U.S. Marines in the Indo-Pacific, April 2022

04/11/2022
The number of U.S. Marines forward-based and forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific has increased from approximately 20,000 to 26,000 with the beginning of several multilateral exercises. CAMP H.M. SMITH, HI 04.08.2022 Video by Staff Sgt. Brett Norman U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Marine-Corps-Transformation-Path/dp/1667819577/ref=sr_1_4?crid=PI1XJXEXR4U1&keywords=robbin+laird&qid=1649716597&sprefix=robbin+laird%2Caps%2C46&sr=8-4  

The CH-53K and the Recovery of a MH-60 Navy Helicopter

10/12/2021
Marines in two CH-53K King Stallions from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron, executed the recovery of a downed Navy MH-60 helicopter on 4-5 Sept. 2021 in Bishop, California. The two day operation was the first official fleet mission for the CH-53K King Stallion, as it undergoes operational assessment while…

Vice Admiral Mike Noonan Explains the Australian Nuclear Submarine Decision

09/26/2021
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mike Noonan said the announcement was the single most consequential decision made in relation to the navy in his lifetime. In this video, he explains why. We have published a four part series on defense.info focused on the shift from the new conventionally powered attack…

Marines Add Second Operational Squadron in Okinawa

09/11/2021
By Robbin Laird Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 declares their initial operations capability (IOC) for the F-35B Lightning II on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 25, 2021. VMFA-242 is the second combat-capable forward-deployed F-35B squadron assigned to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The importance of the F-35 and their…

Night Warrior: CH-53K Night Air Refueling

07/18/2021
The CH-53K King Stallion executing night vision goggle helicopter aerial refueling. It is the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations vertical, long-range, heavy-lift, logistic backbone of the Marine Corps,  today and for the next fight. Day. Night. All weather. Credit: NAVAIR July 16, 2021 Recently, Col. Perrin from NAVAIR provided an update on…