Secretary Panetta on the Pacific and The Threat of the Hollow Force

10/29/2011
10/29/2011 In his recent speech in South Korea, the Sec Def made a powerful case for centrality of the Pacific and of coalitions and the danger of a hollow force.  I n a recent open letter to the Secretary, we provided some ideas of how to avoid the hollow force and…

Striking at Sunrise

10/07/2011
10/07/2011: Striking at Sunrise [slidepress gallery='striking-at-sunrise'] Credit:Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay:09/08/2011 In photo 1, a blanket of green smoke sweeps by as an instructor watches infantrymen with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provide fire suppression during a platoon attack at Range 410A on Marine Corps Air…

Sea Knight USMC Ops

09/13/2011
09/13/2011: Sea Knight USMC Ops [slidepress gallery='sea-knight-usmc-ops'] Credit: USN Visual Service: 7/17/2011 (1st Photo); 7/9/11 (remaining photos). In the first photo, CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters assigned to the Evil Eyes of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 refuel on the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer during night…

PANAMAX 2011 Peru Navy F60

09/12/2011
09/12/2011: PANAMAX 2011 is an annual multinational training exercise sponsored by U.S. Southern Command focusing on the security of the Panama Canal. Involving 16 nations from the Western Hemisphere and more than 3,500 civil and military personnel, the 12-day exercise takes place off the coasts of Panama and the United…

A Warthog Takes a Drink

09/08/2011
09/08/2011: An A-10 Thunderbolt II is refueled over southern Afghanistan. The most prominent feature of the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling-gun cannon. This weapon is capable of firing 3,900 rounds a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets, including tanks. Both the A-10…