Indonesia and Asian Security

02/20/2012
Indonesia is a key player in shaping the future of Asian security.  With significant security challenges due to its geography, topography and maritime character, a key element will be shaping capabilities for lift, and maritime patrol capabilities. An insightful perspective on why and how Indonesia is shaping its capabilities was…

Perspectives on China’s Evolving Military: Part 2

02/20/2012
SLD Coverage of Jamestown’s PLA Conference (Part 2) by Richard Weitz The conference’s second panel reviewed trends in China’s conventional force modernization. Moderator  RADM Michael McDevitt, USN (Ret.), a Senior Fellow at the CNA Corporation and former head of their China program, said that how the PLA had gone about…

Perspectives on China’s Evolving Military

02/18/2012
SLD Coverage of Jamestown’s PLA Conference (Part 1) By Richard Weitz The Jamestown Foundation held its Second Annual China Defense and Security Conference on February 16. In his opening remarks, Glen E. Howard, President of The Jamestown Foundation, rightly noted the importance of China defense developments for the United States…

Re-thinking the Role of Supply Ships in Maneuver Warfare from the Sea

02/16/2012
An important development in the Libyan operation was the use of the MV-22 as the Fed Ex supply link between Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy and the USS Kersarge. In our interview with Lt. Col. Boniface, the new role for the MV-22 was underscored. [caption id="attachment_33768" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Feb.…

On the Scene with the French in Bold Alligator 2012

02/12/2012
By Murielle Delaporte 02/12/2012- Onboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship BPC Mistral  (BPC stands for "Bâtiment de projection et de commandement") - which starts its tenth month of continued deployment -, the French Navy and Army prepare to play a major role in Bold Alligator 2012.  The USN-USMC team and…

From Being a Greyhound Bus to Becoming a Strike Force: Bold Alligator 2012 Shows the Way

02/11/2012
02/11/2012 - During the week of Second Line of Defense interviews with the USN-USMC team in early January, the SLD team sat down with Captain Sam Howard and Col. Phil Ridderhof to discuss the exercise and the approach.  In effect, the USN-USMC team is developing an approach to maneuver warfare…

From Afghanistan, to Bold Alligator 2012, to the Future: The USMC Re-shapes Its Capabilities

02/08/2012
02/08/12 In a wide-ranging interview with Second Line of Defense’s Robbin Laird, the Commanding General of 2nd Marine Air Wing (MAW) provided an overview of how USMC aviation operates now and is evolving in the future. The bottom line for the role of USMC Aviation was underscored throughout the interview…

ESG-2 Prepares for Bold Alligator 2012

01/31/2012
[caption id="attachment_32640" align="alignleft" width="150"] Col. Weisz during the SLD Interview (Credit: SLD)[/caption] 01/31/2012 - During the week of Second Line of Defense Interviews in early January 2012, Col. Bradley Weisz, Deputy Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group TWO, explains the approach being followed in support of BA-2012. The Colonel discusses the role…