10/25/2017: U.S. Marines with Battery R, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division launch a rocket from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) off the USS Anchorage (LPD-23) during Exercise Dawn Blitz, Oct. 22, 2017. Dawn Blitz 17 allows the amphibious force to integrate the F-35B Lightning II and…
06/14/2014: Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (BLT 2/1), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, unload a landing craft air cushion (LCAC) aboard the USS Makin Island during Amphibious Squadron Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT) off the coast of San Diego, Calif., April 9, 2014. PMINT is a…
06/03/2014:The photos in this slideshow highlight Amphibious Squadron Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT) off the coast of San Diego, Calif., April 9, 2014. PMINT is a two-week predeployment training event focused on the combined capabilities of the MEU and Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and…
12/29/2013: In this slideshow the USS Bataan ARG is provided with fuel at sea. The Military Sealift Command provides fuel to USN ships at sea, but needs to modernize its tankers as the bulk of these tankers are single hull and need to be double-hauled for safety reasons and because of…
Second Line of Defense had a chance to sit down with one of the two Harrier squadron commanders aboard the USS Kearsarge during the Bold Alligator 2012 exercise. Earlier, we discussed with Lt. Col. Hermley, Commanding Officer, Marine Attack Squadron 231, MCAS, Cherry Point, and the approach to be followed…
10/11/2011 - The approach we are building is from the ground up – quite literally. The US to protect its economic interests and sovereignty needs to deploy forward throughout the Pacific. We started with the USCG and its everyday forward deployments in the North and South Pacific. And our interview…
09/22/2011 - During our annual visit to New River to get caught up on Osprey developments, Second Line of Defense sat down with Lt. Col. Boniface who was the XO for the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) for the 26th MEU. We have published recently an interview with Col. Desens, the…
09/06/2011 By Maj. General Tim Hanifen, Rear Adm. Sinclair Harris and Robert Holzer Global demand for amphibious forces outstrips resources. When a crisis erupts the first question U.S. leaders often ask is, “Where are the aircraft carriers?” This historical axiom, however, has expanded over time and now regional commanders also…
