By Robbin Laird Since 2018, the Marines have ramped up their efforts to train in the Nordic region and to operate in Cold Weather. With the Nordics ramping up their defense capabilities, and working greater integration with each other and with their North Atlantic partners, there are enhanced opportunities for…
By 1st Lt. John Hardin and 1st Lt. Tess LaBossiere KINAWA, Japan. – Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169 executed one of the longest maritime HMLA self-deployment flights in 1st Marine Aircraft Wing history during exercise Tiltrotor/Rotary Wing (TR/RW) 2107. TR/RW 2107 is a unilateral exercise at…
By Pierre Tran Paris - The French navy has “excellent relations” with the Australian navy, which shares the French view of the importance of the Pacific region, Admiral Pierre Vandier, navy chief of staff, said July 12. Australia is acquiring submarines and combat systems with “oceanic capability,” with an operational…
By Robbin Laird I first met Lt. General Beaudreault during my visit to II MEF in April 2021. I returned on June 29, 2021 prior to the General’s retirement in July. We discussed the evolution of the II MEF with the U.S. Navy and a recent agreement to shape a…
By Murielle Delaporte On July 9th, the U.S. Air Force and French Air and Space Force Chiefs met, in the presence of the French Ambassador to the United States, for the commemoration of the 240th anniversary of the 1781 Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown. This joint celebration takes place three…
By Robbin Laird Logistics is often viewed as the enabler of operations. But if one is designing the force to operate throughout an extended area of operations or an extended battlespace logistics capabilities are part of the definition of the art of the possible for crisis management. In a crisis,…
By Robbin Laird During my lifetime, the USMC has been the initial crisis management for the nation. It continues to do so, but after a long interlude of becoming land centric due to the demands of the nation’s leaders. With the return of direct defense in Europe and with the…
By Robbin Laird During my most recent visit to Camp Lejeune, I had a chance to talk with the CG of the II MEF Information Group and his team. The meeting was suggested by the CG of II MEF, Lt. General Beaudreault, who underscored: “I think it would be hugely…
