Marine Forces Pacific General visits MRF-D

Posted on | by SysAdmin
04/25/2014

04/25/2014: Lieutenant. Gen. Terry Robling, commanding general, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, discusses the Aviation Combat Element of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin with Lt. Col. Matthew Puglisi, officer-in-charge, Forward Coordination Element, MRF-D, aboard Royal Australian Air Force’s Base Darwin, April 22, 2014.

General Robling conducted the visit in order to observe the operational setup of MRF-D, speak with MRF-D Marines, and present a Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device to an Australian Army Soldier for his service with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment during the Vietnam War.

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 Credit:MRF-D:4/11/14

  • In the second photo, Lieutenant. Gen. Terry Robling, commanding general, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, discusses Marine Rotational Force – Darwin with Marines aboard Robertson Barracks, April 22, 2014
  • In the fourth photo, Lieutenant. Gen. Terry Robling, commanding general, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, discusses Marine Rotational Force – Darwin with Capt. Andy Macak, commanding officer, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, MRF-D, aboard Robertson Barracks, April 22, 2014
  • In the final photo, Lieutenant Col. Keven Matthews, commanding officer, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, left, shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Terry Robling, commanding general, Marine Corps Forces Pacific aboard Royal Australian Air Force’s Base Darwin, April 22, 2014.

 

USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 740) Returns After Patrol

Posted on | by SysAdmin
04/24/2014

04/24/2014: USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) is the fifth Ohio-class nuclear-powered fleet ballistic-missile submarine and the only U.S. Navy ship to have been named for United States Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (1912–1983) of Washington. Also the only Ohio-class submarine not named after a U.S. state.

The ship originally was to have been named USS Rhode Island. The contract to build Rhode Island was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut, on June 6, 1977, and her keel was laid down January 19, 1981. Shortly after Senator Jackson died in office suddenly on September 1, 1983, Rhode Island was renamed Henry M. Jackson, and the name Rhode Island was transferred to another Ohio-class submarine, SSBN 740.

The Henry M. Jackson was launched October 15, 1983, sponsored by Senator Jackson’s daughter, Ms. Anna Marie Jackson, and commissioned October 6, 1984, with Capt. Ralph L. Tindal in command of the Blue Crew and Capt. M. A. Farmer in command of the Gold Crew.

http://www.uscarriers.net/ssbn730history.htm

These photos show he Ohio-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 740) returns home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following a strategic deterrent patrol.

The final photo shows USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 740) moored alongside USS Louisiana (SSBN 743).

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 Credit:Commander, Submarine Group Nine:1/28/14

 

 

 

31st MEU Search and Rescue in the South Korean Ferry Disaster

Posted on | by SysAdmin
04/22/2014

04/22/2014: 31st MEU Search and Rescue in the South Korean Ferry Disaster

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Credit: 31st MEU:4/20/14

  • In the first photo, Corporal Navarrete Angle and Lance Cpl. Justin Ranum, both crew chiefs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) take off from the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) in an MV-22 Osprey during search and rescue operations for survivors of the sunken ferry Sewol off the coast of the Republic of Korea, April 20, 2014. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 (PHIBRON) were conducting routine training in support of their regularly scheduled spring patrol roughly 100 nautical miles away when they were tasked to respond to the incident April 16. The 31st MEU and PHIBRON 11 provide a forward deployed maritime contingency response force capable of conducting a wide range of operations in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • In photo two, Republic of Korea ships conduct search and rescue operations for survivors of the sunken ferry Sewol off the coast of the Republic of Korea, April 20, 2014.
  • In photo three, Lance Cpl. Derek Levi, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conducts search and rescue operations for survivors of the sunken ferry Sewol off the coast of the Republic of Korea, April 20, 2014.
  • In photo four, Lance Cpl. Derek Levi, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares an MV-22 Osprey for take off aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during search and rescue operations for survivors of the sunken ferry Sewol off the coast of the Republic of Korea, April 20, 2014.

 

 

 

Marines give JGSDF a lesson in Helo Casting

Posted on | by SysAdmin
04/21/2014

04/21/2014: Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training.

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Credit:15th Marine Expeditionary Unit:1/27/14

  • In the first photo, soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force make their way to Seal Beach on a combat rubber reconnaissance craft while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014.
  • In the second photo, a soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force jumps out of a CH-46E Sea Knight while conducting Helo Cast training with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014.
  • In the third photo, soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force make their way to a CH-46E Sea Knight while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014.

 

 

 

Marines Train JGSDF in Amphibious Operations

Posted on | by SysAdmin
04/18/2014

04/18/2014:Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. 

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 Credit:15th Marine Expeditionary Unit:1/24/14

  • In the first photo, a U.S. Marine with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, demonstrates the 10 minute warning signal to soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014.
  • In photo 2, U.S. Marine Sgt. David Johnson, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, demonstrates how to fasten a combat rubber reconnaissance craft using the “Soft Duck” method to soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014
  • In photo 3, soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force examine how to properly load and fasten a combat rubber reconnaissance craft using the “Soft Duck” method while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014
  • In photo 4, soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force practice rigging rope on a combat rubber reconnaissance craft while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014.

 

F-35 Training at 33rd Fighter Wing

Posted on | by SysAdmin
04/17/2014

2014-04-17

The F-35 training process started at Eglin but now the Marines are moving from Eglin to Marine Air Station Beaufort with the USN taking over the USMC facilities at Eglin. At Second Line of Defense we have regularly followed the standing up of the training processes for the F-35 at Eglin.  This video summarizes where the facility is today.,

The Integrated Training Center at Eglin Air Force Base has qualified pilots and maintainers from the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, the U.K. and the Netherlands.

Lt. Col. Berke, the USMC squadron leader at the time the video was shot, is the only operational F-22 and F-35 pilot in the world — is one of the pilots interviewed. Indeed, every pilot or leader interviewed in this video has been interviewed earlier on Second Line of Defense.

It is always important to remember that the pilots and maintainers are training together in this facility.

Credit Video: 33rd Fighter Wing

Aerial Refueling Training Exercise

Posted on | by SysAdmin
04/15/2014

04/15/2014: A KC-130J Hercules aircraft assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 is flown over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of N.C., April 14, 2014.

VMGR-252 flew day and night refueling exercises with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 264 and 266.

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Credit:2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Combat Camera :4/14/14

  • The first five photos look at the exercise from the point of view of the KC-130J; the final three from the standpoint of the Osprey. 
  • The sixth photo U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Christopher S. Odom, a pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 266, closes with a KC-130J Hercules aircraft assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of N.C., April 14, 2014. Odom refeuled an MV-22 Osprey aircraft from the KC-130J.
  • The seventh photo shows the infrared display in the Osprey designed to close with a KC-130J Hercules aircraft for refueling.

 

 

Departing Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Nimroz province, Afghanistan

Posted on | by SysAdmin

04/15/2014: The Marines and sailors of CLB-7 were instrumental in retrograding more than 302,000 pounds of equipment and supplies and the last of the Marines and sailors of SFAAT 4-215 back to Camp Leatherneck from FOB Delaram II.

Delaram II has been a major USMC base on the border of Helmand, Nimroz and Farah provinces.

It has been upgraded substantially to include a makeshift airfield, a new gym and other facilities, but is being turned over to the Afghans and will become the headquarters of the ANA’s 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps.

Combat Logistics Battalion 7 arrived at FOB Delaram II on the morning of April 7 and began loading all the cargo, including generators, shipping containers and heavy equipment, onto their trucks in preparation for their journey back to Camp Leatherneck, the largest military base in southwestern Afghanistan.

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Credit: Regional Command Southwest:4/14/14

  • In the first photo, Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 7 load the back end of a trailer onto another trailer as they prepare to convoy back with the last supplies, equipment and team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 from Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Nimroz province, Afghanistan, April 7, 2014.
  • In the second photo, multiple vehicles with Combat Logistics Battalion 7 line up as they prepare to convoy back with the last supplies, equipment and team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 from Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Nimroz province, Afghanistan, April 8, 2014.
  • In the third photo, Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 7 load a shipping container onto a trailer as they prepare to convoy back with the last supplies, equipment and team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 from Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Nimroz province, Afghanistan, April 7, 2014.
  • In the final photo, the last vehicle of Combat Logistics Battalion 7 leaves Forward Operating Base Delaram II as they convoy back with the last supplies, equipment and team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 to Camp Leatherneck from Nimroz province, Afghanistan, April 8, 2014.