, Calif., and warn all to stay away. So, to a newcomer, it may be hard to dive head first into the desert, but there are many things to love, and a few to loathe, about this sunny piece of rock and sand.

Continue reading "In the Corps: Your time" »

Posted by sr at 1:13 PM | Permalink

By Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 11th Marine Regiment | April 18, 2013

It’s time to reenlist. There are more than 800 boat spaces still available this year, but first term Marines must act quickly to claim the jobs of their choice.

Continue reading " Marines: Don't Miss the Boat to Reenlist" »

Posted by sr at 3:31 PM | Permalink

Two more projects at dining facilities come online

By Gretel C. Kovach
5:47 p.m.April 18, 2013

Camp Pendleton is energizing two new solar power projects this month installed by Sullivan Solar Power, the firm headquartered in San Diego announced.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton goes solar" »

Posted by sr at 1:29 PM | Permalink

By Bob Brewin
April 16, 2013

Though the number of Marines on active duty will soon drop to 181,000 from the current level of 236,000 -- a cut of just under 25 percent – Marine Commandant James Amos told a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee Tuesday that the service wants to boost the size of its Marine Air Ground Combat Center at Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif., by roughly 25 percent.

Continue reading "Fewer Marines, Larger California Desert Base" »

Posted by sr at 6:28 PM | Permalink

Staff report
Apr. 13, 2013 - 10:54AM

This is an official call-out: We're looking for outstanding Marines who serve as an inspiration both on and off duty.

Continue reading "Know an unsung hero? Nominate a Marine for Service Member of the Year" »

Posted by sr at 3:01 PM | Permalink

By Gretel C. Kovach10:25 a.m.April 13, 2013

The alcohol-soaked heritage of the sea services dates to their founding during the Revolutionary War, when the Marine Corps was born at Tun Tavern and Navy sailors were issued “spirit” rations of grog.

Continue reading "End to heavy boozing for Marines, Navy Sea services roll out strict alcohol detection programs" »

Posted by sr at 10:38 AM | Permalink

By Julian E. Barnes
April 8, 2013, 3:18 PM

With his predecessor barking in either approval or protest, the Marine Corps’ new mascot, Chesty XIV, was made a full Marine on Monday.

Continue reading "Chesty XIV Becomes a Full Marine" »

Posted by sr at 10:11 PM | Permalink

By Heath Druzin
Stars and Stripes
Published: April 2, 2013

KABUL — U.S. troops across Afghanistan are preparing for a reunion with a long-lost frenemy.

Continue reading "As US packs up in Afghanistan, the return of the dreaded MRE" »

Posted by sr at 10:51 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe, Staff writer
Apr. 2, 2013 - 06:00PM

Two more women have washed out of Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course, putting a quick end to the latest iteration of an experiment into which roles female Marines might be able to fill in combat.

Continue reading "Two more female Marines flunk infantry officers training" »

Posted by sr at 10:03 AM | Permalink

By Cpl. Martin Egnash | Marine Corps Air Station New River | April 01, 2013

Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. --

Many Marines are familiarizing themselves with the upcoming High Intensity Tactical Training program the Marine Corps starts in July. Fewer Marines have heard of the amphibious partner to the HITT program, the Aquatics Maximum Power Intense Training program.

Continue reading "Aquatic version of HITT" »

Posted by sr at 10:33 AM | Permalink

Story by Pfc. Cameron Payne | Marine Corps Air Station New River | Date: 03.18.2013

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - During MCT, Marines spend 29 training days learning valuable combat skills including the care, assembly and proper firing techniques of several weapons systems, constructing of fighting positions, and hikes with weighted packs to promote physical fitness.

Continue reading "BSRE pushes Marines to the limit" »

Posted by sr at 4:43 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Matthew Manning | Marine Corps Installations Pacific | March 14, 2013

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan -- When Marines near their end of active service date and begin contemplating re-enlistment, there are many concerns that need to be addressed before an informed decision can be made.

Continue reading "Corps seeks to retain Marines, encourages re-enlistments" »

Posted by sr at 7:30 PM | Permalink

By JAMES DAO
Published: March 2, 2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — On a whirlwind Christmas tour of Helmand Province in 2010, Gen. James F. Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, visited 11 bases in a single day. At one, thousands of Marines showed up for prime rib, dust-covered and grim-faced after weeks of dodging and delivering gunfire, seeing comrades killed, and sleeping on dirt. Helmand had become Marineistan.

Continue reading "As Marines Exit Afghan Province, a Feeling That a Campaign Was Worth It" »

Posted by sr at 10:41 PM | Permalink

Story by Capt. Justin Jacobs | III Marine Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Installations Pacific | Date: 02.26.2013

DEDEDO, Guam - The last members of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division arrived here Feb. 25, rounding out the final personnel deployed to Guam in support of Exercise Guahan Shield.

Continue reading "Last Marines arrive, all Guahan Shield personnel here" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 PM | Permalink

2-star: Marine spec ops will get back to being a maritime component

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 25, 2013 7:41:50 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Marine Corps’ elite special operations force is preparing for life after Afghanistan, shifting its emphasis for the future to maritime missions it could take on across the globe, said its two-star commander.

Continue reading "Sea changes coming to MARSOC " »

Posted by sr at 11:04 PM | Permalink

By Mark Thompson
Feb. 25, 2013

The Marines deem themselves to be elite, and their Force Recon units – special-ops-capable Marines who specialize in going deep into enemy territory to scout out the bad guys — are among the most elite of the elite.

Continue reading "Marines Contracting Out Training for Force Recon" »

Posted by sr at 10:50 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Feb 21, 2013 16:53:52 EST

The Marine Corps is on the verge of announcing the formation of a new crisis-response unit that would be put in place to respond to emergencies in northern Africa and eastern Europe, according to a Marine official with knowledge of the plan.

Continue reading "Corps moving on Africa crisis-response unit" »

Posted by sr at 10:09 AM | Permalink

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Feb. 21, 2013 Updated: Feb. 22, 2013 2:49 p.m.

Staff Sgt. Nanette Lugo joined the U.S. Marine Corps for the ultimate challenge.

Continue reading "Women in combat: 'A Marine is a Marine'" »

Posted by sr at 9:36 AM | Permalink

A disagreement over whether the famed surf break should be listed as a historic site is threatening to drive a wedge between two groups that had recently set aside differences and become allies.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
February 18, 2013, 6:50 p.m.

A disagreement over a well-known slice of the Southern California coast is threatening to drive a wedge between Marines and surfers, groups that had recently set aside differences and become political allies.

Continue reading "Surfers, Marines in a tussle over Trestles" »

Posted by sr at 5:04 PM | Permalink

By JAMES DAO
Published: February 17, 2013

Last fall, two newly minted female lieutenants joined about 100 men in Quantico, Va., for one of the most grueling experiences that soldiers not in war can experience: the Marine Corps’ Infantry Officer Course.

Continue reading "In Arduous Officer Course, Women Offer Clues to Their Future in Infantry" »

Posted by sr at 10:21 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos | Marine Corps Base Quantico | February 14, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Feb. 6) --
Marines are transitioning from their counterinsurgency mission in Afghanistan and redirecting more of their attention back to seaborne crisis response in the Pacific.

Continue reading "Marine Officers leading the way with fast rope concept training" »

Posted by sr at 1:44 PM | Permalink

By Linda McIntosh
9 a.m.Feb. 12, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — Registration is open for Camp Pendleton’s World Famous Mud Run.

Continue reading "Registration opens for Mud Run on base" »

Posted by sr at 10:46 PM | Permalink

Courtesy Story | "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band | Date: 02.12.2013

WASHINGTON - For more than two centuries, the United States Marine Band has been part of the events that have shaped our nation. As “The President’s Own,” its omnipresent role has made it an important thread in the fabric of American life.

Continue reading "Summary of the the Marine Band's History" »

Posted by sr at 3:50 PM | Permalink

By Linda McIntosh6 a.m.Feb. 12, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — Construction is being completed this month on 119,000-square foot barracks near the School of Infantry to house 860 Marines. The $44 million project is one of more than two dozen barracks/bachelors quarters totaling more than $650 million that have been built or renovated by Harper Construction since 2010 and is part of a barracks building boom on base.

Continue reading "New barracks set to open at School of Infantry" »

Posted by sr at 8:47 AM | Permalink

By Cpl. Andrea Cleopatra Dickerson | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | February 06, 2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. --
The female dress cover may change soon, more than 11 years after Gen. James T. Conway, the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps, started an initiative to make the change.

Continue reading "New female cover on horizon" »

Posted by sr at 1:40 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 02.04.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Life in the military is very different than in the civilian world. Marines living in the barracks don’t worry about rent, and most civilians don’t wake up at 5 a.m. for physical training.

Continue reading "Course Prepares Marines, Sailors For Civilian Life" »

Posted by sr at 10:41 AM | Permalink

By Gretel C. Kovach
noon Feb. 2, 2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — The U.S. military spent the last decade fighting entrenched insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. What will the next war be like? Will it involve desert, mountains or jungle? An enemy who speaks Farsi or Korean? A national army fighting with tanks, or guerillas planting homemade bombs?

Continue reading "Marines reset training for the next war" »

Posted by sr at 11:34 PM | Permalink

By Gretel C. Kovach6:52 p.m.Jan. 31, 2013

Much deeper cutbacks on top of already curtailed spending are in store for the sea services if Congress can’t resolve looming budget crises, the top officers of the Navy and Marine Corps said Thursday.

Continue reading "Budget pains could hit Marines" »

Posted by sr at 10:49 PM | Permalink

By Sgt. Rebekka S. Heite
U. S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve
January 30, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- --

Training and Education Command has developed a website, https://fitness.usmc.mil/FPFT, to help female Marines meet the new requirements set forth in All Marine Message 046/12: pull-ups.

The website, designed by TECOM, with help from Semper Fit and the Physical Fitness Advisor at Parris Island, S.C., and their staff, will be updated regularly with different fitness programs and new resources as they become available, said Brian McGuire, Physical Readiness Programs officer.

Continue reading "USMC Female Marine PFT training program online" »

Posted by JAA at 11:29 PM | Permalink

Geoffrey Ingersoll and Robert Johnson Jan. 29, 2013, 10:30 AM

The Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course is a grueling unapologetic machine, producing only a few hundred elite, light infantry officers per year.

Continue reading "Before Female Infantry Officers Serve In The Marines, They Have To Survive This Killer Course" »

Posted by sr at 10:33 AM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson | Marine Corps Base Quantico | Date: 01.22.2013

QUANTICO, Va. - The Basic School holds the future of the Corps’ leadership on their shoulders. Training is rigorous and made to push the mind as well as the body, but when a student’s body begins to give out, Edward J. Sedory, certified athletic trainer, is TBS’s secret weapon.

Continue reading "Move over Corpsman" »

Posted by sr at 10:37 PM | Permalink

Story by Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.22.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines in garrison are now required to wear the seasonal service uniform each Friday.

Continue reading "Division Marines adjust to new uniform policy" »

Posted by sr at 9:55 PM | Permalink

Air defense community comes home

Friday, January 18, 2013 5:30 am
Story and photos by Cpl. William J. Jackson

For more than 50 years, the Marine Corps has trained Marines to operate its expeditionary surface-to-air weapons systems at the U.S. Army Air Defense School, Fort Bliss, Tx. The first ever LAAD class taught at the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School started its military occupational specialty specific training Monday.

Continue reading "Death from below" »

Posted by KC at 6:53 PM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson | Marine Corps Base Quantico | Date: 01.17.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - “Rollover, rollover, rollover,” is what Fox Co. lieutenants, at The Basic School, screamed as they bounced off the walls of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Egress Trainer at Camp Upshur on Jan. 16.

Continue reading "Let the good times roll" »

Posted by sr at 11:32 PM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | January 09, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --

The United States Marine Corps explored many options to replace the currently employed M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, and found an upgrade with the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.

Continue reading "Infantry students get hands-on with Corps’ new automatic weapon" »

Posted by sr at 11:11 PM | Permalink

By Gretel C. Kovach12:01 p.m.Jan. 5, 2013Updated9:29 a.m.Jan. 7, 2013

When he became commandant of the Marine Corps in 2010, Gen. James Amos was dismayed at what he saw on a base tour. Despite what could be described as a fanatical emphasis on fitness in the Corps, too many Marines were too fat for their uniforms.

Continue reading "Marines told to meet strict fitness standards, or ship out" »

Posted by sr at 12:12 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 3, 2013 18:09:54 EST

The Marine Corps will require nearly all Marines to dress up on Fridays beginning this week, following a directive issued by Commandant Gen. Jim Amos.

Continue reading "Service uniform required on Fridays" »

Posted by JAA at 11:45 AM | Permalink

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 31, 2012 11:26:18 EST

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Second lieutenants at The Basic School now spend a week immersed in an urban training center that prepares them for the types of environments in which they’ll be called to lead Marines.

Continue reading "2nd lts. train for urban combat at new center" »

Posted by sr at 3:44 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 29, 2012 10:30:32 EST

The Marine Corps has ended its use of female engagement teams in Afghanistan, saying their work is now performed by Afghan National Security Forces.

Continue reading "The end of female engagement teams" »

Posted by sr at 11:27 PM | Permalink

Marines scale back counterinsurgency, ramp up conventional warfare training

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
11:57 a.m., Dec. 29, 2012

The Marine Corps’ premiere combat training center is getting a new commanding general next month, just as the service introduces a pre-deployment exercise for the post-Afghanistan era.

Continue reading "New leader, new mission at Twentynine Palms" »

Posted by sr at 11:06 AM | Permalink

By SSgt. Matt Lyman | Marine Corps Forces Europe
December 19, 2012

TRONDHEIM, Norway --

Marines and personnel from Marine Corps Forces, Europe, led a joint-service team to Norway to assemble, palletized and deliver equipment from Marine Corps Prepositioning Program - Norway to Marines training Georgian Armed Forces soldiers, December 10 – 14.

Continue reading "MFE leads Joint service team to Norway, delivers sustainment gear to Marines in Republic of Georgia" »

Posted by JAA at 1:58 PM | Permalink

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 18, 2012 16:17:32 EST

Marine Corps recruiting commercials will no longer air during Ultimate Fighting Championship events. The service has ended its three-year partnership with the organization following months of pressure from a labor union, women’s groups and members of Congress.

Continue reading "Out of the Octagon: Corps cuts ties to UFC" »

Posted by JAA at 5:35 PM | Permalink

Ops at sea and Asia deployments increasing in post-Afghan era

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
4:09 p.m., Dec. 10, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON — Waves of amphibious assault vehicles crashed onto the beach Monday at Camp Pendleton, launching the 1st Marine Division back to the Corps’ seafaring roots and ahead to its peacetime future.

Continue reading "Marines assault beach at Steel Knight exercise" »

Posted by sr at 10:35 AM | Permalink

The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General James F. Amos, gives his thoughts in a wide ranging interview.

By: Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe
December 07, 2012

As the process of rebalancing its forces to the Asia-Pacific begins to gain further traction, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) sees itself returning to a familiar region of the world. In this context, the Commandant of the USMC, General James F. Amos, spoke to Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe about the Corps’ transformation and modernization, the impact of successive deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the status of Marine Corps activities in Africa and South America, the strategic realignment to the Asia-Pacific, the likely future battlefield, and defense budget cuts.

Continue reading " “Our Institutional DNA”: The U.S. Marine Corps Surges to the Asia-Pacific" »

Posted by JAA at 10:56 AM | Permalink

By David Alexander
Tue Dec 4, 2012 1:55pm EST

(Reuters) - Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, who takes over as head of international forces in Afghanistan next year, faces the challenge of winding down a war in a country where he has little experience using a strategy he did not devise.

Continue reading "New commander faces challenge of winding down Afghanistan war" »

Posted by JAA at 6:52 PM | Permalink

Single Marines have the greatest opportunity to save money, and yet fail at it the most

By Trace Evans
December 03, 2012

Money management seems to be the hardest thing to accomplish while in the Marine Corps (or military in general), and is especially difficult for single junior Marines. Later on in your career you will look back and ask yourself where it all went.

Continue reading " Money management for single Marines" »

Posted by JAA at 11:33 AM | Permalink

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012
KTVU.com and wires

SAN FRANCISCO —
Four female service members filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the Pentagon's ban on women serving in combat, hoping the move will add pressure to drop the policy just as officials are gauging the effect that lifting the prohibition will have on morale.

Continue reading "Servicewomen demand right to serve in combat " »

Posted by sr at 10:46 AM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Derrick K. Irions | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | November 19, 2012

CA -- Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corps Community Services held a First Lady of the Marine Corps Reading List kickoff and book review seminar here Oct. 29.

Continue reading "Marine Corps' first lady releases first edition recommended reading list" »

Posted by sr at 10:48 AM | Permalink

Story by Pfc. Joshua Grant | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | Date: 11.15.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Six men hoisted the American flag over Iwo Jima during World War II, but contrary to popular belief, not all were Marines. John Bradley, a Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, was one of the heroic men that day, and his name and valiant actions live on at the Navy Field Medical Training Battalion aboard Camp Johnson.

Continue reading "Doc Bradley corpsman school; where blue become green" »

Posted by sr at 1:09 PM | Permalink

By Lcpl. Joshua W. Grant | CAC - ID Card Center | November 15, 2012

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE --

The birth of every branch of the U.S. military is significant in our nation’s history, but it’s through traditions and legacies those birthdays are carried on. The Marine Corps takes special pride in honoring past and present Marines and their dedication to teamwork with other services by hosting the Joint Daytime Ceremony.

Continue reading "Camp Lejeune celebrates history, tradition" »

Posted by sr at 12:59 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 12, 2012 8:23:15 EST

By early next year, the Marine Corps plans to send a second infantry battalion to Okinawa for six months as part of the resumption of the Unit Deployment Program in Japan. A third is expected to follow later in 2013.

Continue reading "Okinawa rotations may uproot permanent troops" »

Posted by sr at 11:21 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Thomas A. Bricker | Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow | November 09, 2012

Marine Corps Logistics Base, Calif. -- In the United States, Veterans Day pays homage to service men and women of the nation’s military, those who currently wear the uniform and those who came before.

Continue reading "Acts of valor and ethical troop welfare: a look at ‘Chesty’ Puller" »

Posted by sr at 1:39 PM | Permalink

By Cpl. Michelle Brinn | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | October 31, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --

In celebration of the Marine Corps' 237th birthday Nov. 10, all federal employees, family members and guests are invited to dine at their closest mess hall here for a celebratory meal Nov. 7 or Nov. 15.

Continue reading "Mess halls to offer Corps' birthday meal" »

Posted by sr at 7:34 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 30, 2012 17:06:31 EDT

It’s official. The Marine Corps has returned to its amphibious roots.

Continue reading "As Marines leave Afghanistan, more go to sea" »

Posted by sr at 9:19 PM | Permalink

By James Gilbert
The (Yuma) Sun
Published: October 28, 2012

The U.S. Marine Corps has already taken solar power to the front lines. Now officials are looking to take it to other parts of the battlefield as well.

Continue reading "Marines going green during WTI course" »

Posted by sr at 4:53 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 16, 2012 9:13:25 EDT

This year’s first rotational deployment of a Marine Corps infantry company to Australia proved successful, from the low-key nature of the Marines’ conduct Down Under to the improved ties with their Australian army hosts.

Continue reading "Marines pave way for larger force in Australia" »

Posted by sr at 11:46 AM | Permalink

By Bethany Crudele - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 14, 2012 12:29:41 EDT

In “Generation Kill,” he was known as the Iceman. Today, nearly 10 years removed from the events that inspired the popular book and subsequent TV miniseries, Master Sgt. Brad Colbert is still one cool customer.

Continue reading "‘Iceman’ aids others with post-combat stress" »

Posted by sr at 11:05 PM | Permalink

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 4, 2012 11:02:59 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Marines are about to see a lot of changes in their training as the Corps shifts from steady combat in Afghanistan to new missions focused on U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

Continue reading "USMC general details training changes" »

Posted by sr at 1:43 PM | Permalink

Jim Michaels - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Oct 2, 2012 21:23:31 EDT

QUANTICO, Va. — It was 10 a.m., and the Marines trudging along the road bordered by thick Virginia woods had been up for seven hours already.

Continue reading "A Marine Corps 1st: Women take infantry course" »

Posted by sr at 10:07 PM | Permalink

By Bethany Crudele - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 1, 2012 8:37:36 EDT

Marine Corps Logistics Command faces one of the most daunting challenges of the coming year or two: Bring home the tens of thousands of weapons, vehicles and gear, large and small, from Afghanistan; repair or replace them; and get the new or refurbished items back to the fleet as it prepares for the pivot to the Asia-Pacific region.

Continue reading "$3 billion task: Getting gear home" »

Posted by sr at 2:49 PM | Permalink

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Sep 30, 2012 10:50:32 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — A quick look at some of the ways the Marine Corps is reaching out to new prospects shows the Corps is firmly in step with the times.

Continue reading "Marines recruiting online amid greater need" »

Posted by sr at 11:16 AM | Permalink

By Kevin Sieff, Published: September 29

GARMSIR, AFGHANISTAN — On the wall of his office in this district’s U.S. Marine headquarters, where other commanding officers might display photos of children and wives, Capt. Devin Blowes keeps a roster of bearded men whose names he’s recently learned to pronounce.

Continue reading " In southern Afghanistan, concerns about what comes next" »

Posted by sr at 11:35 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 27, 2012 10:49:03 EDT

The Marine Corps has completed the next significant phase of its force drawdown in Afghanistan, potentially setting the stage for 2013 to be the last year with a sizeable Marine involvement in Helmand province

Continue reading "Marines shift focus as drawdown hits milestone" »

Posted by sr at 5:30 PM | Permalink

Invitation by MCRD to take on 3-mile obstacle course

Written by
Nathan Max
12:01 a.m., Sept. 24, 2012

Anyone looking for the Marine Corps experience without the commitment of enlisting or the danger of ducking bullets will have the chance Saturday morning.

Continue reading "Get a taste of Marine boot camp" »

Posted by sr at 4:09 PM | Permalink

9/24/2012 By Lance Cpl. Lauren Kurkimilis , 7th Marine Regiment

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTY NINE PALMS, Calif. — Since 2001, the Combat Center has provided comprehensive and collaborative training for combat operations in the Middle East. Training exercises have evolved from the Combined Arms Exercise to what is known today as Enhanced Mojave Viper.

Continue reading " Corps changes deployment training " »

Posted by sr at 11:12 AM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Scott Whiting | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | Date: 09.24.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Carrying the title of Marine brings great responsibility. It means working, living, eating, behaving and even dressing in a different way than people in other services and occupations.

Continue reading "Dress for success, professionalism from assaulting breaches to sun bathing" »

Posted by sr at 10:03 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 17, 2012 11:40:59 EDT

As talk intensifies concerning new Marine rotations to the Philippines, the Philippine military is realigning and modernizing to accommodate plans for expanded interaction with U.S. forces.

Continue reading "Philippines modernizing to accommodate Corps" »

Posted by sr at 4:47 PM | Permalink

Story by Pfc. Joshua Grant | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | Date: 09.13.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - More than 130 million Americans voted in the 2008 presidential election, but the number of active-duty Marines who voted was minimal.

Continue reading "Vote: it’s your voice" »

Posted by sr at 3:44 PM | Permalink

By Christopher P. Cavas - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 10, 2012 11:42:01 EDT

Conducting an amphibious assault on an enemy-controlled beach has always been one of the most complex forms of warfare. The Navy and Marine Corps together have successfully stormed more beaches than any team in history.

Continue reading "U.S. war game finds gaps in amphibious ops" »

Posted by sr at 10:26 PM | Permalink

Two generals will now lead rebalanced forces in Pacific, Middle East

By Gretel C. Kovach • U-T
12:01 a.m., Sept. 8, 2012
Updated 9:45 p.m. , Sept. 7, 2012

The Marine force overseeing about 57,000 troops at installations across Southern California welcomed a new leader Friday, when Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser relinquished his command to Lt. Gen. John Toolan Jr.

Continue reading "MARINE REORGANIZATION SEPARATES COMMANDS" »

Posted by sr at 11:16 PM | Permalink

Camp Leatherneck program is training Afghan instructors to take over

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
1:44 p.m., Sept. 8, 2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — When a brigade of Marines moved into Helmand Province in 2009, they built a joint training center for Afghan forces aboard their rapidly expanding new strategic headquarters. Now after three years of operation and a surge of basic instruction for newly fielded police and soldiers, Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest is closing down.

Continue reading "Marine academy for Afghan troops to close" »

Posted by sr at 5:39 PM | Permalink

National forces still developing as U.S. draws down in Helmand province

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
noon, Sept. 1, 2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — As about half the Marine force in Afghanistan headed home this year, the rapid drawdown in the violent southwest of the country cast the endgame of the war and what many regard as its precarious footing into relief — the handoff to Afghan national security forces.

Continue reading "The Way Ahead: Marines hand off war to Afghan troops" »

Posted by sr at 11:20 PM | Permalink

8/31/2012 By Lance Cpl. D.J. wu , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — During this election season there are things that active duty service members need to know to stay out of trouble when showing support for a political party.

Continue reading "Political dos, don’ts " »

Posted by sr at 11:11 PM | Permalink

Published August 30, 2012
Fox News Latino

Guatemala City – To combat the growing presence of drug traffickers in the Central American nation, 200 U.S. Marines have begun patrolling the waters of Guatemala's western coast, the U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.

Continue reading "US Marines Patrol Guatemala’s Western Coast in Anti-Drug Effort" »

Posted by sr at 10:50 PM | Permalink

August 29, 2012 8:55 AM

WASHINGTON — There may be some anxiety from male Marines as female officers work their way into infantry and other combat jobs that historically have been open only to men, Gen. James F. Amos, the Marine Corps commandant, said Tuesday.

Continue reading "Marines testing women in combat jobs" »

Posted by sr at 4:55 PM | Permalink

Some Say Chesty's Conduct With Defense Secretary's Golden Retriever Was Unbecoming; Pats From the Commandant

By JULIAN E. BARNES
Friday, August 24, 2012

WASHINGTON—The Marines won't say it out loud, but everyone knows that Cpl. Chesty got promoted to sergeant this summer not for being a good Marine, but for his in-your-muzzle confrontation with the top dog in the Pentagon.

Continue reading "Tongues Are Wagging After Snub of Pentagon's Top Dog Leads to Marine Corps Promotion" »

Posted by sr at 9:20 AM | Permalink

Written by Nathan Max
12:01 a.m., Aug. 19, 2012

The Marine Corps’ warfare training center in the desert community of Twentynine Palms could undergo a significant expansion if the Navy Department and Congress approve a plan presented in an environmental study released last month.

Continue reading "Marines propose Twentynine Palms expansion" »

Posted by SP at 10:34 AM | Permalink

By Andrew deGrandpré - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Aug 15, 2012 18:41:11 EDT

Marines in Afghanistan should expect more attacks like the two last week in which six troops were shot and killed by Afghans thought to be allies, the Marine Corps’ top general warns in a letter distributed Tuesday to leaders across the service.

Continue reading "Top Marine urges caution, calm after attacks" »

Posted by sr at 6:19 PM | Permalink

Written by
Drew Schmenner
The Desert Sun
1:09 AM, Aug 12, 2012

Every year, approximately 44,500 troops train in the stark, sweltering desert at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Many have been Marines preparing for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marines given tragic lessons on desert" »

Posted by sr at 5:57 PM | Permalink

TOM PFINGSTEN For the North County Times
August 8, 2012

Around 9 p.m. on a recent Tuesday, a Marine Corps pilot was navigating a helicopter 2,000 feet above our rooftops on a training route out of Munn Field, a few miles west of Fallbrook in the heart of Camp Pendleton.

Continue reading "Aiming lasers skyward needs to stop, says Marine Corps" »

Posted by sr at 10:29 AM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Tabitha Bartley | Marine Corps Base Quantico | Date: 08.07.2012

QUANTICO, Va. — Having to say good-bye and make new friends is something service members and their families do often throughout a career. Leaving people behind can be made easier through technology because of today’s social media sites, email and the telephone. However, some Marines aren’t able to stay in contact with their best friends. Some Marines don’t text, tweet, email or even Facebook.

Continue reading "Four-legs makes the best partner, friend" »

Posted by sr at 7:53 PM | Permalink

By Bethany Crudele - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 23, 2012 9:25:38 EDT

Marines training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., will soon battle a simulated enemy and engage in live-fire maneuvers on a new $10 million Infantry Squad Battle Course. The 82-acre range, to be completed in May 2014, is designed to expose infantry squads with II Marine Expeditionary Force to realistic battlefield situations and decision making.

Continue reading "Lejeune to get $10M battle course in May 2014" »

Posted by sr at 11:07 PM | Permalink

7/20/2012 By Lance Cpl. Mike Ganahan , Marine Corps Bases Japan

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan — Marine Administrative Messages 357/12 and 358/12, which outline current and revised re-enlistment incentives for fiscal year 2013, were signed July 2.

Continue reading "Marine Corps drawdown increases competition " »

Posted by sr at 8:43 AM | Permalink

Story by Regional Command Southwest Team | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.18.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Marine Corps’ top general and his senior enlisted advisor visited Marines throughout southern Afghanistan to thank them for their service and sacrifice, July 17.

Continue reading "Commandant, Sergeant Major of Marine Corps visit Marines in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 9:29 AM | Permalink

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while fighting a fire in Camp Pendleton.

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ and SEAN EMERY / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: July 17, 2012 Updated: 5:40 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON – A fire that was sparked during a training exercise Monday night has burned 450 acres, base officials said, but no structures are threatened.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton fire has burned 450 acres" »

Posted by sr at 9:46 PM | Permalink

By Gregg Zoroya
Posted : Sunday Jul 15, 2012 10:39:41 EDT

The military is falling short in providing equal health care for women on the battlefield even as public pressure grows to give them a broader role in combat, a task force led by female officers has concluded.

Continue reading "Women in war zone need better health info" »

Posted by sr at 9:25 AM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Paul Peterson | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | Date: 07.13.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — It’s the end of an era for the Midway Park neighborhood aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Residents who lived in the community only five years ago may find it hard to believe, but their old homes are all but gone. The few houses remaining are empty, awaiting the hands of change that tore down the walls next door.

Continue reading "Midway Park, AMCC move into new era for housing" »

Posted by sr at 5:42 PM | Permalink

By Chris Carroll
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 11, 2012

WASHINGTON — U.S. troops are draining out of southwest Afghanistan, while those set to remain are quickly shifting toward training Afghan security forces, Marine Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, commander of Regional Command-Southwest, said Wednesday.

Continue reading "As Marines leave Helmand, focus turns to training those left behind" »

Posted by sr at 8:40 PM | Permalink

July 11th, 2012 | Afghanistan Drawdown Infantry | Posted by Dan Lamothe

The top Marine commander in Afghanistan and Helmand province Gov. Mohammad Gulab Mangal briefed media at the Pentagon today, addressing the evolving mission there as Afghan forces take the lead in providing security.

Continue reading "Marine Corps numbers in Afghanistan left fuzzy" »

Posted by sr at 4:36 PM | Permalink

July 9th, 2012 | Afghanistan Drawdown Infantry Marjah | Posted by Dan Lamothe

The Marine Corps’ footprint in Afghanistan is changing dramatically as a drawdown in forces continues throughout the summer.

Continue reading "Marine Corps footprint in Afghanistan shifting as drawdown continues" »

Posted by sr at 10:42 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 9, 2012 17:26:13 EDT

A new “ethics stand-down” called for by Commandant Gen. Jim Amos begins Tuesday, requiring Marine Corps commanders to discuss good decision making with their troops following a series of embarrassing scandals in the service.

Continue reading "Marine Corps launches ethics stand-down" »

Posted by sr at 10:32 PM | Permalink

By C. J. CHIVERS
Published: July 8, 2012

QUANTICO, Va. — Under the searing sun of one of the worst heat waves in decades, a sweat-drenched Marine second lieutenant stepped from the woods on the base here and reported to an infantry captain standing on a dirt road.

Continue reading "A Grueling Course for Training Marine Officers Will Open Its Doors to Women" »

Posted by sr at 9:06 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jul 8, 2012 10:51:28 EDT

A beacon the size of a hockey puck that can fit in any grunt’s pack could soon give Marines a novel way to call in quick, accurate resupply drops.

Continue reading "Beacon improves UAV’s cargo-delivery accuracy" »

Posted by sr at 8:51 AM | Permalink

Where did everybody go?

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
10:11 a.m., July 2, 2012

At first glance little seems to have changed at Camp Leatherneck since Nel and I visited last spring. Generators drone a steady soundtrack at the strategic headquarters for U.S. Marine and NATO operations in southwestern Afghanistan. A British voice broadcast throughout the base alerts medical staff of serious casualties arriving by medevac at Bastion, the adjoining air station. The eerie call comes crackling over the loudspeakers at all hours of the day or night, blaring "Op minimise, Op minimise..."

Continue reading "Afghanistan War Diary: Welcome (back) to Camp Leatherneck" »

Posted by sr at 5:14 PM | Permalink

Corps: Time crunch for those at end of TBS training was factor

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 2, 2012 8:57:26 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps’ controversial assessment of where women should serve in combat units is progressing, but female volunteers will not report to Infantry Officers Course until at least September, Marine officials said.

Continue reading "No women volunteer for Infantry Officers Course" »

Posted by sr at 5:09 PM | Permalink

By HEIDI VOGT
Associated Press
Jul 2, 1:40 PM EDT

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (AP) -- For today's drill, an instructor explains, the Taliban will be played by U.S. Marines, and the "village" will be just down from the driving practice loop.

Continue reading "US drawdown in Afghanistan includes many trainers" »

Posted by sr at 4:21 PM | Permalink

June 28, 2012: After spending nine years heavily involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Marine Corps has most of its troops again training for duty at sea and the kind of raiding operations the marines have long specialized in. While some marines will remain in Afghanistan until next year, most are now regaining their seagoing and raiding skills. The marines also believe that there will be more need for short term operations, where getting there fast is more important than staying around for a long time. To that end, the marines and the navy are scheduling a lot of amphibious exercises over the next year, something there has not been a lot of in the last decade.

Continue reading "The USMC Gets Back To Its Roots" »

Posted by sr at 10:10 AM | Permalink

Training for junior infantrymen modeled on officer instruction

By James K. Sanborn - Staff report
Posted : Monday Jun 25, 2012 17:51:31 EDT

Junior enlisted infantrymen are now completing the first round of a new program that prepares them to make critical, life or death decisions with limited commander’s guidance.

Continue reading "Course teaches young Marines to make decisions" »

Posted by sr at 5:19 PM | Permalink

Corps evaluating female assignments to ground combat units Women in the Marines are beginning to take up combat roles after changes in military policy that recognize contributions of women in war

By Gretel C. Kovach • U-T
12:01 a.m., June 10, 2012
Updated 2:38 p.m. , June 9, 2012

The first female Marines have begun reporting for combat positions newly opened to them, including personnel assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.

Continue reading "FEMALE MARINES REPORT FOR NEW COMBAT JOBS REPORTING FOR DUTY" »

Posted by sr at 8:52 PM | Permalink

JUNE 5TH, 2012 | POSTED BY DAN LAMOTHE

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s recent assertion that the Marine Corps could be forced to shutter one of its recruit depots has added a new cultural dynamic to the gloomy forecast about sequestration, the series of federal budget cuts looming if the U.S. government doesn’t find another way to reduce its deficit.

Continue reading "Senator stirs pot by suggesting closure of Marine Corps recruit depot possible" »

Posted by SP at 7:09 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday May 29, 2012 8:28:00 EDT

Women will be assigned to up to 19 combat units in the Marine Corps beginning Friday as part of a pilot program to assess how female personnel could be further integrated into them, Marine officials said.

Continue reading "Corps IDs units for women-in-combat research" »

Posted by SP at 9:34 AM | Permalink

By Matthew M. Burke
Stars and Stripes
Published: May 25, 2012

SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — The Marine Corps soon will offer early retirement with benefits to some troops as part of force-shaping efforts aimed at cutting 20,000 jobs from the rolls over the next four years, Corps officials said this week.

Continue reading "Marines to offer early retirement, with benefits" »

Posted by sr at 8:27 AM | Permalink

By: DAVID RISING | The Associated Press
Published: May 22, 2012

KAKOLA, Uganda --

American military advisers in Uganda are drawing on lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan to help train African Union soldiers to fight Somalia's most powerful insurgent group, al-Shabab.

Continue reading "Americans train Ugandans for Somalia mission" »

Posted by sr at 5:02 PM | Permalink

San Diego aviators celebrate Marine centennial

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
6:35 p.m., May 15, 2012

When “flying leathernecks” look back on the history of Marine aviation, their flight log tracks dramatic technological change, inevitable turbulence over new aircraft and flight methods, and a cockpit view ranging from Atlantic ocean battles to the mountains of Afghanistan.

Continue reading "At 100, spirit of Marine flight soars" »

Posted by sr at 10:25 PM | Permalink

5/15/2012 By Cpl. Tatum Vayavananda , Marine Forces Europe

STUTTGART, Germany — Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa are getting a chance to reflect back on the history, sacrifice and legend that shrouds the battlefields of Belleau Wood. The series of classes are in preparation for the 94th-year anniversary of the battle with a Memorial Day ceremony in Aisne-Marne, France, slated for May 27.

Continue reading "Marines Forces Europe Honor Belleau Wood Through History, Education " »

Posted by sr at 7:35 AM | Permalink

By Jim Michaels, USA TODAY
May 09, 2012

QUANTICO, Va. – When Marine Sgt. Jonathan Charles' unit arrived in Afghanistan, the American troops faced an entrenched enemy that picked a fight with the Marines almost every time they stepped off base.

Continue reading "U.S. military snipers are changing warfare" »

Posted by sr at 8:41 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 7, 2012 8:27:57 EDT

The Marine Corps is buying a new drone that can land and take off in water, unlike any other aircraft in the service’s unmanned fleet.

Continue reading "New Puma UAV well-suited for Marines" »

Posted by sr at 9:13 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday May 5, 2012 16:09:26 EDT

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — The Marine Corps will shift its main focus in Afghanistan to security force assistance as it pulls thousands of personnel from Helmand province this summer, the top commander in the region said Saturday.

Continue reading "Marines shifting mission is Afghanistan, general says" »

Posted by sr at 9:22 AM | Permalink

5/3/2012 By Lance Cpl. Trevon Peracca , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The largest shopping experience in the Marine Corps was introduced to service members and their families aboard Camp Pendleton, May 3.

Continue reading "Corps' largest MCX opens for business " »

Posted by sr at 10:23 PM | Permalink

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 2, 2012 16:51:18 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The first female Marine officers to attend infantry training will encounter the same rigorous physical demands men face while learning how to lead ground troops into battle, says an influential Marine Corps general.

Continue reading "USMC general details women’s infantry training" »

Posted by sr at 11:32 PM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Ali Azimi // May 1st, 2012

On the last leg of our training, we had to leave Grouse Meadows and head up to Summit, almost 1,000 feet higher in elevation. We filled in the trenches and holes where our tents used to sit, packed up our gear and headed out

Continue reading "Journey Through the Snow (Part 3)" »

Posted by sr at 11:03 PM | Permalink

From USMC website:

Marines are first to fight because of their culture and because they maintain a forward-deployed presence near various global hotspots. The Marine Corps' forward presence consists of multiple Marine Expeditionary Units, or MEUs. MEUs spend at least six months training for a variety of amphibious operations before they are deployed. Then, for six months at a time, Marine Expeditionary Units embark upon United States Navy warships and prepare to launch a range of missions—from humanitarian and peacekeeping missions to full-scale combat engagements, on extremely short notice. Few have what it takes to become Marines, but now many have the opportunity to delve into the training and mindset of these elite, prepared warriors. This behind-the-scenes glimpse of an actual MEU training exercise reveals what it takes to maintain this constant state of readiness. You've heard of their "First to Fight" reputation. Now see them earn it.

Continue reading "6 HOURS" »

Posted by sr at 9:34 AM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Ali Azimi // April 27th, 2012

Editors note: This is the second in a three-part series written from the perspective of a combat correspondent new to cold weather and high altitude training.

Our first few days were spent acclimating to the elevation. I had a really bad headache the entire first day. I talked to a hospital corpsman, also known as “doc,” about it. Apparently my brain was expanding because of the decrease in air pressure.

Continue reading "Journey Through the Snow (Part 2)" »

Posted by sr at 10:58 PM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Marcin Platek | Marine Forces Reserve | Date: 04.27.2012

TRONDHEIM, Norway—Of the U.S. Cold War assets, six caves and two storage facilities in central Norway exist as if a part of an action-movie film set. However, they are part of a remote Marine Corps program known as the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway.

Continue reading "Marines and Norwegians open caves to test Marine Corps Prepositioning Program during Exercise Cold Response" »

Posted by sr at 11:41 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Apr 24, 2012 18:04:32 EDT

The boomerang rotations to Afghanistan that most Marine special operators have been on for years will soon shift as operations there shrink and the special operations community turns its attention to the rest of the globe.

Continue reading "MARSOC Marines shift focus beyond Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 10:15 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | II Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 04.20.2012

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — As troop numbers continue to decrease in Afghanistan, the counter-insurgency mission remains the same — to maintain hard-won momentum. Marines are once again being called to do more with less. In this case, this means handing over increasing responsibility to Afghan National Security Forces, all while the number of Marines and sailors operating in theater steadily decreases.

Continue reading "Doing more with less: advisor teams lead new way in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Apr 18, 2012 15:36:36 EDT

The Marine Corps school that produces infantry combat officers will enroll its first-ever female students this year, Marine Corps Times has learned.

Continue reading "USMC 4-star: Women to attend infantry school" »

Posted by sr at 9:30 PM | Permalink

By Lance Cpl. Ali Azimi // April 16th, 2012

I’m not an infantryman. I’ve never been part of a grunt unit. But, I’ll be spending the next month with them in the wilds of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Continue reading "Journey Through the Snow (Part I)" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 PM | Permalink

April 10, 2012 5:12 AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Marines will get a chance this week to take a firsthand look at the latest products from the leading defense equipment manufacturers.

Continue reading "Marine South expo opens Wednesday" »

Posted by sr at 9:26 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 9, 2012 8:02:46 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — With the end of combat in Afghanistan looming and the withdrawal of deployed U.S. troops already underway, the Marine Corps is laying plans for the herculean task of returning its equipment to the States.

Continue reading "Corps faces logistics challenge in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 9:29 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Apr 7, 2012 9:14:07 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Families in private housing on Marine Corps installations will start receiving utility bills this summer ahead of a servicewide plan to charge power hogs and credit power savers.

Continue reading "Corps to offer on-base energy-saving incentives" »

Posted by sr at 9:13 AM | Permalink

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press
Apr 4, 6:32 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- The first detachment of 200 U.S. Marines has arrived in northern Australia, where a permanent joint training hub is taking shape as part of a U.S. shift of military strength in the Asia-Pacific region.

Continue reading "First 200 US Marines land at Aussie training hub" »

Posted by sr at 9:43 AM | Permalink

by: Stefanie Balogh
From: The Australian
April 02, 2012 12:00AM

THE deployment of 2500 US marines in Australia, which begins this week, was aimed at putting the US's "chess pieces in the right places" and not in response to the growth of China, the US ambassador to Canberra, Jeffrey Bleich, said yesterday.

Continue reading "US denies China syndrome behind marine move" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 PM | Permalink

Staff report
Posted : Monday Apr 2, 2012 11:05:06 EDT

Marine Corps manpower officials are launching an eight-week, worldwide tour to inform personnel how the service intends to shed about 20,000 from active duty over the next five years.

Continue reading "Corps to map out drawdown options for Marines" »

Posted by sr at 5:03 PM | Permalink

By Seth Robson
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 30, 2012

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — A trial of unmanned cargo helicopters in Afghanistan has been so successful the Marine Corps wants to extend the mission.

Continue reading "Marines look to extend unmanned helo program in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 10:29 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 30, 2012 17:26:22 EDT

With the shift in focus from the Middle East to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Marine Corps logisticians have a challenge before them unlike anything they’ve ever seen.

Continue reading "General: Marines’ Pacific swing will be tough" »

Posted by sr at 9:12 AM | Permalink

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 26, 2012 7:58:04 EDT

You’ve probably seen her picture — sporting serious pythons, rock-hard abs, camouflage pants and an expression that says, “I can destroy you.”

Continue reading "Corps explores partnership with hard-core trainer" »

Posted by sr at 9:52 AM | Permalink

Video features 80 Marines from Camp Pendleton

Written by
Jeanette Steele
6:12 p.m., March 22, 2012
Updated 6:58 p.m. , March 23, 2012

Pop star Katy Perry is known for her blue hair and quirky videos.

Continue reading "Marines say Katy Perry video is good publicity" »

Posted by sr at 11:58 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 19, 2012 19:50:12 EDT

The Marine Corps will send a Hawaii-based infantry unit to Australia in April, marking the first rotation there for U.S. forces as part of a new military partnership between the longtime allies.

Continue reading "Corps’ new Australia tours to start in April" »

Posted by sr at 9:50 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 17, 2012 9:51:38 EDT

Throwable robots, small enough to fit in a Marine’s cargo pocket, are on their way to infantry units in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Tiny robots ready for remote searches" »

Posted by sr at 8:59 AM | Permalink

By Seth Robson
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 15, 2012

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The Marine Corps plans to trim its ranks by 20,000 over five years, but no Marines will be forced out of the service early, according to the Marine Corps’ deputy commandant for combat development and integration.

Continue reading "Marine Corps cuts won’t affect current enlistments, top general says" »

Posted by sr at 9:24 AM | Permalink

By Seth Robson
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 15, 2012

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – The Marine Corps plans to reinvigorate a program slowed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that deploys U.S.-based units to Okinawa and other parts of the Pacific on six-month rotations.

Continue reading "Marines to deploy more troops to Pacific under program" »

Posted by sr at 8:50 AM | Permalink

Active-duty ranks to be trimmed by 10 percent over five years

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
7:23 p.m., March 14, 2012
Updated 9:12 p.m.

The Marine Corps plans to cut its active-duty ranks by about 20,000 in the next five years, because of the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq, the rapid drawdown underway in Afghanistan and national budget strains.

Continue reading "Local bases escape brunt of Marine Corps cuts" »

Posted by sr at 11:46 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 14, 2012 18:59:20 EDT

The Marine Corps will increase six-month unit rotations through Okinawa, Japan, a top general said Wednesday, even as the service plans to reduce its permanent presence on the island by 8,000 personnel in coming years.

Continue reading "General: More Marines will rotate to Japan" »

Posted by sr at 10:59 PM | Permalink

Updated: Wednesday, 14 Mar 2012, 5:30 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 14 Mar 2012, 11:30 AM EDT

By NEWSCORE

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - US Marines attending a speech by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in Afghanistan on Wednesday were ordered to leave their weapons outside the tent where he was giving the address.

Continue reading "US Marines asked to disarm as Panetta speaks in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 6:17 PM | Permalink

Waldhauser heads for Pentagon; replacement for 1MEF not yet named

Written by
Jeanette Steele
3:54 p.m., March 12, 2012

The Marine Corps general in charge of the 57,000-Marine force based at Camp Pendleton has been nominated to serve as senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Continue reading "Marine leader at Camp Pendleton to leave" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 PM | Permalink

3/9/2012 By Staff Sgt. Will Skelton , Headquarters Marine Corps

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, invited senior members of the Marine Corps and members of the media to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., for a demonstration and first-hand opportunity to feel the effects of the U.S. Department of Defense, Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate’s Active Denial System March 9, 2012.

Continue reading "New Marine Corps non-lethal weapon heats things up " »

Posted by sr at 10:01 AM | Permalink

By Pauline Jelinek - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Mar 8, 2012 14:24:46 EST

WASHINGTON — They’ve long been known as devil dogs, leathernecks and “the first to fight.” But Marines, with their self-described expertise in “killing people and breaking things,” now want to promote their kinder side as well.

Continue reading "New ads pitch Corps’ kinder, gentler side" »

Posted by sr at 10:57 PM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. David Flynn | Marine Corps Recruiting Command | Date: 03.08.2012

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – Marine Corps Recruiting Command is set to unveil its new advertising campaign, “Toward the Sounds of Chaos,” during the Big 12 Championship basketball game on ESPN March 10.

Continue reading "'Toward the Sounds of Chaos' to showcase Marines' combat, humanitarian capabilities" »

Posted by sr at 9:05 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 7, 2012 15:50:18 EST

Marines in Afghanistan face a summer of transition that will include a massive drawdown, continued fighting in northern Helmand province and Afghan forces taking a more prominent combat role, according to the departing top officer in the region.

Continue reading "Major changes for Marines in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 10:01 PM | Permalink

By ROBERT BURNS
AP National Security Writer
Mar 7, 5:38 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Marines will lead the U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan this year, reducing by about half their numbers in the key province of Helmand as Afghans move fully into the combat lead there, a top U.S. general said Wednesday.

Continue reading "Marines to reduce by half in Afghanistan this year" »

Posted by sr at 9:31 PM | Permalink

Updated March 5, 2012, 7:19 p.m. ET

By NATHAN HODGE

NORFOLK, Va.—The Navy and Marines said Monday they plan to introduce random breath tests of personnel on duty as part of a broader health-and-safety push, a move officials concede will be a tough sell with weary troops after a decade of war.

Continue reading "Navy, Marines to Start Random Alcohol Tests " »

Posted by sr at 12:39 PM | Permalink

Sexual assault prevention training, fitness also included in 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 5, 2012 18:46:31 EST

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK — The Navy and Marine Corps today introduced a wide-ranging wellness initiative with programs ranging from duty section Breathalyzer tests for alcohol use and reliable synthetic marijuana testing to enhanced anti-sexual assault training, greater emphasis on fitness and nutrition, increased on-base prices of tobacco products and the ability to temporarily leave the service, without penalty, to raise children.

Continue reading "Wellness initiative to test for alcohol, drugs" »

Posted by sr at 7:32 AM | Permalink

2/29/2012 By Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers , Headquarters Marine Corps

WASHINGTON — The official Marines Facebook Page will launch its new design, featuring a cover photo and Page timeline, Feb. 29.

Continue reading "Marines stay at the forefront of social media development " »

Posted by sr at 9:42 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 28, 2012 20:43:40 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines prepping to be the Corps’ next crop of special operators are training on some of the newest close-quarters battle platforms available.

Continue reading "MARSOC shoot house allows for tactical training" »

Posted by sr at 9:48 AM | Permalink

By Jaimee Rose and Michelle Ye Hee Lee, The Arizona Republic
February 25, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – They walk to fallen soldiers' front doors in pairs, crisp and dark in their military dress blues: one officer, one chaplain.

Continue reading "Grim task: Informing families in Marine copter crash" »

Posted by sr at 8:50 AM | Permalink

Courtesy Story | III Marine Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Installations Pacific | Date: 02.24.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - During the late afternoon hours of Jan. 30, Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), were working hard to take apart a medium girder bridge in the rural district of Garmsir, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. During the disassembly, part of the bridge inadvertently gave way and landed on a Marine’s leg, sending him to the ground, writhing in pain.

Continue reading "Corpsman proves valuable to team in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 8:30 AM | Permalink

By Dustin Gardiner and Richard Ruelas - The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic
Posted : Friday Feb 24, 2012 7:45:23 EST

YUMA -The remote areas surrounding this Marine Corps town are favored for helicopter training, in part, because the desert landscape resembles that of war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Continue reading "Marines search for answers after fatal training collision" »

Posted by sr at 8:16 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 20, 2012 8:06:05 EST

The Marine Corps’ tank community will rely less on the Army and more on simulation-based training in the future, a trend driven by ongoing reorganization in both services.

Continue reading "Tank training, warfare can’t rely on Army" »

Posted by sr at 9:07 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 15, 2012 12:38:33 EST

Deeper than anticipated manpower cuts mean Marines will face the stiffest competition to stay in uniform in more than a decade, and more units will deactivate as the Corps whittles down to 182,100.

Continue reading "General: Cuts will drive career competition" »

Posted by sr at 10:25 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 15, 2012 5:15:22 EST

New accessory packs that allow Marines to plug computers, radios and even iPods directly into solar panels are heading to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Connect your iPod, radio to combat solar panels" »

Posted by sr at 9:25 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 14, 2012 5:30:14 EST

Amid well-publicized plans to shift upwards of 5,000 Marines from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam, and rotate thousands more between Hawaii, Australia and the Philippines, there are quiet indications the Marine Corps also may seek greater military ties with South Korea, where 28,000 U.S. troops are permanently stationed.

Continue reading "More Marines may deploy to South Korea" »

Posted by sr at 3:16 PM | Permalink

Photos by Sgt. Charles Mabry | Task Force Leatherneck | Date: 02.05.2012
Date Posted:02.07.2012 01:02

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, sergeant of the Marine Corps, visit with Marines from HMH-363 aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Feb. 5, 2012.

Continue reading "Gen. Amos visits Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 11:05 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 6, 2012 8:11:05 EST

Water aerobics is not just for retirees anymore. The Marine Corps is promoting low-impact pool running — dubbed “water cadence”— to help even the fittest Marines up their game.

Continue reading "New water workout is tougher than running" »

Posted by sr at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Feb 4, 2012 8:07:49 EST

It’s a rare opportunity when the Marine Corps actually wants you to complain, and this is one of them. Through retention surveys, active-duty enlisted Marines and officers are invited to spell out “how satisfied or dissatisfied they are with certain aspects of the Marine Corps and the military way of life.”

Continue reading "Corps wants to hear all of your complaints" »

Posted by sr at 10:06 AM | Permalink

1stLt Daniel Durbin
February 2012

The School of Infantry East (SOI-E) administratively separated more than 150 new Marines in fiscal year 2011 for a myriad of disciplinary and medical reasons. Many of these medical and legal issues occurred over recruit leave. There is a travesty happening right now in the Marine Corps, but nothing is being done about it. Every year, the Marine Corps loses several hundreds of Marines to drugs, legal issues, and injuries during a single 10-day period—recruit leave.

Continue reading "Recruit Leave: Ten Days That Cost The Marine Corps Millions " »

Posted by sr at 10:02 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 26, 2012 13:45:08 EST

The Marine Corps will slash 20,000 Marines as part of Defense Department-wide budget cuts, reducing its end strength to about 182,000, top Pentagon officials announced Thursday.

Continue reading "20,000 Marines to be cut, Pentagon announces" »

Posted by sr at 5:27 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 23, 2012 8:56:10 EST

Mandatory annual hearing tests for all Marines start now under a new policy aimed at putting some muscle behind the Corps’ hearing conservation program.

Continue reading "Corps mandates yearly hearing test for all" »

Posted by sr at 10:05 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 22, 2012 9:03:43 EST

With at least 50 percent of the Corps composed of unmarried men and women, top leaders have moved to give single Marines a voice within their command that is equal to their married colleagues on matters of family readiness.

Continue reading "Way for single Marines to gripe, raise concerns" »

Posted by sr at 12:22 PM | Permalink

Mark Johnston - Daily Herald | Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012 12:25 am

Any reassignment to a new location while serving in the Marine Corps can come as quite a shock, even when it's to Provo, Utah, to join the 12th recruiting district.

Continue reading "Marine recruiters face different challenges" »

Posted by sr at 8:38 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 15, 2012 9:19:28 EST

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Additional weapons have been cleared for use during annual marksmanship qualifications, to include the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, M4A1 Close Quarters Battle Weapon and the M45 Close Quarters Battle Pistol.

Continue reading "More weapons approved for annual quals" »

Posted by sr at 11:49 AM | Permalink

Story by Sgt. Matthew Lyman | U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe | Date: 01.06.2012
Date Posted:01.12.2012 02:15

“Speed and prepositioning are the primary means of overcoming the tyranny of distance.” - U.S. Transportation Command Headquarter

OSLO, Norway - Recently a contingent of logistics officers from Marine Forces Europe led a group of Army, Navy, Air Force and United States Embassy officials traveled to Trondheim, Norway, for briefs and a site survey of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway facility.

Continue reading "US ambassador, MFE Marines tour supply caves in Norway" »

Posted by sr at 11:06 AM | Permalink

1/11/2012 By Cpl. Isis M. Ramirez , Marine Forces Pacific

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii — Just like everyone else in the United States, Marines and Department of Defense civilians have opinions. As citizens, they have the freedom to generate and express their beliefs. However, as the 2012 presidential elections draw near, it is a good time to be reminded of the do’s and don’ts in regard to service members and civilian government employees participating in the election process, as well as how opinions can be appropriately expressed in a public forum.

Continue reading "Political activities: what every Marine and DOD civilian should know " »

Posted by sr at 4:59 PM | Permalink

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 9, 2012 7:46:46 EST

A select group of Marines is quietly battling terrorism across a wide swath of Africa as part of the first wave of what could become a long-term mission for the Corps.

Continue reading "Corps’ Africa mission may be growing" »

Posted by sr at 5:28 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 4, 2012 10:05:39 EST

When an earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan in 2011, civil affairs Marines expedited aid delivery with a powerful new tool — hand-held smart devices.

Continue reading "Smartphones improve foreign aid missions" »

Posted by sr at 9:22 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 24, 2011 9:26:28 EST

With the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan set to accelerate in 2012, officials at the Corps’ desert combat training center are preparing to revamp the workups Marines undertake before their units deploy overseas.

Continue reading "Officials look to update Enhanced Mojave Viper" »

Posted by sr at 9:21 AM | Permalink

12/21/2011 By Capt. Patrick Boyce , Manpower & Reserve Affairs

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — No one steps foot into the combat zone in hopes to be wounded. But it’s a fact that some Marines in combat will be wounded or injured as a result of enemy action, with many of the Marines being eligible for award of the Purple Heart.

Continue reading "Marines with concussion, mild brain injury may qualify for Purple Heart " »

Posted by sr at 4:57 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 20, 2011 9:48:29 EST

Grunts and amtrac crewmen assigned to the Corps’ seven Marine expeditionary units will undergo more intensive water-survival training as part of a new initiative to teach personnel how to escape a sinking amphibious assault vehicle.

Continue reading "New ground requirement: amtrac dunker training" »

Posted by sr at 5:15 PM | Permalink

From the Trenches, Highlights // December 19th, 2011 // By Jeff Drew, 2nd Marine Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — He defends Marines and sailors with love and tenacity, protecting them as any Marine would protect a brother-in-arms. He is the epitome of man’s best friend, shielding service members from the enemy while providing companionship and camaraderie. His name is Willy Pete, and he’s a warrior, a protector, a friend. He’s also a dog.

Continue reading "Guardian of patrols: Afghan dog fights like Marine" »

Posted by sr at 6:19 PM | Permalink

12:11 AM, Dec. 15, 2011
Written by
Denise Goolsby
The Desert Sun

From the Veterans Day parade to the annual Christmas concert, the U.S. Marine Corps Band based out of the Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms has been a musical fixture in the valley for decades.

Continue reading "U.S. Marine Corps Band in Twentynine Palms falls victim to budget cuts" »

Posted by sr at 12:43 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 12, 2011 7:54:03 EST

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Deep in the woods northwest of main side, here at Camp Upshur, a technological revolution quietly has been taking place. Weeds and brush on the grounds of the old Officer Candidates School have been cleared to make room for modern white trailers and tents where more than a dozen training simulators hum and spin for Marine reservists training for deployment.

Continue reading "Quantico training boom brings in more Marines" »

Posted by sr at 10:17 AM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Abigail Brown | Marine Corps Air Station New River | Date: 12.07.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - With many Marines accessing websites like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, My Pay, Marine Online, Marines.mil and so on, the risk of leaking information vital to operational security is high. To reduce the threat, the Marine Corps offers a secure social media platform called eMarine that links a unit’s page to many pages vital for Marines.

Continue reading "eMarine is new one-stop-shop" »

Posted by sr at 10:09 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 7, 2011 9:04:44 EST

The history of the Montford Point Marines, the Corps’ first black enlistees, is now being taught in class at Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.

Continue reading "Montford Point history now part of OCS" »

Posted by sr at 10:03 AM | Permalink

Marine Support Group will host the commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines at the San Clemente Community Center to talk to the public about the unit's experiences in Afghanistan.

By Adam Townsend
Dec. 6, 2011

The Commander of 1st Battallion, 5th Marines will give a presentation on that unit's recent deployment to Sangin, Afghanistan, knows as the Most Dangerous Place on Earth.

Continue reading "Marine Commander to Discuss Afghan Deployment" »

Posted by sr at 11:11 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 5, 2011 8:24:25 EST

As the Marine Corps resets itself after more than 10 years of large-scale combat, Marines will likely find themselves deploying more to exotic locations.

Continue reading "Hotspots: You might deploy here next" »

Posted by sr at 10:34 AM | Permalink

By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: December 4, 2011

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — “Can we talk about deployment?” Gregory Bole, a counselor, asked the kindergartners last week at Tarawa Terrace Elementary, one of seven schools on the Marine base here.

Continue reading "Lessons in Coping for Children of Deployed" »

Posted by sr at 12:38 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 4, 2011 9:17:56 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A funny thing happened after Marines moved into a new complex of swanky bachelor enlisted quarters for 1st Marine Logistics Group: Some are finding that hanging out in the barracks on weekends isn’t such a bad option compared to going into town to meet with friends and find a good time.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marines praise new enlisted digs" »

Posted by sr at 11:00 AM | Permalink

By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer – December 4, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the Iraq war ending and an Afghanistan exit in sight, the Marine Corps is beginning a historic shift, returning to its roots as a seafaring force that will get smaller, lighter and, it hopes, less bogged down in land wars.

Continue reading "Postwar Marines: smaller, less focused on land war" »

Posted by sr at 10:57 AM | Permalink

A highlight is a tour of a faux Afghan village constructed at Camp Pendleton to help train Marines before they deploy to a Taliban stronghold. The officers also talk with law enforcement officials.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
December 4, 2011

Reporting from Camp Pendleton, Calif.—
Five high-ranking officers of the Afghan security forces finished a three-day visit to Southern California on Saturday after observing military training and civilian law enforcement operations in the U.S.

Continue reading "Five key Afghan officers visit California" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 3, 2011 9:06:33 EST

The Marine Corps has begun researching options for a new modular body armor system that would combine the coverage of the current plate carrier vest with additional soft armor resembling the service’s new pelvic protection system.

Continue reading "Marine Corps seeks better body armor system" »

Posted by sr at 8:29 AM | Permalink

December 02, 2011
Marine Corps News|by Lance Cpl. R.J. Driver

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. -- Family readiness officers throughout the Marine Corps use a combination of Facebook, base-sponsored web pages and word of mouth to pass information to their units’ families.

Continue reading "E-Marine Connects Units and Families" »

Posted by sr at 8:58 AM | Permalink

By Andrew Tarantola, Gizmodo.com
November 30, 2011

For years, military live fire exercises have relied on either stationary or pop-out targets but they don’t really simulate enemy movements—they just sit there, waiting to be shot. These targets, newly developed for the U.S. Marine Corps don’t; they move, behave, and react just like real combatants. Well, combatants who ride Segway scooters.

Continue reading "The Marines’ New Target Dummies Ride Segways" »

Posted by sr at 4:30 PM | Permalink

The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 30, 2011 14:30:25 EST

SAN DIEGO — Top Afghan army and police officials who will oversee security in one of the country’s hardest-fought provinces in the war are visiting Southern California this week to get a look at how the United States teaches its children, treats its prisoners and patrols its border with Mexico.

Continue reading "Marines show U.S. institutions to Afghans" »

Posted by sr at 4:11 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 28, 2011 8:11:35 EST

The Marine Corps is on the hunt for improved ear plugs that will save Marines’ hearing down range while helping them maintain situational awareness, and those currently fielded by the Army could get a serious look.

Continue reading "Corps seeks better ear protection" »

Posted by sr at 10:08 AM | Permalink

By Seth Robson
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 27, 2011

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — U.S. Marines should feel right at home in northern Australia when they start regular training there in the near future.

Continue reading "Australia offers strong training opportunities, vibrant off-duty options for visiting Marines" »

Posted by sr at 8:00 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 27, 2011 9:43:32 EST

The Corps has launched a new effort to find a wearable power system that provides energy to radios and other electronics that Marines carry with them in the field.

Continue reading "Corps seeks wearable system to power equipment" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 AM | Permalink

By Robert Burns - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Nov 26, 2011 9:55:07 EST

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines will march out of Afghanistan by the thousands next year, winding down combat in the Taliban heartland and testing the U.S. view that Afghan forces are capable of leading the fight against a battered but not yet beaten insurgency in the country’s southwestern reaches, senior U.S. military officers say.

Continue reading "Marines to wind down Afghan combat in 2012" »

Posted by sr at 10:17 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 22, 2011 5:28:14 EST

Marines in Twentynine Palms, Calif., will soon get the chance to train with a new shooting simulator as part of a conditioning program that combines marksmanship with high-endurance exercise.

Continue reading "New simulator combines exercise, shooting" »

Posted by sr at 7:33 AM | Permalink

11/20/2011 By Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Wetzel , Headquarters Marine Corps

ARLINGTON, Va. — With the current budget crisis, all branches of the military are looking for ways to cut spending. The downsizing of service members from Afghanistan in the near future have some people concerned about future troop placement.

Continue reading "Corps looks to Pacific, drawdown in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 10:24 AM | Permalink

Dean Crutchfield, Contributor
CMO Network | 11/14/2011 @ 4:07PM

The United States Marines Corps this month celebrates 236 years of inviolable service to us, the American people.

Continue reading "Happy Birthday To America's Most Enduring Brand: The Marines" »

Posted by sr at 4:13 PM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Marcin Platek | Marine Forces Reserve | Date: 11.10.2011

NEW ORLEANS – As Halloween decorations come down, some stores start preparing for Christmas early. From sales to giveaways, Christmas fever is spreading. For the Marines it means something else: there are toys to be collected.

Continue reading "Toys for Tots launches as the holiday season approaches" »

Posted by sr at 11:27 PM | Permalink

12:21 AM, Nov. 10, 2011
Written by
Lt. Gen. John G. Castellaw, USMC (Retired)

Last March, U.S. Marines returned to the “shores of Tripoli” for the first time since fighting the Barbary pirates in 1805.

Continue reading "At age 236, Marines still our most capable force" »

Posted by sr at 9:14 AM | Permalink

Published: Nov. 9, 2011 at 7:20 AM

BALTIMORE, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps will soon use a tactical smartphone network developed to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises.

Continue reading "Marines to use tactical smartphone network" »

Posted by sr at 11:54 AM | Permalink

11/8/2011 By Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers , Headquarters Marine Corps
WASHINGTON — Before the United States was born, there was a Marine Corps. For the last 236 years Marines have fought tirelessly to preserve the freedom of the United States and the traditions of the Corps.

Continue reading "Commandant cuts Marine Corps birthday cake" »

Posted by sr at 11:01 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 7, 2011 8:11:31 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — In a first for the Corps, a live-fire training facility designed to simulate a sea-going merchant ship will be installed here, on land, making it easier and more cost-effective to practice boarding drills.

Continue reading "Infantry trainer puts Marines through paces" »

Posted by sr at 8:21 AM | Permalink

From: Jim Dargan
Volume 20, Number 4, November 2011 in the The MATCA Hotline, pg. 16

Someone asked me what makes Marines special. I thought about that for a while.

Continue reading "Marine Arrogance" »

Posted by KC at 3:07 PM | Permalink

By Carlo Munoz
Published: November 4, 2011

Washington: A series of war games led by a special Marine Corps task force could dramatically change the way the service fights their way from ship to shore in the future.

Continue reading "Marine War Games Drive Wholesale Amphibious Shakeup" »

Posted by sr at 9:37 AM | Permalink

US Marines badly wounded in Afghanistan may get a "lollipop" with a powerful pain killer from now on instead of the traditional shot of morphine, according to the Marine Corps.

9:48PM GMT 01 Nov 2011

The new treatment offers an alternative to the morphine needle "you see in the World War II movies," with medics jabbing a syrette into a soldier's leg or arm, Captain Brian Block said.

Continue reading "Injured US Marines to get 'lollipop' instead of morphine" »

Posted by sr at 1:58 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 30, 2011 8:43:26 EDT

The Marine Corps wants deploying units and some stateside commands to train and certify Marines in operational stress control.

Continue reading "Stress-control training is in Corps’ plans" »

Posted by sr at 11:28 PM | Permalink

By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Friday, October 28, 2011 5:00 am

The Marine Corps has tapped a battle-tested and insurgent-savvy commander at Camp Pendleton to lead its troops on the ground in Afghanistan next year.

Continue reading "Gurganus to lead Marine Corps forces in Afghanistan next year" »

Posted by sr at 10:24 PM | Permalink

10/27/2011 By Cpl. Damien Gutierrez, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —

Marines tested their strength, endurance and ability to work as a team during the 7th annual Leatherneck Field Meet at the Paige Fieldhouse, Oct. 26.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marines participate in annual Leatherneck Field Meet " »

Posted by SP at 9:47 AM | Permalink

Cid Standifer - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 26, 2011 17:11:51 EDT

The Marines Corps has retreated from the tuition assistance cuts the service announced less than two weeks ago, according to a Marine Corps administrative message released Wednesday, but they are warning that TA funds will probably run out well before the end of fiscal 2012.

Continue reading "Marine Corps backs off tuition assistance cuts" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 PM | Permalink

Date Signed: 10/26/2011
MARADMIN Active Number: 639/11 2011

R 261938Z OCT 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 639/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)//

SUBJ/MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY, FUNDING PROVISIONS AND RESTRICTIONS//
REF/A/MSGID:CMC WASHINGTON DC/D171625ZOCT2011/-//
AMPN/REF IS MARADMIN 616-11, MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY, FUNDING PROVISIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.//
POC/DARYL PATRICK/NF-4/UNIT:MRA MF/-/TEL:703-784-9550//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS MESSAGE CANCELS REF A.

Continue reading "MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY, FUNDING PROVISIONS AND RESTRICTIONS " »

Posted by sr at 10:32 PM | Permalink

Marine Week will take place in Cleveland.

Colleen O'Neill, Newsradio WTAM 1100
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

(Cleveland)- Cleveland has been chosen to host the 4th annual Marine Week...

The announcement was made Tuesday morning at Cleveland City Hall. It's taking place June 11-17, 2012 and provides a unique experience to directly connect the public and Marines.

Continue reading "The Marines are coming" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 PM | Permalink

October 25th, 2011 | Marine Week | Posted by Dan Lamothe

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Capital of the World will showcase the Marine Corps next summer.

Continue reading "Marine Week 2012 to be held in Cleveland, Ohio" »

Posted by sr at 8:26 PM | Permalink

10/25/2011
Headquarters Marine Corps Capt. Lori Miller, USMC

571-256-4177 (office)
[email protected]
CLEVELAND, OHIO —

Fourth Annual Event Celebrates Community, Country and Corps June 11-17 2012

The United States Marine Corps will partner with the city of Cleveland, Ohio, to bring Marine Week to the nation’s Rock and Roll Capital, June 11-17, 2012. Marine Week is a celebration of community, country and Corps, and provides the unique experience to directly connect the American public and Marines.

Continue reading "Marine Week to Rock Cleveland in 2012 " »

Posted by sr at 4:52 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 19, 2011 11:02:03 EDT

A new uniform rule that takes effect Monday will require all Marines to wear their sleeves rolled down, all year long.

Continue reading "New uniform rule bans rolled sleeves" »

Posted by sr at 8:35 PM | Permalink

Published: October 17, 2011
UPDATED: OCT. 18, 2:11 P.M. EDT

WASHINGTON — Following a public outcry, Marines can now wear KIA bracelets that honor fallen comrades, according to a Corps official.

Continue reading "Commandant: Marines permitted to wear KIA bracelets" »

Posted by sr at 1:47 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 17, 2011 7:23:28 EDT

Commands across the Marine Corps are clamping down on troops who wear bracelets that commemorate friends killed in action. And Marines are fuming about it.

Continue reading "Marines frustrated by ban on KIA bracelets" »

Posted by sr at 1:11 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 16, 2011 8:44:12 EDT

Marine and Army units are beginning to field a new 40mm grenade dispenser designed to allow infantrymen to put rounds on target more quickly.

Continue reading "Corps fields dispenser for 40mm grenades" »

Posted by sr at 8:40 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Oct 15, 2011 9:07:53 EDT

The Marine Corps is pushing forward with development of the Marine Personnel Carrier, an armored eight-wheel vehicle that will be able to swim, but not required to travel from ship to shore.

Continue reading "Corps continues push for armored 8-wheeler" »

Posted by sr at 3:35 PM | Permalink

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 12, 2011 9:56:22 EDT

If you wouldn’t say it to your grandma, don’t post it on online.

Continue reading "Corps debuts new social media handbook" »

Posted by sr at 5:57 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 9, 2011 10:59:02 EDT

The Marine Corps plans to field improved flame-resistant gloves within a year, but has not settled on a design and is looking for input from Marines.

Continue reading "Corps to upgrade combat gloves" »

Posted by sr at 9:20 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 5, 2011 9:30:31 EDT

A new crop of healthful foods will begin to appear on menus at the Corps’ chow halls early next year.

Continue reading "Corps adding healthful food to mess-hall menus" »

Posted by sr at 10:40 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 3, 2011 7:52:02 EDT

The Marine Corps has a plan to rewire your brain, but it isn’t a mind-control plot inspired by a bad sci-fi movie. It’s part of an effort to improve resilience throughout the service and, officials hope, stave off post-traumatic stress among those who work in dangerous or demanding environments.

Continue reading "Mind fitness routines fight combat stress" »

Posted by sr at 9:29 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 2, 2011 9:42:09 EDT

The Marine Corps may soon be chilling in Afghanistan. Chilling water, that is.

Continue reading "Chilled water cuts need for bottles in war zone" »

Posted by sr at 10:57 AM | Permalink

9/30/2011 By Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers Headquarters Marine Corps

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps has fought to preserve freedom in the United States from the Corps’ inception. In the last decade the Corps has joined a different fight to preserve energy and fossil fuels in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. Since 2006, the Marine Corps has funded research into numerous products that not only decrease reliance on natural resources, but more importantly, save deployed Marine lives.

Continue reading "Protecting the planet also saves Marine lives " »

Posted by sr at 5:11 PM | Permalink

The Corps faces budgetary pressures, need to overhaul fleet

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
7:47 p.m., Sept. 29, 2011

As the Marines celebrate a century of shared aviation history with the Navy at the annual air show in San Diego beginning today, they are also looking to the future amid a high-stakes overhaul of their fleet.

Continue reading "Marine flying entering period of turbulence" »

Posted by sr at 11:23 PM | Permalink

By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Wednesday, September 28, 2011

More than 700 Marines and sailors are storming the shores of Camp Pendleton in a series of assault-style landings over the next few days.

Continue reading "Marines to storm ashore at Camp Pendleton" »

Posted by sr at 9:48 PM | Permalink

9/27/2011 By Staff Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook , Recruiting Station Twin Cities

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — The Combat Center Show Band stopped at Coon Rapids High School today during their Midwest Fall tour and surprised students with a wall-shaking performance.

Continue reading "Marine musicians bring melodies to Minnesota, Western Wisconsin high schools " »

Posted by sr at 10:09 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Jad Sleiman | Marine Forces Reserve | Date: 09.24.2011

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. - On the afternoon of Sept. 19, in a stack of tan shipping containers meant to resemble a mosque, a group of grown men are using their imaginations.

Continue reading "Dress Rehearsal: Marines prep for U.S. Africa Command deployment" »

Posted by sr at 9:15 PM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Francisco Abundes | Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island | Date: 09.23.2011

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- “These recruits are entrusted in my care. I will train them to the best of my ability and develop them into physically fit, smartly disciplined, basically trained Marines … ” recited 34 new drill instructors who graduated Drill Instructor School Wednesday at the Lyceum.

Continue reading "DI School graduates Corps’ newest drill instructors" »

Posted by sr at 3:10 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Sep 17, 2011 10:14:08 EDT

Dogged by durability issues, MARSOC’s newest camouflage uniforms are getting upgraded.

Continue reading "MARSOC addresses camo complaints" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 PM | Permalink

ALISON ST JOHN, Senior Metro Reporter
September 13, 2011

Forget the old image of barracks with 40 bunks to a room, no air conditioning and a tiny storage locker at the foot of each bed. The latest Marine Corps barracks opening on Camp Pendleton are a far cry from the last generation of barracks, built in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton Barracks Like A Four Star Hotel" »

Posted by sr at 2:43 PM | Permalink

By Dave Majumdar - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 12, 2011 8:00:43 EDT

It doesn’t take a multibillion-dollar defense contract to design and build a state-of-the-art airborne electronic attack pod. The Marine Corps has developed its own.

Continue reading "IED jammer ready for Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 10:05 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 6, 2011 10:33:54 EDT

Marine officials have reversed a policy that barred recruiters from using the cameras on their smartphones to photograph potential recruits and document their tattoos and overall appearance.

Continue reading "Recruiters receive OK for smartphone camera use" »

Posted by sr at 2:32 PM | Permalink

The stories behind the intricate tats of our armed forces

by: Tiffanie Gabrielse
September 1, 2011

Stewed, screwed and totally tattooed isn’t the most graceful expression, but its originator, Sailor Jerry (or Norman Collins), is known as a sharp, gruff Pacific “sea dog” who is the most infamous tattoo artist to ink the men of our military for over 40 years. It is impossible to understand the culture that surrounds the military and the tattoo art form without Sailor Jerry. Today in Jacksonville, across the various tattoo shops in town, one can find countless options for nautical ink: chickens and pigs or WWII pin-ups with busting bosoms, and of course thousands of USMC designs.

Continue reading "Decoding Marine Ink" »

Posted by sr at 9:34 AM | Permalink

Posted: Thursday, September 1, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 12:34 pm, Wed Aug 31, 2011.
Pfc. Jackeline M. Perez Rivera

Now that Hurricane Irene has passed through Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, base officials have been working around the clock to pick up the damage caused by the hurricane.

Continue reading "Hurricane Irene no match for the base" »

Posted by sr at 9:29 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro and Dan Lamothe - Staff writers
Posted : Tuesday Aug 30, 2011 10:24:37 EDT

NEW ORLEANS — The national budget crisis could force the Marine Corps to start cutting the force as soon as next fall, and below the 186,800-troop end strength top officers have pushed to maintain after the war in Afghanistan ends.

Continue reading "Larger drawdown possible for Corps" »

Posted by sr at 5:01 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - [email protected]
Posted : Monday Aug 29, 2011 8:03:50 EDT

After years of complaints, Marines will soon have a new set of shades to wear downrange.

Continue reading "New ballistic eyewear for the warzone" »

Posted by sr at 11:09 AM | Permalink

The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Aug 29, 2011 7:53:10 EDT

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C — Conditions are returning to normal at Marine Corps Air Station New River following Hurricane Irene.

Continue reading "Operations resume at New River, Camp Lejeune" »

Posted by sr at 10:53 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Aug 28, 2011 9:19:56 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Corps is overhauling its approach to personnel administration, a move that will give commanders instant digital access to troops’ records, cut down on lost paperwork and reduce the number of trips Marines must make to base personnel centers.

Continue reading "Marines, commanders to get more records access" »

Posted by sr at 9:30 AM | Permalink

By ANNIE SNIDER of Greenwire
Published: August 26, 2011

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- The Marines prepare for Afghanistan at their sprawling base in the Mojave Desert.

Continue reading "Marines Test Battlefield Energy Technologies Under Mojave Sun" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Aug 8, 2011 10:22:33 EDT

With orders from the top, the Marine Corps’ inspector general is canvassing the service to see how well commands are enforcing rules on alcohol use among Marines.

Continue reading "More Marines may get alcohol-abuse treatment" »

Posted by sr at 9:15 PM | Permalink

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Aug 6, 2011 16:59:21 EDT

Fido has no bark and no bite, but it’s got a sniffer.

Its full name is the Fido XT Explosives Detector, and military police aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., are the latest Marines to put the device to use.

Continue reading "Camp Lejeune to employ better bomb detectors" »

Posted by sr at 11:33 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Khoa Pelczar | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 08.05.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines are constantly training for upcoming deployments or other contingency operations. But how do they know what training to focus on, or where to begin?

Continue reading "‘Lessons Learned’ web site aims to educate Marines" »

Posted by sr at 3:50 PM | Permalink

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
4:50 p.m., Aug. 3, 2011

Last year a surge of Marines flooded into the poppy fields and mud-walled towns of southwestern Afghanistan, where their doubled-up force confronted the Taliban in a region that had long been a bastion of the insurgency.

Continue reading "Marines prepare for drawdown in Helmand province" »

Posted by sr at 11:47 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jul 30, 2011 8:34:51 EDT

Commandant Gen. Jim Amos has released a new professional reading list for all Marines, and cracking open a book could now factor in more clearly at promotion time.

Continue reading "New book list and new reading rules for you" »

Posted by sr at 8:42 AM | Permalink

Camp Pendleton battalion plans to fill ranks

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
10:03 p.m., July 29, 2011

Demand for the unique capabilities of special operations forces after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks led to the genesis of the first Marine Corps units. Now, even as the United States winds down two long wars, the worldwide need for the elite troops continues to grow, setting the nascent force of Marine operators at crosscurrents with broader military trends.

Continue reading "Marine forces in demand: special operations grows into Afghan role" »

Posted by sr at 11:08 PM | Permalink

Courtesy Story | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 07.28.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The Marine Corps serves as America's expeditionary force in readiness, ready to respond to crisis situations around the globe whenever America's interests are threatened. Preparing for the complex and deadly possibilities that they may be sent to face requires the toughest training Marines can receive.

Continue reading "Combat Center conducts largest Enhanced Mojave Viper training yet" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 PM | Permalink

Camp Pendleton operators talk about what it takes to serve

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
2:55 p.m., July 28, 2011

The Marines long resisted the idea of carving out an elite unit from their “first to fight” force, but they finally stood up a special operations command in 2006. In recent years, the leatherneck operators found their footing within the special operations community with “village stability operations” in Afghanistan. Now the commandant plans to expand the Corps’ special operations force by 1,000 to 1,300 people, adding at least a third to their current numbers.

Continue reading "A new breed: Marine special operations" »

Posted by sr at 10:37 PM | Permalink

Story by Pfc. Michael Granahan | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 07.28.2011

OKINAWA, Japan - The blue dress uniform, worn by Marines, is steeped in history, with roots dating back to 1798 when the secretary of war authorized the wearing of a blue uniform with red trim. Blue was chosen to represent the Marine Corps’ naval ties, the red to express sentiment for the British Royal Marines’ traditional colors.

Continue reading "Blue dress uniform represents Corps’ history" »

Posted by sr at 9:51 AM | Permalink

By Rob Curtis - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jul 28, 2011 12:58:10 EDT

You don’t want to use your Kevlar helmet for a sink the way your grandfather may have back in the day. But your helmet still can do more than provide ballistic protection.

Continue reading "Skull session: We walk you through the best helmet upgrades on the market" »

Posted by sr at 8:50 AM | Permalink

July 27, 2011

The future of the Marine Corps may be playing out in the mountains of Bridgeport, Calif., and the flatlands of nearby Hawthorne, Nev.

Continue reading "Marines adapt for the future in Javelin Thrust exercise" »

Posted by sr at 10:03 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe
Posted : Monday Jul 25, 2011 7:43:46 EDT

If you’re a first-term Marine who thought there was more time this summer to consider re-enlistment, think again.

Continue reading "Re-up deadline days away for some" »

Posted by sr at 7:44 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff Writer
Posted : Sunday Jul 24, 2011 10:56:51 EDT

Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command could eventually balloon to between 5,000 and 6,000 Marines and have its own aviation assets, said the three-star general who served as its first commander.

Continue reading "Former CG: MARSOC will grow, get air assets" »

Posted by sr at 10:50 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 19, 2011 10:54:48 EDT

GARMSER, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Kendrick Johnson used to carry around the 22-pound M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. During patrols, he said, being so weighed down “really sucked.” But after five hours on the move, his arms would get used to it.

Continue reading "IAR wins over skeptical Marine infantrymen" »

Posted by sr at 5:12 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - [email protected]
Posted : Monday Jul 18, 2011 8:48:58 EDT

It looks like a camouflage diaper, but it could save your future children.

Continue reading "New this summer: groin armor" »

Posted by sr at 8:57 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - [email protected]
Posted : Saturday Jul 9, 2011 9:16:18 EDT

The Marine Corps has a new tool to identify life-threatening flaws in body armor: X-ray machines.

Continue reading "Marine Corps using X-rays to inspect armor" »

Posted by sr at 9:59 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 5, 2011 9:37:06 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Marines have a new enemy in their sights. They have beards, AK-47s and Afghan Pakul hats, but they aren’t the Taliban — they’re Tali-bots.

Continue reading "Corps buys Taliban-like robotic targets" »

Posted by sr at 11:21 AM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Salvador R. Moreno | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 07.01.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A service member returns from deployment to his spouse. He’s back to his daily routine and in high spirits. Then a few months go by and he realizes there is trouble in his relationship. No matter what he says or does it just seems to make matters worse. What does he do?

Continue reading "PREP, enhancing couples communication" »

Posted by sr at 4:41 PM | Permalink

6/30/2011 By Lance Cpl. David Flynn , Marine Corps Recruiting Command

BOWIE, Md. — A mob of Washington Capitals fans adorned in red, white and blue file past a few Marines at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Mar. 3. The Marines are dressed in woodland Marine pattern trousers, boots and black long-sleeve shirts. Their pull-up bar stands ready to test anyone up to the challenge. Some ignore the calls of the Marines to get up on the bar and bust out 20 pull-ups, while others try to convince the Marines to give them gear without getting up on the bar. Like everything in the Marine Corps, however, the prizes are earned, never given.

Continue reading "A snapshot of a recruiter's world" »

Posted by sr at 8:58 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 29, 2011 7:16:04 EDT

For at least a decade, factions of the Marine Corps have pushed for replacement of the legendary 5.56mm M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in infantry fire teams.

Continue reading "Marines swap firepower for accuracy with IAR" »

Posted by sr at 8:25 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jun 26, 2011 8:59:08 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — In a significant reversal, the Marine Corps has begun using optics at entry-level training, and could do so on a permanent basis beginning next year.

Continue reading "Optics added for entry-level rifle training" »

Posted by sr at 8:43 AM | Permalink

The service's top officer plots a post-Afghanistan focus in the Pacific region, where Marines experienced their most devastating losses and most heroic victories.

By NATHAN HODGE
JUNE 25, 2011

The U.S. Marine Corps, one of the most storied military forces, is searching for a mission after the war in Afghanistan ends.

Continue reading "Marines Aim to Avoid Postwar Identity Crisis" »

Posted by sr at 9:46 PM | Permalink

The service's top officer plots a post-Afghanistan focus in the Pacific region, where Marines experienced their most devastating losses and most heroic victories.

By NATHAN HODGE
JUNE 25, 2011

The U.S. Marine Corps, one of the most storied military forces, is searching for a mission after the war in Afghanistan ends.

Continue reading "Marines Aim to Avoid Postwar Identity Crisis" »

Posted by sr at 9:46 PM | Permalink

The service's top officer plots a post-Afghanistan focus in the Pacific region, where Marines experienced their most devastating losses and most heroic victories.

By NATHAN HODGE
JUNE 25, 2011

The U.S. Marine Corps, one of the most storied military forces, is searching for a mission after the war in Afghanistan ends.

Continue reading "Marines Aim to Avoid Postwar Identity Crisis" »

Posted by sr at 9:46 PM | Permalink

Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
Thursday, June 23, 2011

Twentynine Palms, --

San Bernardino County - Rough and rocky, Johnson Valley is considered the perfect place to test the mettle of men and their machines.

Continue reading "Marine Corps, public at odds over desert valley" »

Posted by sr at 7:59 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jun 19, 2011 9:52:52 EDT

The Corps’ Infantry Immersion Trainer, a three-dimensional simulator that mimics the sights, sounds and smells of modern combat, could become a mandatory stop for more Marines as part of the commandant’s push to make his troops more resilient to stress.

Continue reading "CMC touts need for immersion training" »

Posted by sr at 10:22 AM | Permalink

By FRED SWEGLES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: June 15, 2011
Updated: June 16, 2011 10:27 a.m.

While traffic on I-5 whizzes by San Onofre, less than a mile inland, dramatic scenes are unfolding inside a walled cluster of sandstone-colored buildings barely visible to passing freeway drivers.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marines train at simulated Afghan village" »

Posted by sr at 10:41 PM | Permalink

Story by Gunnery Sgt. J. L. Wright Jr. | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 06.15.2011

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan – With the release of Marine Administrative Message 327/11, the Marine Corps has revolutionized the screening and selection process for special duty assignments.

Continue reading "Selection process for special duty assignments improved; Marines can now indicate preference" »

Posted by sr at 12:13 PM | Permalink

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jun 14, 2011 9:20:42 EDT

You’re running low on fuel at your outpost, but no sweat.

Continue reading "Corps tests biofuels in vehicles, generators" »

Posted by sr at 4:58 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jun 13, 2011 8:42:51 EDT

The Corps will soon field heavy hauler trucks capable of pulling disabled mine-resistant vehicles and other beefy equipment over Afghanistan’s unforgiving terrain.

Continue reading "New haulers rolling to Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 8:25 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jun 12, 2011 9:25:30 EDT

The Marine Corps is extending its early release program through next fiscal year, and more than 37,000 Marines have a chance to exit the service up to 90 days ahead of schedule.

Continue reading "Thousands eligible to exit service early" »

Posted by sr at 10:56 PM | Permalink

Story by Sgt. Marcy Sanchez | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 06.10.2011

Nearly 400 Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps students from universities across the country are visiting Camp Pendleton this month to participate in the annual Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen program.

Continue reading "NROTC students get a taste of Marine life" »

Posted by sr at 8:47 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jun 10, 2011 5:33:47 EDT

MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON – With the passing of a sword, Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent retired Thursday night and stepped aside after a distinguished career of more than 35 years.

Continue reading "Kent yields to Barrett as top enlisted Marine" »

Posted by sr at 8:26 AM | Permalink

Story by Sgt. Heidi Agostini | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 06.10.2011

Sgt. Nora Mund’s eyes welled up with tears as she fumbled with the black bracelet worn on her left wrist. Branded with the name of a fallen Marine she befriended during her Afghanistan-tour, the band serves as a memorial and a constant reminder of a life cut short. It’s one of many combat memories she finds difficult to suppress.

Continue reading "Help on the way for female combat veterans" »

Posted by sr at 8:19 AM | Permalink

6/8/2011 By Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers , Headquarters Marine Corps

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps has always been committed to the welfare of its troops. This attitude doesn’t change when a Marine gets out of the Corps.

Continue reading "Once a Marine, Always a Marine: Commandant improves Transition Assistance Program" »

Posted by sr at 5:04 PM | Permalink

By Travis Tritten
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 3, 2011

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Marine Corps has changed its re-enlistment procedures in an attempt to improve the quality of its ranks, according to orders approved by the commandant in May.

Continue reading "Marine Corps announces changes to re-enlistment procedures" »

Posted by sr at 8:32 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday May 31, 2011 7:56:00 EDT

TAMPA, Fla. — The Marine Corps will overhaul its re-enlistment process this summer, introducing a new system that will give Marines more time to decide their future and allow the service to be more selective about who it keeps.

Continue reading "Re-enlistment changes coming this summer" »

Posted by sr at 11:17 AM | Permalink

Courtesy Story | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.27.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - As families across our great country gather this Memorial Day weekend, the men and women serving in Afghanistan will also pause to reflect on those who have gone before them. They will celebrate our heroes, past and present. These men and women serving in southwest Afghanistan are reminded daily that freedom and “justice for all” doesn’t exist everywhere, and that it comes at a cost.

Continue reading "Why We Fight" »

Posted by sr at 10:27 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday May 24, 2011 6:53:41 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Ten weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, six CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters were launched from the amphibious assault ship Peleliu and traveled nearly 400 miles from the North Arabian Sea before touching down in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "New training puts distance between HQ and units" »

Posted by sr at 9:42 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 16, 2011 8:37:09 EDT

The Marine Corps’ search for a new standard-issue pack is complete. Officials have settled on a final design for the USMC Pack, which Marines will begin wearing downrange as early as October, according to Lt. Col. Kevin Reilly, the pack’s program manager at Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Va.

Continue reading "USMC Pack could debut downrange by October" »

Posted by sr at 11:07 AM | Permalink

By Joe Gromelski
Stars and Stripes
Published: May 15, 2011

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Comedian Drew Carey wasn’t about to fail in his first attempt at the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon.

Continue reading "Comedian Carey’s Marine dream comes true at Historic Half" »

Posted by sr at 5:09 PM | Permalink

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday May 14, 2011 9:01:11 EDT

Two military-themed video games are slated for release this year, both promising an immersion into modern war and featuring Marines in the starring roles.

Continue reading "Marines star in 2 new video games" »

Posted by sr at 2:33 PM | Permalink

5/10/2011 By Lance Cpl. Christofer P. Baines , Headquarters Marine Corps

ARLINGTON, Va. — Recent changes in reenlistment procedures will help the Marine Corps identify and retain only the most qualified Marines by approving them through selection boards.

Continue reading "New MARADMIN updating reenlistment standards brings big changes" »

Posted by sr at 4:52 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday May 10, 2011 5:19:01 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps has started to build two new one-star Marine expeditionary brigade headquarters that will be capable of leading joint task forces in times of crisis.

Continue reading "Corps planning new MEBs for crisis response" »

Posted by sr at 12:10 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 9, 2011 9:13:04 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps could soon have two new weapons in the fight against improvised explosive devices: remote-control vehicles and improved detector dogs.

Continue reading "New weapons, war dogs eyed to fight IEDs" »

Posted by sr at 9:09 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday May 8, 2011 9:19:47 EDT

The Marine Corps has launched a search for better mine rollers, the trailerlike devices mounted to the front of war-zone vehicles to protect them from improvised explosive devices.

Continue reading "Upgrades weighed for Corps’ mine rollers" »

Posted by sr at 10:57 AM | Permalink

07:26 GMT, May 6, 2011 WASHINGTON | There’s a peculiar sight on Forward Operating Base Jackson in the Sangin district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province. The base is one of several in southern Afghanistan where the Marine Corps has set up solar panels and uses solar blankets as sources of renewable energy.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines Prove Energy Efficiencies in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 11:18 AM | Permalink

May 05, 2011 10:30 PM
SUZANNE ULBRICH

With 80 percent of combat casualties in the Middle East caused by Improvised Explosive Devices, Camp Lejeune has opened a new facility specifically for training to defeat the devices.

Continue reading "Marine Corps unveils new facility for counter IED training" »

Posted by sr at 11:13 AM | Permalink

Mon May 2, 5:24 PM ET
AFP photo

US Marines watch TV as President Barack Obama announces the death of Osama Bin Laden, at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province.

Continue reading "US Marines watch TV" »

Posted by sr at 7:12 AM | Permalink

By Brian Shane - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday May 1, 2011 8:33:48 EDT

Selective re-enlistment bonuses will dry up next month for Marines in 59 military occupational specialties, according to an April 13 Marine administrative message.

Continue reading "Some re-enlistment bonuses going away" »

Posted by sr at 8:50 AM | Permalink

Posted: Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:00 am
Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune The Globe

Alfred M. Gray, Jr., 29th commandant of the Marine Corps, created the one ethos that would last throughout the following history pages of Marine Corps heritage - “Every Marine a rifleman.” To exemplify this, he was the only commandant to wear his camoflague utility uniform in his official photograph.

Continue reading "Top Marine shooters meet in rifle, pistol matches" »

Posted by sr at 8:46 AM | Permalink

4/27/2011 By Lance Cpl. David Flynn , Marine Corps Recruiting Command

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Some of the finest young football players in America are competing for their chance to play in the inaugural Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Jan. 3, 2012.

Continue reading "SemperFiBowl" »

Posted by sr at 6:08 PM | Permalink

4/22/2011 By Lance Cpl. Christofer P. Baines , Headquarters Marine Corps

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps is renowned for protecting the nation’s freedoms, but every day when Marines train to fight, they protect the environment as well. For Marines every day is Earth Day.

Continue reading "Marines celebrate Earth Day the Corps way" »

Posted by sr at 5:16 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Apr 20, 2011 8:57:29 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory is pushing forward with development of at least two unmanned ground vehicles, including a 7-ton truck that would cut down on the number of Marines outside the wire during resupply convoys.

Continue reading "Warfighting lab experiments with robotic trucks" »

Posted by sr at 9:01 AM | Permalink

4/19/2011 By Sgt. Jimmy D. Shea , Headquarters Marine Corps

MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Marine Corps’ most talented jazz musicians staged performances and held music clinics across Michigan during their third annual All-Star Jazz Band tour from April 10 to 15.

Continue reading "Marine All-Star Jazz Band performs across Michigan" »

Posted by sr at 5:31 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Apr 17, 2011 9:48:48 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps will in May test systems that can power and cool a battalion command operations center, the next step of its Experimental Forward Operating Base program.

Continue reading "Corps to test alternative COC power sources" »

Posted by sr at 9:44 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Apr 16, 2011 9:08:44 EDT

The Marine Corps has fielded a new full-face dive mask to its most elite troops that is safer, easier to maintain and allows Marines to talk underwater.

Continue reading "New dive mask lets Marines talk underwater" »

Posted by sr at 10:15 AM | Permalink

Associated Press
– Wed Apr 13, 11:35 am ET

TRIANGLE, Va. – The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation will be dedicating a 23-acre park overlooking the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico.

Continue reading "Marine foundation to dedicate park near Quantico" »

Posted by sr at 4:59 PM | Permalink

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Apr 12, 2011 16:22:01 EDT

New underwear designed to better protect Marines’ groins from improvised explosive device blasts will soon be shipped to the war zone.

Continue reading "Marines to receive combat underwear" »

Posted by sr at 10:29 PM | Permalink

By Jeanette Steele
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 8:01 a.m.

An Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran from Camp Pendleton has been named Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the highest enlisted position in the Corps.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton Marine is named top Sgt. Major" »

Posted by sr at 4:50 PM | Permalink

By Padma Nagappan
April 12, 2011

One Marine was wounded for every 50 runs for fuel through enemy territory in Afghanistan, according to a Marine Corps study conducted during a three-month period last year.

Continue reading "Solar Power To Save Marine Lives In Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 4:46 PM | Permalink

By Alison St John
April 12, 2011

The Marine Corps wants to expand its base at 29 Palms. The base is already the largest Marine Corps training facility in the world.

Continue reading "Marine Corps Plans To Expand Training Area At 29 Palms" »

Posted by sr at 8:42 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Apr 3, 2011 9:34:36 EDT

Camp Lejeune, N.C. — Training newly minted Marines in common combat skills wasn’t always a coveted job; some even saw it as baby-sitting and few volunteered.

Continue reading "Pay, recognition up combat instructor appeal" »

Posted by sr at 5:18 PM | Permalink

Base officials say weekend scare was investigated; they concluded no threat exists

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - The Californian | Posted: Friday, April 1, 2011 8:45 pm

Camp Pendleton and national security authorities scrambled last weekend after two vehicles with Middle Eastern occupants drove onto the base shortly after a Marine reported overhearing terrorist threats from a group of men at a nearby gas station.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton gate incident prompted alarm" »

Posted by sr at 9:27 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 30, 2011 15:42:37 EDT

The Marine Corps is recalling more than 8,000 of its new hot-weather rugged all terrain boots produced by Bates — many of them being worn presently by troops in Afghanistan — after reports they weren’t holding up in the field.

Continue reading "Marine Corps recalls new boots from war zone" »

Posted by sr at 5:17 PM | Permalink

By Courtney Vaughn
Hi-Desert Star
Published: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:54 AM CDT

JOHNSON VALLEY — As the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center explores a 379,000-acre expansion, residents in the Johnson Valley area are voicing their disapproval of the project.

Continue reading "Valley fights Marines' expansion plans" »

Posted by sr at 5:10 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 28, 2011 7:33:39 EDT

Senior Marine Corps leaders say they’re fed up with overweight Marines and lax commanders who fail to enforce the Corps’ appearance standards.

Continue reading "Random screenings target out-of-shape Marines" »

Posted by sr at 9:13 AM | Permalink

3/22/2011 By Cpl. Jahn R. Kuiper , Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The creators of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, are now planning to add a hotel and convention center to the museum grounds.

Continue reading "Marine museum to add hotel and convention center" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 PM | Permalink

3/22/2011 By Cpl. Jahn R. Kuiper , Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Marine Corps Base Quantico is home to four active bald eagle nests. This particular nest, along the Potomac River, has three chicks, said Tim Stamps, the of the base’s fish, wildlife and agronomy section.

Continue reading "The eagle has landed at Quantico" »

Posted by sr at 10:08 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 19, 2011 9:18:08 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — A new Marine Corps website connecting communities across the nation to their hometown Marines is the latest tool from Marine Corps Recruiting Command.

Continue reading "Recruiting site connects communities with Corps" »

Posted by sr at 8:46 AM | Permalink

Workhorse helicopter being retired from the fleet

By Karen Kucher
Friday, March 18, 2011 at 6:04 p.m.

The iconic UH-1N Huey helicopter, a workhorse of the Marine Corps fleet since 1968, took its final flight Friday at Camp Pendleton.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton says goodbye to the Huey" »

Posted by sr at 10:19 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Mar 17, 2011 6:58:57 EDT

Several influential Marine officers are pushing for major changes to the Corps’ scout sniper community, including the adoption of a primary military occupational specialty and the expansion of scout sniper teams and platoons.

Continue reading "Corps may tackle sniper community problems" »

Posted by sr at 9:21 AM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Jennifer Calaway | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 03.15.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A research program is underway that will strengthen the resiliency of tomorrow’s warfighter.

Continue reading "Resiliency through repetition, RAPTOR programs prepares deploying Marines" »

Posted by sr at 2:25 PM | Permalink

Lora Kolodny
March 14, 2011

Today, the United States Marine Corps completed its largest solar installation to date — a 1.4 megawatt ground-mounted system — that will generate electricity for Base Camp Pendleton outside of San Diego, Calif. The system was installed atop an inactive landfill.

Continue reading "Atop A Landfill, U.S. Marine Corps Installs 1.4 Megawatt Solar System" »

Posted by sr at 9:19 AM | Permalink

By TRAVIS J. TRITTEN
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 10, 2011

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Marine Corps on Okinawa has created a crime-tips website to combat the use of designer drugs known as Spice, officials said Thursday.

Continue reading "Marine Corps opens crime-tips website to combat use of Spice" »

Posted by sr at 5:09 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 5, 2011 8:16:22 EST

The Marine Corps is resurrecting Naval Aviation Observer Wings after a 15-year-hiatus. Hundreds of Marines will now be eligible to wear them, according to a recent Marine administrative message.

Continue reading "Corps brings back wings for airborne Marines" »

Posted by SP at 6:26 AM | Permalink

3/4/2011 By Lance Cpl. David Flynn , Marine Corps Recruiting Command

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Some Marines discovered this year that they were unable to reenlist and retain their military occupational specialty. There is an option for Marines who want to stay in the Marine Corps besides changing their MOS. The Active Reserve (AR) program is looking for highly qualified active component Marines that want to reenlist and serve full-time.

Continue reading "Active Reserve program offers options for Marines" »

Posted by sr at 5:30 PM | Permalink

By Alison St John
March 4, 2011

As conflict in Libya continues, Marines are among the U.S. forces being moved into the area. A major exercise off the coast of San Diego this week is training Marines to move rapidly from ships floating just over the horizon to the beach.

Continue reading "Marines Conduct Major Ship-To-Shore Excercises" »

Posted by SP at 6:30 AM | Permalink

By Jeanette Steele
Originally published March 3, 2011 at 7:24 p.m., updated March 4, 2011 at 4:08 p.m.

After 10 years of acting as America’s second land army, the U.S. Marine Corps will be slimmed down to “middleweight” fighter status, its leader says.

Continue reading "Marines: Rightsizing into "middleweight" force" »

Posted by sr at 6:05 PM | Permalink

Posted 3/3/2011 12:23 PM ET
The Associated Press

ATHENS (AP) — Some 400 U.S. Marines arrived at an American naval base in Greece in a buildup of U.S. forces around revolt-torn Libya, even as European governments shied away Thursday from possible military action.

Continue reading "U.S. troops arrive in Greece in Libya buildup" »

Posted by SP at 8:09 AM | Permalink

Supreme Court Says 1st Amendment Protects Fundamentalist Church Members

MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press
POSTED: March 2, 2011

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the First Amendment protects fundamentalist church members who mount anti-gay protests outside military funerals, despite the pain they cause grieving families.

Continue reading "1st Amendment Protects Military Funeral Protesters" »

Posted by SP at 10:35 AM | Permalink

By Elizabeth Flock
Posted at 10:07 AM ET, 03/ 2/2011

Two U.S. amphibious warships, the USS Ponce and the USS Kearsarge, passed through Egypt's Suez Canal on Wednesday and arrived in the Mediterranean, a canal official said. The officials said the USS Kearsarge is carrying 42 helicopters.

Continue reading "USS Ponce and USS Kearsarge get closer to Libya" »

Posted by SP at 8:21 AM | Permalink

Conduct condemned, but Constitution defended

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - The Californian
Posted: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 8:41 pm

Many North County veterans say they're conflicted by Wednesday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding a controversial church's practice of picketing funerals for members of the military killed in combat.

Continue reading "Protests disgust veterans, but they understand ruling" »

Posted by SP at 12:14 AM | Permalink

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 6:02 PM on 1st March 2011

Hillary Clinton today warned that Libya faces a drawn-out civil war as the U.S. stepped up pressure on 'delusional' Moammar Gaddafi to quit.

Continue reading "Hillary Clinton warns of 'drawn-out civil war' in Libya as U.S. sends in its warships" »

Posted by SP at 1:20 PM | Permalink

By Julia LeDoux
Published: February 28, 2011

QUANTICO, Va. - There will be fewer Marines in the future, but the Corps will remain the nation’s “expeditionary force in readiness.”

Continue reading "A leaner Corps in the future" »

Posted by SP at 10:49 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 28, 2011 6:05:57 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The rigors of war — endless deployments, broken bodies and frayed nerves at home — are being addressed for special operations Marines through a wellness program that aims to clear a path to a long and healthy life.

Continue reading "MARSOC program targets physical, mental health" »

Posted by SP at 10:37 AM | Permalink

Corps’ total force to be reduced by 15,000-plus Marines

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 28, 2011 16:01:57 EST

As the Corps carries out a massive restructuring plan over the next few years, Marines can expect to see fewer infantry and artillery battalions, armor companies, aviation squadrons and headquarters elements.

Continue reading "Review group calls for leaner combat force" »

Posted by SP at 7:19 AM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Feb 26, 2011 10:12:58 EST

The Corps is rolling out a new online tool to help families of deployed Marines stay in the know.

Continue reading "Communication system eases contact with family" »

Posted by sr at 9:25 AM | Permalink

2/25/2011 By Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso , Marine Forces Pacific

CAMP H. M. SMITH, Hawaii — U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Marines thinking about taking leave and special liberty may be surprised to find there are special regulations when taking their hard-earned time off in Hawaii.

Continue reading "Battalion clears leave and liberty misconceptions" »

Posted by sr at 10:17 PM | Permalink

2/23/2011 By Lance Cpl. Damien Gutierrez , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Hundreds gathered to honor and remember the Marines who lost their lives during World War II on the shores of Iwo Jima 66 years ago.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton commemorates WWII heroes during Iwo Jima 66th Anniversary" »

Posted by sr at 10:46 PM | Permalink

2/23/2011 By Sgt. R. Drew Hendricks , Recruiting Station Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Marine Corps has one of the most recognized branding images and taglines in the marketing industry. In 2007 for instance, the slogan “The Few. The Proud.” was inducted into the Advertising Walk of Fame in New York City.

Continue reading "Homegrown hometown salute win-win for Marines, media outlets" »

Posted by sr at 11:23 AM | Permalink

By Christopher P. Cavas - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 21, 2011 17:11:34 EST

The Marine Corps wants a new family of vehicles to carry out the business of amphibious warfare, and has issued a series of requests for information seeking industry input.

Continue reading "Corps seeks ideas for new amphibious vehicles" »

Posted by sr at 5:40 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 20, 2011 8:02:13 EST

Marine officials will take aim at combat marksmanship next month during a four-day symposium addressing entry-level training, competitive shooting and at least five other issues.

Continue reading "Marine marksmanship will face review" »

Posted by sr at 8:44 AM | Permalink

2/18/2011 By Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — For some Marines the experience of entering an Afghan village for the first time will seem as foreign as the culture they have been entrusted to protect. However, after training at the Combat Center’s newest and most realistic “mock” city training complex, many of those Marines will be better prepared to face that challenge.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marines train in massive, new combat town" »

Posted by sr at 5:26 PM | Permalink

By JULIE HINDS
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
9:07 PM, Feb. 17, 2011

Commercials are among the projects filmed in Detroit, as the explosively popular Eminem Super Bowl ad for Chrysler reminded everyone.

Continue reading "Detroit Marine in new TV commercial" »

Posted by sr at 11:06 AM | Permalink

2/16/2011 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — From their exploits in places like Belleau Woods and Tarawa, the Marines of old and their heroic feats are embedded in our warrior culture and often used as examples for younger Marines. The manner in which they fought these battles serves as snapshots of courage and leadership, and in true cliché fashion, the past is being used to learn for the future.

Continue reading "Marines of ‘The Pacific’ inspire their descendants" »

Posted by sr at 10:30 PM | Permalink

By Nancy Montgomery
Stars and Stripes
Published: February 14, 2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan — A year ago, the farmers, opium poppy growers and insurgents in and around Marjah were under siege. Locals had fled; the bazaar had been shuttered.

Continue reading "One year after offensive, signs of progress in Marjah" »

Posted by sr at 10:48 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 14, 2011 18:33:21 EST

A new primary military occupational specialty has been approved and authorized for enlisted Marines trained as special operators, ending the five-year rotation limit within Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command and clearing the way for promotion in a professional career path.

Continue reading "Amos OKs new MOS for MARSOC" »

Posted by sr at 10:46 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 13, 2011 8:47:37 EST

Re-enlistment bonuses have been shrinking for the last few years, but the Marine Corps is still offering cash incentives to recruits who take on some jobs.

Continue reading "Corps offers incentives for some recruits" »

Posted by sr at 9:54 AM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Salvador R. Moreno | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 02.11.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Service members often move from duty station to duty station every few years. They update their address, phone number and vehicle registration, but what they often forget to update is their healthcare, and it can cause problems, said John Sylvera, a Tricare operations health benefits advisor at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

Continue reading "TRICARE: Staying up to date when you PCS" »

Posted by sr at 11:25 PM | Permalink

2/11/2011 By Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. — Marines from all over the Corps came to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center for six weeks, from Jan. 10 to Feb. 18, 2011, to complete the Winter Mountain Leadership Course.

Continue reading "Mountain Leadership Course trains Marines to train Marines" »

Posted by sr at 10:49 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Feb 10, 2011 5:45:45 EST

As the Army prepares for a two-year, $30 million competition to identify a possible new carbine, the Marine Corps is watching closely and evaluating what its own future weapons should look like.

Continue reading "Marine Corps watching Army carbine search" »

Posted by sr at 9:23 AM | Permalink

Corps may create special operations career path

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 7, 2011 5:45:31 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines who would like to forge a career as a MARSOC special operator may soon have their wish granted.

Continue reading "Commandant considers MARSOC MOS" »

Posted by sr at 9:53 AM | Permalink

SWATS helps Marines zero in on enemy sniper fire

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 6, 2011 8:20:00 EST

The Marine Corps is ordering several hundred gunfire detection devices for use in Afghanistan, at pre-deployment training sites and at bases throughout the Corps.

Continue reading "Gunfire detection devices heading to the fleet" »

Posted by sr at 9:41 AM | Permalink

Story by Sgt. Shawn Coolman | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.04.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – As a force in readiness, the Marine Corps can be called at moment’s notice to be deployed anywhere in the world. To power this moving mechanism, fuel has to be shipped, airlifted and moved across thousands of miles.

Continue reading "Marines turn to alternatives to fuel coalition efforts" »

Posted by sr at 10:09 PM | Permalink

Story by Staff Sgt. Roman Yurek | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 02.03.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Social media has become a staple in society for families, consumers, businesses, governments and groups to share various pieces of information.

Continue reading "Marines, Sailors can avoid social media hazards" »

Posted by sr at 10:44 AM | Permalink

New system will ease burden at all levels

By Tony Lombardo - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 31, 2011 6:10:52 EST

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. — The Corps’ Training and Education Command is introducing a new electronic system to track training requirements and completions in an effort to help ease strain on Marines across the board.

Continue reading "Electronic records to help track training" »

Posted by sr at 9:37 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 27, 2011 5:08:40 EST

The Marine Corps is preparing to field a new mobile kitchen designed to deliver hot chow to grunts downrange.

Continue reading "Corps signs contract for mobile kitchens" »

Posted by sr at 10:34 AM | Permalink

10:18 PM PST on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

Leaders at the sprawling Marine base in Twentynine Palms have unveiled their latest training ground: a mock city the size of downtown San Diego with hotels, markets, a hospital, tunnels and a soccer stadium large enough to land four helicopters.

Continue reading "Marines unveil city-size urban warfare training at Twentynine Palms" »

Posted by sr at 5:44 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Salvador Moreno | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 01.26.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A new online course has replaced the Marine Corps Institute printed version of Leading Marines. According to Marine Administrative Message 640/10, lance corporals must complete the Marine Net version, called the Leading Marines Distance Education Program, to be promotion eligible.

Continue reading "Leading Marines requirements" »

Posted by sr at 5:29 PM | Permalink

by Tom Bowman
January 25, 2011

The Marine Corps is at a crossroads.

Continue reading "Marine Corps To Secretary Gates: 'We're Relevant'" »

Posted by sr at 5:18 PM | Permalink

New York Times
By The Associated Press
Published January 25, 2011

A mock city roughly the size of downtown San Diego has risen in a remote Southern California desert to train military forces to fight in urban environments.

Continue reading "California: Another Mock City for Marines Rises in the Desert" »

Posted by sr at 5:15 PM | Permalink

New York Times
By Christopher Drew
Published January 25, 2011

Shortly before making a final push to ensure that the Marine version of the F-35 fighter was not canceled, the service’s commandant, Gen. James F. Amos, called in a former Marine corporal for a frank talk.

Continue reading "New Details on Troubled F-35 Fighter" »

Posted by sr at 5:11 PM | Permalink

By Gretel C. Kovach
Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 3 p.m.

The booze was flowing Halloween night in the Camp Pendleton barracks, but the party ended early for one young Marine overcome by potent cocktail “bombs” made of liquor and caffeinated energy drinks.

Continue reading "Marines working to curb culture of drinking" »

Posted by sr at 6:13 PM | Permalink

1/21/2011 By Pfc. Mark W. Stroud , Marine Corps Bases Japan

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan — As a presence in several evolving conflicts around the world, Marines must remain up-to-date on the newest technology in order to defeat the enemy and complete the mission at hand.

Continue reading "Rifle improves rapid target engagement" »

Posted by sr at 8:42 AM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 19, 2011 5:14:54 EST

In the past two years, Marine Corps installations have become veritable construction zones, with new barracks, chow halls, warehouses, offices and ranges opening at bases that are busy training and deploying Marines for war tours and other overseas duty.

Continue reading "Marine base upgrades planned for 2011" »

Posted by sr at 8:07 AM | Permalink

By Cpl. Scott Schmidt/Headquarters Marine Corps
Published: January 18, 2011

ARLINGTON, Va. — The relevance of the Marine Corps as America’s expeditionary force in readiness was among the commandant of the Marine Corps’ key talking points during a visit to the Surface Naval Association Jan. 13.

Continue reading "Marine commandant reconfirms Marines as expeditionary" »

Posted by sr at 8:42 AM | Permalink

By Cpl. Scott Schmidt/Headquarters Marine Corps
Published: January 18, 2011

ARLINGTON, Va. — The relevance of the Marine Corps as America’s expeditionary force in readiness was among the commandant of the Marine Corps’ key talking points during a visit to the Surface Naval Association Jan. 13.

Continue reading "Marine commandant reconfirms Marines as expeditionary" »

Posted by sr at 8:42 AM | Permalink

Jan 13, 2011
By Amy Butler
Amarillo, Hurst and Fort Worth, Texas

A decade after first flight, the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z attack helicopter finally graduated from a turbulent operational evaluation and is being readied for its first shipboard deployment.

Continue reading "USMC AH-1Z To Deploy In Late 2011" »

Posted by sr at 10:46 PM | Permalink

Story by Cpl. Steven Posy | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar | Date: 01.11.2011

SAN DIEGO -- Approximately 50 runners from Marine Corps installations around the world raced on a five-mile course for the All-Marine Cross Country championship, held here, Jan. 8.

Continue reading "Marines' fitness means endurance on battlefield" »

Posted by sr at 5:25 PM | Permalink

Improved tactical vest, plate carrier coming in 2011

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 10, 2011 5:00:48 EST

As early as spring, Marines will be dawning the next generation of improved body armor designed to be more comfortable and adjustable than current models.

Continue reading "Corps: New body armor more comfortable" »

Posted by sr at 9:46 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jan 8, 2011 10:34:39 EST

Weapons regulations aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., have been tightened by a base order published Dec. 21.

Continue reading "Quantico revamps weapons regulations" »

Posted by sr at 10:47 PM | Permalink

BY VIK JOLLY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Jan. 6, 2011

While saying that the nation's amphibious capability remains the Marine Corps' priority, the force's commandant said that he supports the cancellation of an amphibious fighting vehicle program by Defense Secretary Robert Gates as part of broad defense spending cuts announced Thursday.

Continue reading "Marine commandant supports cutting fighting machine" »

Posted by sr at 4:44 PM | Permalink

By Jeff Schogol
Published: January 4, 2011

In the Marine Corps, there is tradition and there is truth, and the two do not always intersect. Such is the case with term “Devil Dogs,” which the German troops in World War I supposedly called Marines at Belleau Wood, leading the Corps to adopt it as a term of endearment.

Continue reading "Did Marines, not German soldiers, coin the phrase ‘Devil Dogs’?" »

Posted by sr at 4:51 PM | Permalink

By Julia LeDoux
Published: January 03, 2011

TRIANGLE, Va. - The National Museum of the Marine Corps has published its first book.

Continue reading "Legacy Walk tells Marines' story" »

Posted by sr at 5:10 PM | Permalink

Ana Ward | Quantico, Va
03 January 2011

The U.S. military is expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014. But thousands of U.S. Marines will still deploy there within the next year to support the war.

Continue reading "US Marines Being Trained for Cultural Sensitivity Before Deployment" »

Posted by sr at 4:27 PM | Permalink

By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 2, 2011 9:37:01 EST

U.S. troops may be among the most vulnerable Americans to identity theft. That’s because the U.S. military is overusing Social Security numbers and putting at risk troops’ most basic personal information, according to a recent report from several professors at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Continue reading "Policy puts troops at risk for identity theft" »

Posted by sr at 10:03 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Dec 31, 2010 9:32:46 EST

Boards designed to retain exceptional noncommissioned officers who missed their window to re-up have been delayed.

Continue reading "Boards delayed for NCOs late to re-up" »

Posted by sr at 9:19 AM | Permalink

Story by Pfc. David Flynn | Marine Corps Recruiting Command | Date: 12.29.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.- Marine Corps Recruiting Command released “Graduate a Leader of Warriors,” a video detailing the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, as well as the experiences of college students currently attending school through the program, Dec. 16.

Continue reading "New video shows off what NROTC has to offer" »

Posted by sr at 5:39 PM | Permalink

Story by Sgt. Shawn Coolman | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 12.27.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – A new Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility opened for service members on Camp Leatherneck with a ribbon cutting ceremony, Dec. 27.

Continue reading "MWR opens on Camp Leatherneck" »

Posted by sr at 5:45 PM | Permalink

By Claire Truscott (AFP) – 12.23.10

FOB TALIBJAN, Afghanistan — There will be no Christmas turkey and trimmings for US marines at Patrol Base Talibjan this year -- a chemically heated meal of preserved meat is all the infantry men expect.

Continue reading "Christmas cheer, Afghan-style, for US troops" »

Posted by sr at 11:47 PM | Permalink

By Barbara Barrett | McClatchy Newspapers
* Posted on Monday, December 20, 2010

WASHINGTON — Responding to heightened publicity and an uneven smattering of decisions on claims, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin training a specialized cadre of workers this week to handle disability claims related to historic water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Continue reading "VA takes steps to deal with mounting Lejeune water claims" »

Posted by sr at 7:28 AM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 19, 2010 18:08:16 EST

Marine special operators are going old-school. Some have ditched their MARPAT for “NATO woodland print” which is similar to what all Marines wore more than a decade ago. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command purchased 300 sets of the uniforms for use on unspecified missions.

Continue reading "MARSOC purchases retro woodland camouflage" »

Posted by sr at 1:56 PM | Permalink

12/16/2010 By Pfc. David Flynn , Marine Corps Recruiting Command

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va — Every year, hundreds of enlisted Marines join the officer ranks through the warrant officer program.

Continue reading "Warrant officer program seeks the best from the enlisted ranks" »

Posted by sr at 10:40 PM | Permalink

By Marine Corps Capt. Timothy Patrick
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Dec. 15, 2010 – After nearly a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marine Corps has been inappropriately branded as a second land army.

Continue reading "Marines Return to Amphibious Roots" »

Posted by sr at 6:11 PM | Permalink

By Kevin Baron
Stars and Stripes
Published: December 14, 2010

ARLINGTON, Va. — The nation’s top Marine Corps officer said he read the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” report and troop survey repeatedly, thoughtfully, and without prejudice before deciding he could not endorse a change that might bring distractions or endanger the lives of Marines in combat.

Continue reading "Marine commandant concluded DADT repeal may risk lives" »

Posted by sr at 5:30 PM | Permalink

by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12.14.10

Hoo-rah!
The U.S. Marine Corps has just bought two electric Newton trucks from Smith Electric. The photo above shows the prototype (which the USMC will repaint to their liking), which is a bit different from the Smith Electric Newton trucks that we're more used to see (see the other pic below). The trucks will be delivered to Camp Pendleton, CA, the Corps' largest West Coast training facility, and home of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.

Continue reading "U.S. Marine Corps Adds Electric Trucks to its Fleet" »

Posted by sr at 5:19 PM | Permalink

12/13/2010

The Marine Corps Historic Half marathon, one of the largest half marathons in Virginia, will open online registration beginning at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at www.marinemarathon.com. Since 2008, the Historic Half marathon held in the scenic colonial city of Fredericksburg has increased in popularity and participation to an anticipated 8,000 runners in 2011. The May 15 event is organized by the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) and U.S. Marines.

Continue reading "Marine Corps Historic Half Weekend of Running Events to Open for Registration on Dec. 15" »

Posted by sr at 1:38 PM | Permalink

December 13, 2010 8:56 AM
HOPE HODGE

Every United States armed service branch offers some assistance to troops transitioning from military to civilian life, but only Marines require their service members to attend a weeklong transition assistance class before they can receive their DD-214.

Continue reading "Marines cycle through transition assistance program as Corps eyes changes" »

Posted by sr at 1:29 PM | Permalink

12/12/2010 By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Brofer , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marines and family members who find themselves battling stress can talk to a trained counselor for free through the “DSTRESS” Line, a Marine Corps-sponsored phone hotline staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Continue reading "New counseling hotline aims to 'DSTRESS' Marines, families" »

Posted by sr at 2:15 PM | Permalink

By Susanne M. Schafer - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 9, 2010 20:33:35 EST

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The military plans to put 400 of the Marine Corps’ new vertical take-off F-35B fighter jets at four installations in North Carolina, South Carolina, California and Arizona.

Continue reading "4 bases selected to host Marine F-35Bs" »

Posted by sr at 10:31 PM | Permalink

By Ian Graham
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2010 – For the past 10 years, the word “Marine” in the Marine Corps has seemed a misnomer: combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have left the majority of Marines land locked, with little or no experience in amphibious operations.

Continue reading "Navy, Marine Corps Prepare for Amphibious Training" »

Posted by sr at 5:12 PM | Permalink

By Jian DeLeon
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2010 – Following the counterinsurgency tenet of supporting civilians, the Army and Marines have deployed women-focused teams to gain insight into Afghanistan’s mostly silent female population.

Continue reading "Women-led U.S. Teams Work With Afghan Women" »

Posted by sr at 5:08 PM | Permalink

December 09, 2010 5:03 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER

In his first tour of West Coast installations since becoming the 35th commandant of the Marine Corps., Gen. James F. Amos addressed the Marines and sailors at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and toured the facility Thursday.

Continue reading "Marine commandant speaks at MCAS Yuma" »

Posted by sr at 8:40 AM | Permalink

Marines need vertical landing jet, he says in San Diego visit

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 7:04 p.m.

Gen. James Amos, the new commandant of the Marine Corps, said Wednesday during a visit to San Diego that impending budget constraints will likely force him to make tough trade-offs between comforts for Marines on the home front and the weapons they need in battle.

Continue reading "Commandant calls Joint Strike Fighter essential" »

Posted by sr at 10:41 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 8, 2010 16:12:16 EST

The Marine Corps is moving forward with a plan to field at least 100,000 new packs beginning in 2012, replacing the existing Individual Load Bearing Equipment system that Marines have humped since 2004.

Continue reading "Corps looks to field 100,000 new packs" »

Posted by sr at 10:35 PM | Permalink

12/6/2010 By Lance Cpl. John Robbart III , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Marine and Navy leaders broke ground on the 70-acre construction site for the new Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital, Dec. 2.

Continue reading "Base leadership breaks ground for new Naval Hospital" »

Posted by sr at 10:07 PM | Permalink

Operational demands in Afghanistan call for more fluency

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 5, 2010 8:44:35 EST

Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and Camp Pendleton, Calif., now have the option of pursuing intermediate and advanced language study before deploying to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Language training at major bases expanded" »

Posted by sr at 10:18 AM | Permalink

Patchwork team steps up to plug training gaps

By Geoff Ziezulewicz
Stars and Stripes
Published: December 5, 2010

ADRASKAN NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, Afghanistan — What do you get when you throw together a Marine Corps cook, a radio operator, an ordnance specialist, two grunts and an assortment of Marines in other occupations?

Continue reading "A motley crew" »

Posted by sr at 10:02 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 5, 2010 19:10:24 EST

Five units will soon deploy with the new M27 infantry automatic rifle, a 5.56mm weapon that may one day replace the M249 squad automatic weapon. A total of 458 rifles will be delivered by the gun’s maker, Heckler and Koch, and meted out to five battalions working up for deployments to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Infantry automatic rifle is Afghan-bound" »

Posted by sr at 9:29 AM | Permalink

Camp Pendleton handlers tout results

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 11 p.m.

The Marine Corps is greatly expanding its experimental program that deploys infantrymen to combat zones with bomb-sniffing dogs, declaring it a successful component of the fight against the insurgents’ most lethal killer — homemade bombs dug into roads and footpaths.

Continue reading "Marine Corps expands infantry bomb dog program" »

Posted by sr at 7:03 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 4, 2010 8:38:13 EST

A broad assessment of the Marine Corps’ infantry training aimed at identifying and fixing shortcomings may loom on the horizon.

Continue reading "Infantry training in Corps faces scrutiny" »

Posted by sr at 9:12 AM | Permalink

Half-billion-dollar facility expected to open in 2014

By Gretel C. Kovach
Originally published December 2, 2010 at 12:50 p.m., updated December 2, 2010 at 5:13 p.m.

Construction to replace Camp Pendleton’s aging hospital with a facility costing nearly half-a-billion dollars began Thursday, when military commanders and builders sunk their shovels into the ground at a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton breaks ground on new hospital" »

Posted by sr at 4:48 PM | Permalink

December 2, 2010
Radio news broadcast

One year ago, President Obama announced he would send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan to launch a new offensive, aimed at regaining the momentum in the war.

Continue reading "'Progress Made' In Afghanistan's Helmand Province" »

Posted by sr at 9:43 AM | Permalink

Survey shows they are least supportive on ending ban

By Gretel C. Kovach
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 8 p.m.

Semper fidelis. Always faithful.

Continue reading "Marines concerned about allowing gays to serve openly" »

Posted by sr at 10:04 PM | Permalink

* By David Axe Email Author
* November 30, 2010 |
* 11:41 am |

At first glance, the Marine Corps’ hottest new weapon looks just like a standard cargo plane. For the “Harvest Hawk” gunship, the external differences are subtle. A sensor pod jutting from one of the under-wing fuel tanks of the KC-130J aircraft. A rack under the left wing for four Hellfire missiles. A clutch of 10 smaller Griffin missiles fixed to the ramp. With these $10-million add-ons, plus extra training for the crew, any similar plane in the Marine Corps inventory becomes a cheaper version of the Air Force’s powerful, custom-made AC-130 gunship.

Continue reading "Marines’ Instant Gunship Blasts Taliban, Pentagon Bureaucracy" »

Posted by sr at 9:16 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 29, 2010 5:41:20 EST

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Recruiting Command is riding a high and meeting all major goals, but it faces obstacles in coming years, including potential budget cuts and projected increases in the number of recruits needed in future years, said the two-star officer overseeing the command.

Continue reading "Despite hitting 202K, Corps needs recruits" »

Posted by sr at 7:35 AM | Permalink

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - Californian | Posted: Saturday, November 27, 2010 9:00 pm

Each year, Dan Clouse oversees the about-face of nearly 7,000 Camp Pendleton Marines, trying to turn legions of men and women who've been at war for years into regular citizens ready to go to work in the civilian world.

Continue reading "Marine Corps to reassess how it prepares troops for life after war" »

Posted by sr at 5:17 PM | Permalink

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 26, 2010 6:14:41 EST

The Corps is continuing to ramp up its use of hyper-realistic close-air support simulators used to train fire-support teams.

Continue reading "Corps expands use of fire-support trainers" »

Posted by sr at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Story by Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 11.23.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - All Marines make an oath to defend the constitution of the United States, and several Marines also vow a commitment to marriage with devotion to their spouse – through thick and thin.

Continue reading "Mixing marriage and the Marine Corps" »

Posted by sr at 2:31 PM | Permalink

11/22/2010 By Lance Cpl. Christofer P. Baines , Headquarters Marine Corps

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Effective now, the Marine Corps has implemented a new qualification system for combat water survival. The new system enhances safety, increases effectiveness and simplifies qualification requirements.

Continue reading "New water survival qualification streamlines training, enhances individual Marine" »

Posted by sr at 5:15 PM | Permalink

By Hope Hodge
The Daily News
Published: 09:30 PM, Sun Nov 21, 2010

JACKSONVILLE - In an all-time record infrastructure growth year, Camp Lejeune spent up to $2 million a day in 2010 on vertical construction projects, officials said.

Continue reading "Camp Lejeune sees record growth" »

Posted by sr at 5:19 PM | Permalink

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 21, 2010 9:27:55 EST

The Corps’ effort to groom Marines for tours as special operators continues to benefit from a new prep course that helps candidates achieve peak conditioning before going through Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command’s Assessment and Selection process.

Continue reading "MARSOC hopefuls aided by new prep course" »

Posted by sr at 9:33 AM | Permalink

11/19/2010 By Cpl. Jose O. Nava , Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The hallways of the Branch Medical Clinic here bustle with bodies moving to-and-fro. Both recruits and Marines are treated every day by U.S. Navy hospital corpsman, or as most Marines refer to as, ‘Doc’, who work arduously behind the scenes.

Continue reading "Navy ‘Docs’, important part of warrior care" »

Posted by sr at 3:01 PM | Permalink

By Mark Walker - [email protected] - North County Times - Californian | Posted: Friday, November 19, 2010 10:45 am |

Vowing to keep the pressure on the Taliban insurgency, the U.S. Marine Corps said Friday it is sending tanks to Afghanistan for the first time in the war, which is now in its 10th year.

Continue reading "Marine Corps sending tanks to Helmand for the first time" »

Posted by sr at 9:55 AM | Permalink

November 18, 2010
Military.com|by Christian Lowe

The general in charge of training and equipping Marines for the future fight said Nov. 16 that it is still unclear how infantry units will need to adjust to replace their light machine guns with the service's new automatic rifle.

Continue reading "Marines Unsure of New Rifle Plan" »

Posted by sr at 10:52 PM | Permalink

11/18/2010 By Cpl. Kristin E. Moreno , Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — In all my time in the Marine Corps, as short a time as it may be, I can’t recall the number of times I’ve heard some older, higher-ranking Marines say the Marine Corps isn’t what it used to be. They say this new generation of Marines does nothing but complain, they’re too sensitive, don’t like being called devil dog and know nothing of hazing. While there may be some truth to this, has this new generation somehow managed to weaken the image and strength of our beloved Corps? Has our Corps really gone soft?

Continue reading "Bridging the generation gap: Has the Corps really gone soft?" »

Posted by sr at 10:25 PM | Permalink

Marine Corps general speaks at chamber's military affairs council gathering

Date published: 11/16/2010

By RUSTY DENNEN

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Marine Corps has been preparing to meet evolving threats far beyond its traditional roles, Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard Jr. says.

Continue reading "Marines stay prepared on five areas of threats" »

Posted by sr at 4:57 PM | Permalink

By Roxana Tiron - 11/16/10 07:44 PM ET

The Marine Corps is seeking to restrict the money it spends on ground combat equipment because of ballooning costs over the last decade.

Continue reading "Marines to restrict spending on ground combat equipment as costs soar" »

Posted by sr at 12:48 PM | Permalink

By Brittany Shane
Published: November 15, 2010

Marine Corps Commandant General James Amos made a stop at the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station, where he addressed the marines, toured their new rec center, and awarded outstanding soldiers. Amos was stationed in Beaufort for six years of his military career... and he and his wife got a chance to come back home.

Continue reading "Marine Corp Commandant Visits Beaufort" »

Posted by sr at 11:06 PM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 15, 2010 6:03:20 EST

Operators with Marine Forces Special Operations Command could soon be packing .45-caliber semi-automatic pistols, rather than the standard 9mm pistols now used by most Marines.

Continue reading "MARSOC to purchase more powerful pistols" »

Posted by sr at 9:20 AM | Permalink

Mixed reality simulator mimics chaos of war

By Gretel C. Kovach
Monday, November 15, 2010 at 2:16 p.m.

The Marine Corps plans to unveil a $30 million expansion of its Infantry Immersion Trainer at Camp Pendleton on Tuesday.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton expands Infantry Immersion Trainer" »

Posted by sr at 9:16 AM | Permalink

Third Annual Event Celebrates Country and Corps June 20-26

11/11/2010, Headquarters Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps will partner with the City of St. Louis to bring Marine Week to the Gateway City, June 20-26, 2011. The week-long celebration will showcase the unique characteristics of America's Corps through more than two dozen events where attendees can watch combat demonstrations; climb aboard aircraft and ground equipment, to include helicopters, the V-22 Osprey and amphibious vehicles; and participate in community service projects alongside Marines.

Continue reading "Marine Week 2011 Coming to St. Louis" »

Posted by sr at 8:23 AM | Permalink

Sixty years ago, the United States Marine Corps—as it has throughout our history—demonstrated its vital role as America’s Expeditionary Force in Readiness. Just weeks after North Korean Communist forces crossed the 38th Parallel, the First Marine Provisional Brigade landed in South Korea, forming the backbone of the perimeter around the city of Pusan. The efforts of the “Fire Brigade” at Pusan allowed for the daring amphibious landing at Inchon and set the stage for one of the most savage campaigns in our Corps’ history—the Chosin Reservoir. As we pause to celebrate our 235th Birthday, we pay special tribute to the Marines of the Korean War and recognize their contributions to our enduring legacy.

Continue reading "A Birthday Message From The Commandant Of The Marine Corps" »

Posted by sr at 2:37 PM | Permalink

Marine Corps Recruiting Command

Story by Master Sgt. Jason Bortz
Date: Posted:11.10.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – As a whole, the Marine Corps is fairly representative of the Nation’s demographic composition. However, one area that the Marine Corps is working to improve is diversity amongst its senior leadership positions.

Continue reading "Corps’ remains focused on diversity" »

Posted by SP at 9:46 AM | Permalink

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Nov 6, 2010 11:15:53 EDT

Recruits and newly minted lieutenants have never been allowed to use scopes during their initial training, but a new Marine Administrative Message, released Oct. 19, makes it clear that the policy won’t change.

Continue reading "Policy of no scopes for new recruits continued" »

Posted by sr at 9:13 PM | Permalink

Courtesy Story | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 11.05.2010

From the instant spouses of Marines say “I do,” the full Marine Corps marriage package of deployments, formations, meetings, late nights, field operations, rank structure and an entirely new world of order and discipline hit them like a tidal wave.

Continue reading "Corps knowledge passed to spouses through LINKS CAX" »

Posted by sr at 10:24 PM | Permalink

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 4, 2010 9:04:16 EDT

New smaller, company-sized water purification systems are en route to Afghanistan, where larger-scale systems also are getting more use on remote battlefields.

Continue reading "Corps’ plan for clean water downrange" »

Posted by sr at 9:16 AM | Permalink

By Kevin Baron
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 3, 2010