Marine Corps News Room

DELARAM, AFGHANISTAN -- Home to a dozen truck stops and a few hundred family farms bounded by miles of foreboding desert, this hamlet in southwestern Afghanistan is far from a strategic priority for senior officers at the international military headquarters in Kabul. One calls Delaram, a day's drive from the nearest city, "the end of the Earth." Another deems the area "unrelated to our core mission" of defeating the Taliban by protecting Afghans in their cities and towns.

Continue reading "At Afghan outpost, Marines gone rogue or leading the fight against counterinsurgency?" »

Posted by sr at 11:06 AM | Permalink

EDITOR'S NOTE: Alfred de Montesquiou, an Associated Press correspondent embedded with U.S. Marines in the battle for the Afghan town of Marjah, was able to observe some of the lessons of the fighting and hear from the officers in command how they are being absorbed.

MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) — After a day spent pinned down in gunbattles or caught in a maze of roadside bombs, with little hope of air support and an erratic Afghan army to coax along, Lance Cpl. Travis Anderson reflected on the frustrations of the campaign U.S. forces were fighting.

Continue reading "Marjah push: Ups and downs are lessons for future" »

Posted by sr at 9:17 PM | Permalink

After pounding targets in the California desert Wednesday until almost midnight, Marines with the Marines' 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion spent Thursday morning cleaning and reloading before heading north deeper into the Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms. By midday the massive 155mm Howitzer cannons were firing again, softening targets for three-companies-worth of tanks and LAV-25s to finish off.

Continue reading "Marines Practice for Real Thing" »

Posted by sr at 9:24 PM | Permalink

Marines with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (1st LAR) out of Camp Pendleton, CA will soon be deploying to Afghanistan to join the surge in the fight against the Taliban (the details of their travel is classified).

Continue reading "Marines Live Fire Training" »

Posted by sr at 9:28 PM | Permalink

NOW ZAD, AFGHANISTAN -- This southern Afghan city has been touted as a symbol of the progress U.S. troops have made in recent weeks. But when Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates swung through the main market on Tuesday, it seemed mostly to be a symbol of the work that remains to be done.

Continue reading "Gates tours broken, abandoned market that has come to symbolize progress in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 11:32 AM | Permalink

A campaign has begun to lure residents back to war-ravaged Now Zad in Helmand province, with Marine and Afghan guards posted 24 hours a day to ward off Taliban attacks.

Reporting from Now Zad, Afghanistan — Under a late winter sky, surrounded by mountains left verdant by recent rain showers, is one of Afghanistan's spookiest-looking and most dangerous places: the once-vibrant but now war-ravaged and virtually empty city of Now Zad.

Continue reading "Signs of life return to an Afghan ghost town" »

Posted by mn at 11:31 AM | Permalink

The impetus for the U.S.-led assault on Marjah began one moonless night last May when a squad of American and Afghan anti-narcotics agents, backed by U.S. Marines, slipped through the town's empty streets and raided the Lachoya opium bazaar.

Continue reading "Afghan Drug Trade Complicates U.S. Task in Marjah" »

Posted by sr at 1:53 PM | Permalink

Combat engineers and a company of attached tankers with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion wrapped up a week-long mission rehearsal exercise here Feb. 28.

Continue reading "Afghanistan-bound Marines use assets to engage IEDs" »

Posted by sr at 11:13 PM | Permalink

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — With its first groups of Marines leaving home Friday for the military surge into Afghanistan, the 1st Marine Division gathered this week to honor its combat heritage and march off again to war.

Continue reading "Off to war again for 1st Marine Division" »

Posted by sr at 10:49 PM | Permalink

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – There are many stories surrounding the area in southern Afghanistan known as the Buji Bhast Pass. The pass has proven to be a strategic military stronghold and allowed Afghans to delay the armies of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the former Soviet Union.

Continue reading "3/4 kick starts effort to hold the Buji Bhast Pass" »

Posted by sr at 11:38 AM | Permalink

OCEANSIDE - In a symbolic 30-minute Camp Pendleton ceremony on Wednesday, attended by 1st Marine Division veterans from various eras and marking the impending departure of some 7,000 Marines and sailors from the division to Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Richard Mills said this and past deployments are not about commanding generals.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marines set to deploy to Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 8:04 PM | Permalink

Despite Rehab, the Yellow Lab Won't Sniff For Bombs in Combat; He's 'a Lover'

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan—When the Marines cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war, one remains in his kennel. Quivering.

Continue reading "Even His Red Squeak Toy Can't Get First Sgt. Gunner, USMC, to Fight" »

Posted by sr at 7:54 PM | Permalink

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Even by Afghan standards, it was a startling find: An opium packaging workshop, buried under donkey dung and old hay in a stable that U.S. Marines turned into a patrol base in southern Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Taliban, not drugs, focus of US-Afghan offensive" »

Posted by sr at 10:34 AM | Permalink

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Before coalition forces can leave Afghanistan, they must first make sure the government has a reliable and proficient fighting force. Without one, the country is vulnerable to invasion and insurrection.

Continue reading "3/4 Preparing Afghan National Security Forces for Success" »

Posted by sr at 11:54 PM | Permalink

FORWARD OPERATING BASE CAFERETTA, Nimruz province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – As improvised explosive devices continue to be a threat in the region as the Taliban's weapon of choice, coalition forces continue to adapt their ways of dealing with them.

Continue reading "Improvised Explosive Device Detection Program for the Dogs" »

Posted by sr at 11:23 PM | Permalink

The Marine Corps’ footprint in Afghanistan has expanded to include 15,000 Marines, the service’s top general said, and another battalion is expected to deploy soon.

Continue reading "MEB in Afghanistan grows to 15,000" »

Posted by sr at 7:47 AM | Permalink

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The Huntington Beach 3/1 Marines Foundation will host their second annual 3/1 Run March 13.

Continue reading "3/1 Marines Foundation to host 2nd annual run" »

Posted by sr at 12:46 PM | Permalink

Flag-raising ceremony held as troops mop up last pockets of resistance

MARJAH, Afghanistan - The Afghan government took official control of the southern Taliban stronghold of Marjah on Thursday, installing an administrator and raising the national flag while U.S.-led troops worked to root out final pockets of militants.

Continue reading "Afghan government claims Taliban stronghold" »

Posted by sr at 11:03 PM | Permalink

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The Marines of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, who reside at Camp Dwyer, know their detachment may be small, but that they provide the necessary air power for Marine Aircraft Group 40 and Regimental Combat Team 7, both with Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Scarface Detachment Offers Quicker Response for RCT-7" »

Posted by sr at 10:50 AM | Permalink

It's the second week of a major U.S.-led offensive in southern Afghanistan to expel the Taliban from a key stronghold in Helmand province.

Continue reading "Taliban Resistance Strong In Southern Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 11:22 PM | Permalink

KABUL — The Taliban vowed on Thursday to fight back with a "hit and run" guerrilla campaign against Western and Afghan forces preparing to storm one of their key strongholds in southern Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Taliban vow guerrilla warfare against NATO troops" »

Posted by sr at 5:17 PM | Permalink

The town of Now Zad in Helmand Has Turned Around Faster Than Anyone Expected

Now Zad is a town again. In just two short months the small farming community Afghanistan's northern Helmand Province has turned around faster than anyone expected.

Continue reading "Now Zad: A Comeback Complicated by Success" »

Posted by sr at 5:33 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., completed their Enhanced Mojave Viper pre-deployment training evolution Feb. 4 here, as part of the unit's shift from supporting Marine Expeditionary Units to serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Continue reading "3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, Changes Focus From Sea to Desert" »

Posted by sr at 5:12 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Dogs have long been known as man’s best friend, and the military working dog is still that, but they are also an invaluable tool for Marines deployed overseas, because of their abilities to smell, which Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment learned during their Enhanced Mojave Viper pre-deployment training evolution here at Range 220.

Continue reading "Boots and paws on the ground for OEF" »

Posted by sr at 5:09 PM | Permalink

By mid-February, Marines will be out of Iraq.

Continue reading "Marines quietly wrap up ops in Iraq" »

Posted by sr at 9:20 AM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When five injured Afghans needed medical attention, Marines and sailors from 1st Medical Battalion, Regimental Combat 7, came to their rescue.

Continue reading "Service Members Save Afghan Lives With Blood Drive" »

Posted by sr at 7:32 AM | Permalink

SOUTHEAST OF MARJAH, Afghanistan — For the US Marines patrolling the dusty footpaths of southern Afghanistan, a bomb-sniffing black Labrador can mean the difference between life and death.

Continue reading "'Dogs of war' saving lives in Afghanistan" »

Posted by BR at 7:37 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- Marine Capt. Scott Cuomo of Fox company, 2nd battalion, 2nd Marine regiment, must have felt very confident. How else to explain his climbing into an armorless Afghan army truck -- a coffin on four wheels -- next to Haji Abdullah Jan, the Afghan district governor, with only a few Afghan army soldiers for protection, to speed down empty dirt roads almost certainly mined by the Taliban?

Continue reading "U.S. Marines Make Fragile Progress in Helmand" »

Posted by BR at 7:00 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2010 – Ironically, when protestors in the Garmsir district here set fire to a school Jan. 12 in a fervor over allegations that a Quran had been desecrated, about 300 copies of the Muslim holy book burned with the school.

Continue reading "Marines Help Afghans Gather in Protest Aftermath" »

Posted by BR at 6:50 PM | Permalink

FORWARD OPERATING BASE CAFERETTA, NIMRUZ PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In addition to fighting the Taliban, Marines in southern Afghanistan are fighting to win the confidence and trust of the Afghan populace.

Continue reading "Deployed Marines Learning Professionalism Through MCMAP" »

Posted by BR at 7:34 PM | Permalink

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan — Though Marines have been deploying alongside their Navy brethren for more than 234 years, there is still room for new adventure and first-time experience within the Corps’ ranks. The Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (BLT 2/7) can testify to that fact as they prepare to embark on the unit’s inaugural deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

Continue reading "BLT 2/7 ready for first-time experience" »

Posted by BR at 8:25 PM | Permalink

NAWA, Afghanistan – Dozens of elder men from Nawa District's Shorshorak area and the city of Marjeh took part in a historic first official meeting between Afghan people and their governmental leaders near Forward Operating Base Fiddler's Green Jan. 8.

Continue reading "Afghan Government Leaders Join Nawa, Marjeh Citizens in Historic First Meeting" »

Posted by sr at 4:47 PM | Permalink

Cpl. Sara Bryant is training like an infantry Marine about to hit the front lines.

Continue reading "All-female teams reach out to Afghan women" »

Posted by sr at 9:32 AM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Hundreds of Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and their augments said goodbye to families and friends this week as they boarded buses, to begin a journey which will take them through the South Pacific as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Continue reading "Combat Center units leave for 31st MEU" »

Posted by sr at 10:55 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Recently during Operation Cobra's Anger, a multi-day operation led by Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, to rid the Now Zad area of Taliban control, members of the company's severe trauma platoon extended an invitation to members of the battalion's civil affairs group to take cover from the rain in their mobile severe trauma bay.

Continue reading "Countering the Insurgency With Band-aids Instead of Bullets" »

Posted by BR at 10:05 PM | Permalink

Marines rebuild a chance to learn

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan | Zarmina and Sharifa have very big dreams for very little girls.

Continue reading "Afghan girls flourish in new school" »

Posted by sr at 9:07 AM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The shooter, one of many Afghans who have joined the Afghan national security forces, prepares himself as he's been taught. He bends at the knees, torso square to his target, elbows squeezed tight against his body. The grimace on his face shows discomfort, a sign he's positioning himself correctly. He isn't supposed to feel comfortable.

Continue reading "Marines Help Develop Afghan Security Force Discipline" »

Posted by BR at 9:54 PM | Permalink

Now Zad was a bustling city, the second largest in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province, before Taliban fighters moved in and made it a stronghold several years ago. Now it is largely abandoned.

Continue reading "Marines coaxing residents back to Helmand ghost town" »

Posted by BR at 9:39 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The shooter, one of many Afghans who have joined the Afghan national security forces, prepares himself as he's been taught. He bends at the knees, torso square to his target, elbows squeezed tight against his body. The grimace on his face shows discomfort, a sign he's positioning himself correctly. He isn't supposed to feel comfortable.

Continue reading "Marines Help Develop Afghan Security Force Discipline" »

Posted by BR at 9:19 PM | Permalink

NOW ZAD, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – In early December, the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, breached Now Zad and rid the second largest city in Helmand province of its Taliban presence during Operation Cobra's Anger.

Continue reading "The Resurgence of Now Zad" »

Posted by sr at 10:29 AM | Permalink

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan – Just three weeks removed from leading the assault into Now Zad during Operation Cobra's Anger, the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, switched gears and embraced the holiday spirit.

Continue reading "Marines Make the Most With the Least During Christmas in Now Zad" »

Posted by sr at 4:44 PM | Permalink

One local Santa is loved by many for his cheer and truly good deeds. But this year, Santa and his wife have a Christmas wish of their own. WFMZ's Dwayne Parker has their emotional story.

Continue reading "Local Santa Spreads Cheer Without Favorite Helper" »

Posted by sr at 4:38 PM | Permalink

NAWA, Afghanistan - An irrigation ditch bisects the main thoroughfare of this town in Helmand province, and shops line each side of the street.

Continue reading "Afghan Town's Progress Provides Encouragement" »

Posted by sr at 5:23 PM | Permalink

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Five months ago, the Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, arrived in Nawa District to the sounds of gunfire, rockets and mortars.

Continue reading "Afghans Celebrate Beloved 'Colonel Bill'" »

Posted by sr at 10:19 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – When Marines hear they must live at a small patrol base for a long period of time, many think of primitive facilities, dirty conditions and bland, prepackaged meals coming from brown bags.

Continue reading "Custom Kitchen, Home-cooked Meals Bring Marines Together in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 10:14 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Once an urban district and home to thousands, "The Greens," an area within the Now Zad region of Afghanistan quickly became a ghost town, when Taliban fighters procured the area from which to launch combat operations.

Continue reading "Marines Clear Taliban Stronghold During Operation Cobra's Anger" »

Posted by BR at 9:28 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When the Marines and sailors of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment came to the Now Zad region in Afghanistan, the message they received from outgoing units was simple: Beware of the village of Changwalak.

Continue reading "Marines Storm Now Zad, Wipe Out Taliban Forces" »

Posted by BR at 9:04 PM | Permalink

As President Obama announced plans to send 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan to tackle the Taliban, Mark Urban spent time with some of the troops on the front line in Helmand province.

"I heard Kilo company lit up nine guys today," said Craig, a young US marine, his face illuminated by the flickering flames that separated us.

Continue reading "Fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 7:10 PM | Permalink

WASHINGTON - A battalion of Marines in southern Afghanistan now has the upper hand in a city they believed to be a Taliban stronghold, a senior Marine Corps officer in Helmand province said today.

Continue reading "Marine Offense Gives Afghan City Second Chance" »

Posted by sr at 8:45 AM | Permalink

Djibouti — French Legionnaires and US Marines trained together here Dec. 4-10 to increase interoperability, maintain critical military skills and build an inter-service bond crucial to successful operations.

Continue reading "11th Marine Expeditionary Unit trains with French Foreign Legion" »

Posted by sr at 10:37 AM | Permalink

Reporting from Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan -- It's a rare day when a Marine gladly depends on a dogface.

Continue reading "Bomb-sniffing dog helps Marines stay alive in Afghanistan" »

Posted by BR at 8:18 PM | Permalink

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - At first glance, the area known as the Buji Bhast Pass in southern Afghanistan looks much like the rest of Farah Province. Mountain peaks tower over vast desert valleys spotted with small adobe villages, herds of grazing animals and local farmers tilling their fields.

Continue reading "‘Thundering Third’ faces two-front engagement" »

Posted by BR at 8:35 PM | Permalink

Operation Cobra's Anger Is Intended to 'Cut Off Enemy Supply and Communications Lines'

Marines are trying to make good on President Obama's promise to "reverse Taliban momentum" in southern Afghanistan, launching with the first major offensive since the president spoke about his Afghanistan plans Tuesday night.

Continue reading "Marines Launch New Offensive in Afghanistan's Helmand Province" »

Posted by sr at 10:33 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — More than 120 Marines and sailors with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, returned to the Combat Center and their loved ones’ arms late Wednesday during a homecoming at Del Valle Field.

Continue reading "3rd Bn., 11th Marines returns from Afghanistan deployment" »

Posted by BR at 7:46 PM | Permalink

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines and Afghan troops Friday launched the first offensive since President Barack Obama announced an American troop surge, striking against Taliban communications and supply lines in a southern insurgent stronghold, a military spokesman said.

Continue reading "US Marines launch large offensive" »

Posted by BR at 2:02 PM | Permalink

At first glance, the area known as the Buji Bhast Pass in southern Afghanistan looks much like the rest of Farah Province. Mountain peaks tower over vast desert valleys spotted with small adobe villages, herds of grazing animals and local farmers tilling their fields.

Continue reading "Marines face two-front engagement during Operation North Star" »

Posted by BR at 7:39 PM | Permalink

More than 200 U.S. Marines and sailors who have been serving in Afghanistan, both in an artillery battalion and working with local villages to improve their way of life, are expected to return to Twentynine Palms this week.

Continue reading "200 U.S. Marines returning to Twentynine Palms this week" »

Posted by BR at 7:23 PM | Permalink

Mangulzai, Afghanistan -- As Americans turn off the lights in their homes Thursday after a day of celebration, a group of U.S. Marines and their families will just be starting theirs.

Continue reading "Thanksgiving in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 11:09 AM | Permalink

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan – At first glance, the area known as the Buji Bhast Pass in southern Afghanistan looks much like the rest of Farah province. Mountain peaks tower over vast desert valleys spotted with small adobe villages, herds of grazing animals and local farmers tilling their fields.

Continue reading "3/4 Marines Face Two-front Engagement During Operation North Star" »

Posted by BR at 9:19 PM | Permalink

COP JAKER, Afghanistan | Members of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines are heading home, with the first units due stateside just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

Continue reading "Keeping focus key for Marines on way home" »

Posted by BR at 8:54 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, known as the Cutting Edge, stormed the Combat Center’s Range 410A Nov. 19, to prepare for a possible deployment next year.

Continue reading "India Co. Marines stomp Range 410A" »

Posted by sr at 11:55 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, came aboard the Combat Center Nov. 20 to show support for 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, as they participated in Enhanced Mojave Viper as part of their pre-deployment training.

Continue reading "1st MarDiv CG visits Range 400, shows support for 3rd Bn., 7th Marines" »

Posted by BR at 1:28 PM | Permalink

Lance Cpl. Justin Swanson was killed Nov. 10 when a bomb exploded under his Humvee. He was 'full of love for his family and home and dedicated to the protection of others,' his commander says.

Continue reading "O.C. Marine is called a hero at Afghanistan memorial service" »

Posted by BR at 2:35 PM | Permalink

GOLESTAN DISTRICT, Afghanistan

When U.S. Marines first entered this stark, scenic valley nearly two years ago, their mission was to build up local security forces and eliminate the Taliban resistance.

Continue reading "In Golestan, changing mission could mean troops must move on" »

Posted by BR at 8:43 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghanistan's Nawa District Gov. Abdul Manaf and Lt. Col. William T. McCollough, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, met with local Afghans to discuss security and human service concerns during a shura at Patrol Base Fielder, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 10.

Continue reading "Nawa Leaders, Marines Discuss Security, Human Services During Shura" »

Posted by BR at 8:22 PM | Permalink

INDIAN OCEAN (NNS) -- After transiting the western Pacific Ocean, the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) entered the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations this week to relieve the Bataan ARG.

Continue reading "Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group Enters 5th Fleet" »

Posted by sr at 10:00 AM | Permalink

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors from India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, made its way into the village of Kace Satar, Afghanistan, Nov. 11, with a mission: protect the locals, and gain their trust.

Continue reading "3/4 Marines Patrol Farah Village, Build Trust" »

Posted by BR at 1:00 PM | Permalink

DELARAM, Afghanistan — Marines have maintained a presence here for two years, but they say residents’ fear of the Taliban continues to underlie every facet of life.

Continue reading "Despite Marines’ presence, fear of Taliban persists in Afghan town" »

Posted by BR at 8:20 PM | Permalink

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- A 21-year-old Marine from Anaheim was killed in combat in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "O.C. Marine killed in AfghanistanFriday, November 13, 2009" »

Posted by sr at 7:51 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, conducted an operation to clear out compounds in Norzai, Afghanistan, Nov. 6.

Continue reading "Marines, Afghan soldiers hunt Taliban" »

Posted by BR at 8:46 PM | Permalink

ANAHEIM Justin J. Swanson talked about duty and discipline and about being a role model for his family when he signed up for the U.S. Marine Corps a few weeks out of high school.

Continue reading "Anaheim Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 9:28 AM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, recently funded a well construction project to provide clean water for local Afghans.

Continue reading "1/5 Marines Provide Clean Water to Afghans, Keep Area Safe" »

Posted by BR at 8:27 PM | Permalink

INDIAN OCEAN — Lance Cpl. Kyle Lejeune quietly withdrew from the podium after reading Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune’s words to hundreds of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit members Nov. 10. He said reading his great-great grandfather’s historic message during a Marine Corps birthday celebration was something he always wanted to do.

Continue reading "Lejeune descendant reads birthday message to MEU Marines" »

Posted by BR at 9:10 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Approximately 300 Afghanistan-deployed Marines and sailors with Regimental Combat Team 7 celebrated the 234th Marine Corps birthday here in more austere conditions than the lavish ceremonies to which many Marines stateside are accustomed.

Continue reading "Marines Celebrate 234th Corps Birthday in Austere Conditions" »

Posted by BR at 8:44 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines possess an uncanny ability to call any place "home," whether it's a mixture of sand and gravel, or in this instance, a Taliban compound.

Continue reading "Marines Inhabit Taliban Fortress" »

Posted by BR at 2:45 PM | Permalink

But many residents in the insurgent heartland fear the U.S. troops may leave abruptly, leaving the area for the Taliban to retake.

Reporting from Nawa, Afghanistan - When 500 U.S. Marines descended on this Taliban stronghold overnight, Afghan civilians were immediately suspicious about the intentions of the heavily armed Americans.

Continue reading "Afghanistan: Marines bring some calm in Helmand" »

Posted by sr at 12:43 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The Now Zad region in Helmand Province has been the site of constant tension between coalition and Taliban forces. Both sides have realized the road to victory begins with winning the support of the region’s civilian population.

Continue reading "Marines patrol, make friends in Helmand province" »

Posted by BR at 10:05 PM | Permalink

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan — As Seaman Jared D. Wilson, a corpsman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, stepped into his humvee on the morning of Nov. 2, he knew he very well could find himself in the position of saving lives.

Continue reading "Marines save lives, assist Afghan National Army" »

Posted by BR at 8:42 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Regimental Combat Team 7 took over counterinsurgency operations throughout southern Afghanistan from Regimental Combat Team 3 during a ceremony here Oct. 24.

Continue reading "RCT-7 Takes Over Counterinsurgency Operations in Afghanistan" »

Posted by BR at 8:24 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The most significant Marine Corps operation since the Battle of Fallujah in 2004 and the largest helicopter insertion since the Vietnam War took place July 2 as Marines spread out into the Helmand River valley to secure what was called one of the most violent provinces in all of Afghanistan at the time.

Continue reading "First Marine RCT in Afghanistan Concludes Historic Deployment" »

Posted by BR at 7:39 PM | Permalink

Before a battalion of U.S. Marines swooped into this dusty farming community along the Helmand River in early July, almost every stall in the bazaar had been padlocked, as had the school and the health clinic. Thousands of residents had fled. Government officials and municipal services were nonexistent. Taliban fighters swaggered about with impunity, setting up checkpoints and seeding the roads with bombs.

Continue reading "In Helmand, a model for success?" »

Posted by BR at 8:53 PM | Permalink

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit traveled to Baguio City, Philippines, to deliver food and clothing to landslide victims Oct. 4.

Continue reading "Landslide - Marines bring relief" »

Posted by BR at 8:33 PM | Permalink

Sometimes the best way to win hearts and minds is to take care of the teeth.

Continue reading "In East Timor, teeth are a military mission for Camp Pendleton forces" »

Posted by BR at 9:19 PM | Permalink

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – People have the ability to adapt to their surroundings. Proof of this can be observed in the habitat of the Marines here.

Continue reading "A Day in the Life on Forward Operating Base Geronimo" »

Posted by BR at 7:57 PM | Permalink

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – In a combat zone, as in life, there are many different skills which are important to have. One of the most important is basic medical training. Without at least a basic knowledge of first aid, a person is limited in the amount of risk they are willing to undertake to accomplish their goals.

Continue reading "Navy Corpsmen Teach Afghan Soldiers Lifesaving Techniques" »

Posted by BR at 2:54 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Civil Affairs Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, visited a local school here, Oct. 8, to talk with teachers about refurbishing their schoolhouse.

Continue reading "Civil Affairs Marines Turn Attention to Improving Local Schoolhouse" »

Posted by BR at 2:39 PM | Permalink

Situbondo (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian and US marine corps will conduct a joint exercise in Karangtekok, Asembagus, Situbondo, East Java, according to the Indonesian Marine Corps on Friday.

Continue reading "Indonesia, US Marine Corps to conduct joint exercise" »

Posted by sr at 9:14 AM | Permalink

BONHOMME RICHARD, At sea (NNS) -- USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), the flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), arrived in Savu Sea to conduct a multilateral exercise in cooperation with the government of Timor-Leste Oct. 14.

Continue reading "Bonhomme Richard ARG/11th MEU Arrives in Timor-Leste for MAREX-09" »

Posted by BR at 7:03 PM | Permalink

As President Barack Obama weighs sending more troops to Afghanistan and debate over the course of an increasingly difficult war rages in Washington, the commander of a Camp Pendleton battalion says his troops have tamed one slice of the country's volatile Helmand province.

Continue reading "Commander says Camp Pendleton's force is prevailing over Taliban" »

Posted by sr at 7:49 AM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENYTNINE PALMS, Calif. —
In the early hours of Monday morning, elements of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, bid farewell to their families, friends and fellow service members before departing for deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Continue reading "3/4, 3rd CEB depart for Afghanistan, Iraq" »

Posted by sr at 11:00 PM | Permalink

PACIFIC OCEAN — Marines and sailors of Battalion Landing Team 2/4 rappelled from a helicopter parked on USS Bonhomme Richard’s flight deck here Oct. 6 to an elevator platform three stories below.

Continue reading "Marines, sailors rappel as ship sails" »

Posted by BR at 10:59 PM | Permalink

PATROL BASE FIELDER, Afghanistan – All service members are trained to do a specific job – their military occupational specialty. However, sometimes they are also asked to maintain their proficiency in another one, like the mortarmen and amphibious assault vehicle operators with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment here.

Continue reading "Marines Multitask at Patrol Base Fielder" »

Posted by BR at 1:22 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — In a historic combat first, Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment worked together to air lift two M777A2 lightweight howitzers from Fire Base Fiddler’s Green in Helmand Province and set them up for action at Forward Operating Base Golestan Sept. 28. A third was convoyed here to be carried by CH-53E helicopter the following morning.

Continue reading "Air-Ground team airlifts newest howitzers in historic first" »

Posted by BR at 12:42 PM | Permalink

CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – In a historic combat first, Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment worked together to air lift two M777A2 lightweight howitzers from Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand province

Continue reading "Air-Ground Team Airlifts Newest Howitzers in Historic First" »

Posted by BR at 2:46 PM | Permalink

Harrisburg, Pa. - A local Marine wounded in Afghanistan was honored for his service and his sacrifice on Thursday night.

Continue reading "Marine Honored for Service, Sacrifice" »

Posted by sr at 1:40 PM | Permalink

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Lt. Col. Kenneth R. Kassner, the commanding officer of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, officially relieved the Marines of Company E of their duties during a ceremony held aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2009

Continue reading "Reserve LAR company prepares for return to U.S" »

Posted by BR at 2:39 PM | Permalink

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – As Regimental Combat Team 6 prepares to hand over military operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province after over five years of Marine Corps presence, to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), we talked with the man once known to some Iraqis as the "Lion of Al Qaim," Marine commander, Col. Matthew Lopez.

Continue reading "An Interview With the Lion of Al Qaim" »

Posted by sr at 11:49 PM | Permalink

Other ships carrying MEU are scheduled to depart on time
SAN DIEGO — Problems with its steam service turbine generators are delaying Friday’s planned deployment of amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, Navy officials confirmed late Wednesday.

Continue reading "Ship repairs keep 11th MEU Marines on dock" »

Posted by BR at 2:05 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. – The Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, wrapped up their training evolution at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., with a final exercise Sept. 1 through Sunday.

Continue reading "3/7 Wraps Up Training at MCMWTC With FINEX" »

Posted by BR at 6:59 PM | Permalink

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — About 4,500 Marines and sailors will deploy from San Diego on a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf regions, Navy officials said Tuesday

Continue reading "11th MEU, Bonhomme Richard ARG to deploy Friday" »

Posted by BR at 1:06 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST SHER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – With no regard for civilian life, the Taliban have been placing improvised explosive devices in roads, farmland and canals. The weapon has proved to be one of the most effective weapons in the Taliban arsenal

Continue reading "2/8 Marine Regiment Mortars Shower Improvised Explosive Device Planters, Patrol Investigates Before Shura" »

Posted by BR at 1:20 PM | Permalink

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan —
With the increase in forces in southern Afghanistan, Kandahar Airfield has become the busiest single-runway airport in the world.

Continue reading "Kandahar World’s Busiest Single-Runway Airport" »

Posted by BR at 8:10 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, departed Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Aug. 24 to conduct live fire training exercises at the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot, Nev.

Continue reading "3/7 sends rounds down range at Hawthorne" »

Posted by BR at 10:36 PM | Permalink

In a ceremony with military traditions dating back centuries, a new Marine general took command Friday of Marines and sailors serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Continue reading "Change of command for Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan" »

Posted by BR at 9:15 PM | Permalink

KHOUSARI AHBAD, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, have been using formerly Taliban-owned real estate as a base of operations for nearly two months now.

Continue reading "Marines operate out of enemy compound" »

Posted by BR at 1:09 PM | Permalink

KHOUSARI AHBAD, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — For the Marines of Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, hunting the Taliban takes patience and flexibility. Even on days when they don’t get what they expect, being seen and speaking with the locals is a small victory.

Continue reading "Hunting Taliban different than what they expected: Marines gain small victories without fighting" »

Posted by BR at 12:58 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. – Marines and Sailors from Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, returned to their amphibious roots during a stream crossing training exercise at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Leavitt Training Area Aug. 20.

Continue reading "In the Air, on Land and Streams; 3/7 Hones Water Crossing Skills" »

Posted by sr at 11:26 PM | Permalink

Remains of Donald Hogan, 20, expected in Southern California next week

The remains of a San Clemente Marine killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware today and are expected in Southern California in the middle of next week.

Continue reading "Body of O.C. Marine killed in Afghanistan is coming home" »

Posted by sr at 10:37 PM | Permalink

The Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team partnered here Tuesday to improve the joint training and combat readiness of Marine battalion and regimental staffs before they deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Continue reading "MCTOG, USJFCOM Enhance Joint Readiness for Marines" »

Posted by BR at 5:02 PM | Permalink

The Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team partnered here Tuesday to improve the joint training and combat readiness of Marine battalion and regimental staffs before they deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Continue reading "MCTOG, USJFCOM Enhance Joint Readiness for Marines" »

Posted by BR at 4:47 PM | Permalink

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms
Two Marine Corps aviation units combined forces at the Combat Center's Prospect training area to prepare for their deployments later this year.

Continue reading "Squadrons Train at Combat Center for Upcoming Deployment" »

Posted by BR at 4:30 PM | Permalink

MIANPOSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN – Two months ago, the Marines of Echo company pushed into this farming community, set up a series of outposts, and launched a series of patrols and raids to put the Taliban on their heels. On Thursday, the militants struck back, attacking four different Marine units in seven hours and dealing Echo company its first casualty in more than three weeks. One Marine was shot through the chest and arm, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Continue reading "Danger Room in Afghanistan: The Taliban Push Back" »

Posted by BR at 2:50 PM | Permalink

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq, - Marine Corps snipers and designated marksmen have been operating across the vast Iraqi deserts since the outbreak of hostilities in 2003.

Continue reading "Sniper's Eye Counters Smuggling in Iraq" »

Posted by BR at 12:10 PM | Permalink

A Tesoro High School graduate who wanted to be a Marine like his grandfather was killed in a roadside bomb explosion Wednesday morning in southern Afghanistan

Continue reading "'Marine killed in Afghanistan bomb blast 'was a beautiful kid'" »

Posted by BR at 2:21 PM | Permalink

CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – In the early morning desert heat, a squad of infantry Marines patrols through a seemingly empty field in the southern Helmand Province. Without warning, they start taking heavy fire from a distant compound. To overwhelm the enemy, the patrol leader calls for indirect fire support.

Continue reading "Battery R, 5/11 Ready to Put Rockets Down Range Anytime" »

Posted by BR at 2:08 PM | Permalink

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan - While the Marines at Forward Operating Base Geronimo sleep soundly at night, the guard force stays vigilant and watchful

Continue reading "Bronx Marine Responsible for Security in Afghanistan" »

Posted by BR at 11:04 PM | Permalink

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan - Despite the many obstacles that motor transport operators face each day on the road, in the end, they always deliver the goods

Continue reading "Spokane Marine Assists in Counter-Insurgency Operations" »

Posted by BR at 10:54 PM | Permalink

PICKEL MEADOW, Calif. — They invaded Iraq, fought pitched battles with insurgents in Fallujah, operated in the jungles of Southeast Asia and raided beaches from amphibious ships with Republic of Korea marines.

Continue reading "Mountain training gets Afghan war twist" »

Posted by sr at 10:56 PM | Permalink

A junior Marine severely wounded during an ambush last year in Afghanistan’s Helmand province received the Navy Cross on Thursday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., base officials said.

Continue reading "29 Palms Marine receives Navy Cross" »

Posted by sr at 10:19 PM | Permalink

Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif. – Marines and Sailors of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, put their skills to the test during pre-environmental training in Landing Zone Dodo at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Aug. 18.

Continue reading "3/7 Hones Survival Skills at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center" »

Posted by BR at 8:08 PM | Permalink

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq — Marines from Company C, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, or “Comanche Company,” conducted leadership training on an abandoned farming compound north of Sahl Sinjar, Iraq, August 5, 2009.

Continue reading "Comanche Marines conduct leadership training" »

Posted by BR at 8:06 PM | Permalink

Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif. - Marines and sailors of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, put their skills to the test during pre-environmental training in Landing Zone Dodo at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Tuesday.

Continue reading "3/7 hones survival skills at MCMWTC" »

Posted by BR at 6:59 PM | Permalink

KOSHTAY, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The mission for Marines here is to seize ground controlled by Taliban insurgents, hold that ground and build on it. Building in this case means fortifying their exposed position on the very front lines of this conflict. However, Marine infantrymen are not known for their carpentry and construction skills. That responsibility falls on the engineers.

Continue reading "Marine Engineers Construct Major Fortifications in Helmand's Hostile Territory" »

Posted by BR at 4:40 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — More than 160 Marines and sailors marched onto Victory Field Tuesday, where families sporting custom T-shirts and signs cheered and whistled at the prospect of their loved ones returning home from deployment.

Continue reading "Animal Company returns from Iraq" »

Posted by BR at 2:09 PM | Permalink

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.—The Marines are honoring a Nebraska native with its second-highest decoration for his heroism in Afghanistan last year.

Continue reading "Marines awarding Navy Cross to Nebraskan" »

Posted by BR at 5:33 PM | Permalink

A junior Marine severely wounded during an ambush last year in Afghanistan’s Helmand province will receive the Navy Cross on Thursday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., base officials said.

Continue reading "29 Palms Marine to receive Navy Cross" »

Posted by sr at 11:32 AM | Permalink

Walking through an empty field in the early morning on Aug. 13, 2009, the temperatures are already in the high 90s and every Marine is thankful for the relative cool.

Continue reading "3/11 provides security to locals around Fiddlers Green" »

Posted by BR at 6:55 PM | Permalink

A Marine from Twentynine Palms is set Thursday to receive the Navy Cross for bravery during combat in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine from Twentynine Palms to receive Navy Cross for bravery" »

Posted by BR at 12:50 PM | Permalink

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) offloaded the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Aug. 13 after successfully completing Talisman Saber 2009

Continue reading "Essex Says Sayonara to 3/5 BLT, Offloads 31st MEU" »

Posted by BR at 12:54 PM | Permalink

CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – Though there was no stadium with thousands of screaming fans or a grassy playing field, the spirit of competition filled the searing air in the Desert of Death.

Continue reading "Marines Exercise Alternative PT on 'any Given Sunday'" »

Posted by BR at 5:43 PM | Permalink

MARINE COPRS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —

Marines, sailors, friends and family members gathered at the Combat Center’s Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field Aug. 7, for the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s change of command and relief and appointment ceremonies where the battalion received a new commanding officer and sergeant major

Continue reading "3/7 receives new commander, sergeant major" »

Posted by BR at 7:46 PM | Permalink

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2009 – Hours into the new Operation Eastern Resolve II in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, defense officials report that U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers are confronting “some resistance” as they work to secure the area for the Aug. 20 elections.

Continue reading "Effort Aims to Secure Southern Afghanistan for Elections" »

Posted by BR at 2:03 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —

Marines and sailors of the 7th Marine Regiment held small, training sessions during a pre-deployment exercise here July 27-Aug. 14 to prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan as part of Regimental Combat Team 7.

Continue reading "Afghanistan-bound Marines rehearse wide range of enemy encounters" »

Posted by BR at 6:46 PM | Permalink

More than 2,200 Marines and sailors will head to sea Monday for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s third and final predeployment training exercises at sea.

Continue reading "11th MEU readies for deployment" »

Posted by BR at 3:15 PM | Permalink

When 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment's Headquarters and Services Co. arrived at this location in mid-June, 40 British soldiers were harassed daily by insurgent gunfire. It was nothing more than a "hot LZ" according to some of the Marines here. Within a few days of their arrival, the Marines increased their numbers with elements of the battalion's B and C Companies. With stronger numbers and more firepower, the insurgents slowly began to get the point. Now, there hasn't been a firefight in the vicinity of the base since June 21. That was one week prior to the July 2 kickoff of Operation Khanjar, a major in which Marines spread across the Helmand River valley to deny insurgents freedom of movement and provide security for the people in the region.

Continue reading "Patrol Base Jaker – Under Construction" »

Posted by BR at 3:39 PM | Permalink

BATH, MAINE — Debra Dunham swung true with her silver bottle of champagne Saturday, cracking it against the bulbus sonar dome on the bow of the Navy destroyer that bears the name of her son. With its traditional alcoholic bath, the hull known as DDG 109 took its real name: “Jason Dunham.”

Continue reading "Destroyer christened in honor of MoH Marine" »

Posted by sr at 9:18 PM | Permalink

Five years after Cpl. Jason Dunham died in Iraq, his former commander delivered the shattered remains of his helmet to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., save one piece that will be sealed within the mast of a Navy destroyer named in Dunham’s honor.

Continue reading "Fallen MoH recipient’s helmet lives on" »

Posted by sr at 11:01 AM | Permalink

BATH, Maine (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy christened the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), Aug. 1 during a ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.

Continue reading "Navy Christens Newest Arleigh Burke-Class Ship Jason Dunham" »

Posted by sr at 9:18 AM | Permalink

Corporal who covered live grenade with body honored at christening

BATH, Maine - In a solemn ceremony punctuated by talk of courage, service and sacrifice, the mother of a Marine corporal on Saturday christened a warship honoring her son, who died after covering an exploding grenade to protect his comrades in Iraq.

Continue reading "New warship named for lifesaving Marine" »

Posted by sr at 8:01 AM | Permalink

Destroyer will be christened Saturday

The name of a brave young man from Scio forever will be remembered by the sailors and Marines who set foot on a warship about to be christened.

Continue reading "Warship honors heroic Marine" »

Posted by sr at 11:38 AM | Permalink

NAWA DISTRICT, HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan —
More than 200 local Afghans gathered for a shura here with July 23, 2009. A shura serves as a meeting for locals to voice their opinions and concerns to leaders who have the power to change things.

Continue reading "Helmand Province governor visits local leaders, Marines in Nawa District" »

Posted by sr at 10:41 AM | Permalink

No fatalities for Camp Pendleton's 1/5 during deadliest month in Afghanistan

"Shape, clear, hold and build."

Continue reading "Local Marines holding ground in Helmand's Nawa District" »

Posted by sr at 11:18 PM | Permalink

NAWA, Afghanistan — In three combat tours in Anbar Province, Marine Sgt. Jacob Tambunga fought the deadliest insurgents in Iraq.

Continue reading "Iraq Veterans Find Afghan Enemy Even Bolder" »

Posted by sr at 10:34 PM | Permalink

SAHL SINJAR AIRFIELD, Iraq —
From the Rumaylah oil fields in Operation Iraqi Freedom I to Operation Phantom Fury during the retaking of Fallujah to patrolling the western border of Iraq, and now providing security and training for the 11th Iraqi Army Brigade, the Wolfpack Marines have fought our country’s battles in light armored vehicles.

Continue reading "Wolfpack sees OIF from start to finish" »

Posted by sr at 11:21 PM | Permalink

NAWA DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Key leaders with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, participated in a tribal shura July 19 at the Afghan police compound next to Patrol Base Jaker here.

Continue reading "Marines, Afghan security forces meet with hundreds of village elders in Helmand" »

Posted by sr at 9:30 AM | Permalink

Since childhood, New Braunfels man's dream was to join the Marines.

Long before he hit Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Brandon Lara knew he wanted to be a Marine. Not even the outbreak of war in Iraq, when relatives tried to persuade him not to sign up, could shake his will.

Continue reading "Local Marine killed on 2nd Iraq tour" »

Posted by sr at 8:48 AM | Permalink

69 test positive for H1N1; crew members with flulike symptoms quarantined

At least 69 sailors and Marines tested positive for H1N1 swine flu within a Navy ship group now visiting Hawaii.

Continue reading "Swine flu hits 13th MEU while visiting Hawaii" »

Posted by sr at 8:45 PM | Permalink

Logistical Difficulties Inhibit Troops During Clashes in Southern Afghan Province

GARMSIR, Afghanistan, July 19 -- Marines pushing deep into a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province battled insurgents in a day of firefights around a key bazaar Sunday, as an operation designed as a U.S. show of force confronted resistance from Taliban fighters as well as constraints on supplies and manpower.

Continue reading "Marines Face Stiff Taliban Resistance" »

Posted by sr at 11:07 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Imagine having thousands of brothers and sisters. Imagine how worried you’d be about whether they’re comfortable, safe or taking care of themselves.

Continue reading "Expeditionary chaplain maintains battalion’s spiritual readiness" »

Posted by sr at 10:59 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Rising insurgency, rules of engagement, roadside bombs ... there’s something about Afghanistan that looks, sounds and feels like Iraq.

Continue reading "In the Heat of Afghanistan, Shades of Iraq" »

Posted by BR at 9:17 PM | Permalink

AYNAK, Afghanistan — Afghan villagers had complained to the Marines for days: The police are the problem, not the Taliban. They steal from villagers and beat them. Days later, the Marines learned firsthand what the villagers meant.

Continue reading "Crooked Afghan police challenge Marines" »

Posted by sr at 7:44 AM | Permalink

U.S. Marines deployed across an Afghan river valley are waging war on insurgents not by targeting their bases but, rather, by protecting communities.

NAWA, Afghanistan -- Most of the mud-brick stalls that line the street in this sweltering town on the Helmand River closed down a year ago when Taliban fighters began swaggering through the bazaar, levying taxes on merchants and seeding the roads with homemade bombs. Shopkeepers placed their wares behind padlocked tin doors, teachers shuttered the school, the doctor abandoned the health clinic and residents with means fled to other parts of southern Afghanistan

Continue reading "A Fight for Ordinary Peace" »

Posted by sr at 11:15 PM | Permalink

KOSHTAY, Afghanistan (AFP) — Stranded for three days on a single stretch of road in southern Afghanistan, the US Marines wondered why they had not been ambushed by the Taliban -- and then finally the attack came.

Continue reading "Isolated US convoys in Afghanistan ambush targets" »

Posted by sr at 10:59 PM | Permalink

KOSHTAY, Afghanistan (AFP) – For the route clearance team of US Marines, another tense night crammed inside their armoured vehicles was proof that winning control of Afghanistan's roads would not be easy.

Continue reading "US military offensive bogged by Afghan road mines" »

Posted by BR at 1:00 PM | Permalink

SAN DIEGO — Three Navy ships had to remain off the coast of Guam this week after reports of crew members were suspected of having swine flu.

Continue reading "Flu forces 13th MEU to cancel tiger cruise" »

Posted by BR at 12:51 PM | Permalink

After seven days of seizing poppy-rich areas of southern Afghanistan, the Marine Corps is planning a shift to gain the trust of Afghan civilians but expects the Taliban to return and fight for the land, the top Marine commander there said Wednesday.

Continue reading "2nd MEB makes gains, expects more fighting" »

Posted by BR at 8:04 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVICE, Afghanistan — It's the middle of the night at the east corner guard post of Fiddler's Green, a Marine fire base in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, along the border with Pakistan.

Continue reading "As Death Toll Rises, Marines Stay Focused in Afghanistan" »

Posted by sr at 11:13 PM | Permalink

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When enemy insurgents fire mortars or rockets at U.S. and coalition troops, a long beep resonates and a small blip appears on the screen of counter battery radar Marines.

Continue reading "3rd Battalion, 11th Marines Regiment Maintain Umbrella of Security" »

Posted by BR at 7:15 PM | Permalink

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines trapped Taliban fighters in a residential compound and persuaded the insurgents to allow women and children to leave. The troops then moved in — only to discover that the militants had slipped out, dressed in women’s burqas.

Continue reading "Marines push militants out of Taliban region" »

Posted by sr at 10:35 AM | Permalink

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – "Everyone always looks forward to going outside the wire on missions," said Army Staff Sgt. John Smith, an infantryman who provides security for Provincial Reconstruction Team-Farah in Afghanistan's Farah province.
"They enjoy meeting the local population and watching the children play.
That's our motivation, to see how happy the children are and that they now have a future ahead of them."

Continue reading "Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan Gauges Progress in Farah" »

Posted by BR at 10:38 PM | Permalink

NAWA, Afghanistan – Taliban militants were nowhere in sight as columns of U.S. Marines walked for a third day Saturday near this town in southern Afghanistan, but the desert heat proved an enemy in its own right.

Continue reading "Marines battle heat, small-arms fire in Afghanistan" »

Posted by BR at 11:29 PM | Permalink

A team of medics and nurses who usually treat injured soldiers flown back to the UK are in Afghanistan helping to save the lives of frontline troops.

Continue reading "UK medics giving front-line help" »

Posted by BR at 7:58 PM | Permalink

NAWA, Afghanistan – Taliban militants were nowhere in sight as the columns of U.S. Marines walked a third straight day across southern Afghanistan. But the desert heat proved an enemy in its own right, with several troops falling victim Saturday to temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Continue reading "Marines march in grueling Afghan sun for July 4" »

Posted by sr at 10:18 PM | Permalink

USS Bonhomme Richard, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducted an underway replenishment (UNREP) with the Fleet Replenishment Oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO-202) July 1.

Continue reading "Underway Replenishment Ensures Navy's Flexibility, Forward Presence" »

Posted by BR at 1:41 PM | Permalink

NAWA, Afghanistan – Marines took Afghan insurgents by surprise early Thursday morning when they dropped behind their lines to hit them as part of the just-launched major operation against Taliban fighters.

Continue reading "Marines Hit Insurgents Behind Lines" »

Posted by sr at 10:53 PM | Permalink

MOUNT SAN JACINTO STATE PARK, PALM SPRINGS, Calif. —
“We’d be going that fast too if we had such small packs,” said a hiker with a full camping load on her back as eight men with military hair cuts and proper civilian attire passed her on the steep mountainside.

Continue reading "2/7 Scout Snipers take a ‘little’ hike" »

Posted by sr at 6:30 PM | Permalink

Comprehensive Special Features New Footage of U.S. Navy's Decisive Response, First-Ever Accounts from Maersk Alabama's Crew and Exclusive Footage From Military Channel Production Crews Aboard U.S. Navy Vessels Leading Counter-Piracy Operations

Continue reading "Discovery Channel's SOMALI PIRATE TAKEDOWN THE REAL STORY Documents Never-Before-Told Stories Behind Dramatic Maersk Alabama Pirate Standoff" »

Posted by BR at 4:54 PM | Permalink

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) departed Sasebo, Japan, for exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09) June 12.

Continue reading "Essex Departs For Talisman Saber" »

Posted by BR at 3:25 PM | Permalink

RED SEA – The global war on terrorism Expeditionary Medal was awarded to Marines serving with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit at a ceremony pier side in the Middle East, June 1, representing the entire MEU spread across the Middle Eastern region.

Continue reading "First Timers From the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Awarded Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal" »

Posted by sr at 8:43 AM | Permalink

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Visiting the Great Wall of China is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most.

Continue reading "For Marine, marathon on the Great Wall of China was grueling but rewarding" »

Posted by sr at 11:21 PM | Permalink

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan —
Marines with the S-6, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Communications Platoon, conducted a communications exercise May 11-13 in preparation for the MEU's participation in Talisman Saber 2009 in Australia this July.

Continue reading "31st MEU conducts exercise to prepare for Talisman Saber '09" »

Posted by sr at 10:52 PM | Permalink

CAMP YASSIR, Iraq – With flags waving high and feet pounding the ground in a steady rhythm, soldiers with Commando Battalion, 7th Iraqi Army Division, showed off their military talents during a demonstration aboard Al Asad Air Base, May 23, 2009.

Continue reading "Iraqi commandos show off their combat skills for MNF-W commanding general" »

Posted by sr at 10:56 PM | Permalink

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- The San Diego based guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) responded to a vessel in distress in the Gulf of Aden May 23, rescuing 52 men women and children who had been adrift in a small skiff for approximately seven days.

Continue reading "USS Lake Champlain Rescues More Than 50 Mariners in Distress" »

Posted by sr at 11:00 PM | Permalink

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began an ARG/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (MEUEX) May 19, in the Gulf of Aden and ashore at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti.

Continue reading "Boxer ARG Begins Exercise in the Gulf of Aden" »

Posted by sr at 11:15 PM | Permalink

GULF OF ADEN – The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began an ARG/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (MEUEX) May 19, in the Gulf of Aden and ashore at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti.

Continue reading "Marines and Sailors Conduct Amphibious Exercise" »

Posted by sr at 10:50 PM | Permalink

MANAMA, Bahrain - The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans returned to sea last night, fully mission capable after completing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Shipyard dry dock in Manama, Bahrain.

Continue reading "USS New Orleans Underway from Bahrain" »

Posted by at 6:57 PM | Permalink

Soldiers and Marines serving in Iraq and Afganistan face extreme weather conditions with temperatures reaching up to 140 degrees.

Continue reading "Local Ladies Help Marines Keep Their "Cool"" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 PM | Permalink

USS BOXER – A voice announces "Mail orderlies, muster in the hangar bay," over the ship's announcement system. Next, a crowd of service members wrap around aircraft, parts and machinery in the ship's hanger-bay, each having a sense of urgency to receive that special package they have been waiting for.

Continue reading "Mail Call – It's Finally Here" »

Posted by sr at 9:29 AM | Permalink

INDIAN OCEAN, USS Boxer – The only noises coming through the thick, camouflage painted door was the feint laughter of Marines singing the chorus to "Yellow Submarine." Through the door is the Flight Deck Debark office where Sgt. Derrick S. Thompson and his seven-man Combat Cargo team reminisce on their morning wake-up call.

Continue reading "A Day in the Life of a Combat Cargo Marine" »

Posted by sr at 11:56 AM | Permalink

Lance Corporal Brady (Goose) Gustafson and his 20 fellow Marines sensed trouble on July 21 as they crept into the Afghan village of Shewan and saw civilians drifting away. Moments later, a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and machine-gun fire enveloped Gustafson's mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) and its three trailing humvees. An RPG exploded inside his vehicle, the resulting blast searing his face as it rushed through the open turret where he was manning the machine gun. He started shooting at gun flashes from an estimated 100 Taliban, some only 20 yards away. Gustafson, 21, stood up for a better firing position but was instantly racked with pain. "I looked down, and a lot of my right leg wasn't there," he says. "I could see muscle and bone, and I was bleeding pretty hard." The RPG had taken out six inches of leg bones and flesh. Gustafson's booted right foot dangled uselessly, attached only by his leg's calf muscles.

Continue reading "The 2009 TIME 100 - Brady Gustafson" »

Posted by sr at 10:12 PM | Permalink

MCAGCC — The executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center was killed Tuesday night, April 28 when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a vehicle in Yucca Valley.

Continue reading "2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment's executive officer killed in motorcycle crash" »

Posted by sr at 9:09 AM | Permalink

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq – Sand blows in small funnels across a narrow, deserted Iraqi highway. Minus the roadway itself and distant high-tension wires, there is not a single identifiable feature, only silence and the blowing sand. That is until the silence of the barren, unforgiving desert landscape gives way to the distant hum of vehicle engines.

Continue reading "Iraqi soldiers and Marine ‘Dragoons’ sweep and clear the deserts of Al Anbar province" »

Posted by sr at 10:26 AM | Permalink

MANAMA, Bahrain – USS New Orleans (LPD 18) entered a dry dock in Bahrain yesterday to continue repair work on the ship’s hull. The Navy signed a firm fixed price contract with Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard “ASRY” Shipyards in Manama, Bahrain to repair New Orleans.

Continue reading "USS New Orleans Enters Dry Dock" »

Posted by sr at 10:01 AM | Permalink

USS BOXER, At sea -- From a room blocked off by curtains and boards in the gloomy, lower parts of USS Boxer, came yelling, pounding and the noises of someone beating on barrels. Not one person was allowed in for two hours until the next group's transition into the 'secret room.'

Continue reading "A New Group of Martial-Arts Instructors Emerge From USS Boxer" »

Posted by sr at 8:54 AM | Permalink

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq —
First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, relinquished its operational responsibilities in Iraq’s Ninewa province, Iraq to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, April 7, 2009. Operating from a remote airfield near the Sinjar Mountains, the Marines of 1st LAR Bn. spent the majority of their seven-month deployment interdicting smuggling and conducting reconnaissance in the open desert terrain.

Continue reading "Wolfpack takes control of Ninewa Province from Highlanders" »

Posted by at 10:26 AM | Permalink

MOMBASA, Kenya — U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.

Continue reading "SEALs free U.S. hostage, kill 3 pirates" »

Posted by sr at 9:00 PM | Permalink

WASHINGTON — The Navy is moving an amphibious ship closer to the scene of the pirate hostage standoff off Somalia.

Continue reading "Boxer sailing toward area of pirate standoff" »

Posted by at 3:23 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment prepared for their Mojave Viper pre-deployment exercise training their small unit to company level combat skills from April 6 - 10.
The purpose of the training is to gain proficiency from the individual Marine to eventually the battalion level, through refresher and small-unit training, said Maj. Rigoberto Colon, the battalion operations officer and a native of New York.

Continue reading "‘Thundering Third’ prepares to tame Viper" »

Posted by at 3:31 PM | Permalink

A Somali negotiator said Friday pirates holding American ship captain Richard Phillips hostage want a $2 million ransom and are ready to kill Phillips if attacked.

Continue reading "Pirates Demand Ransom After U.S. Ship Captain Tries to Escape" »

Posted by at 3:18 PM | Permalink

RED SEA - The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit is scheduled to conduct an agricultural wash down, sustainment training and cultural awareness tours for Marines and Sailors of USS Boxer while at a port in the Middle East, April 1-8.

Continue reading "13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Conducts Wash Down Before Heading Home" »

Posted by sr at 10:56 PM | Permalink

QATAR LAND FORCES TRAINING AREA, Qatar – Elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), began conducting Exercise Eastern Maverick 2009, alongside Qatari military forces on March 28, a bilateral training exercise designed to build and improve cooperation between both military forces.

Continue reading "13th MEU Participates in Eastern Maverick" »

Posted by at 11:13 AM | Permalink

Sailors assigned to USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted an amphibious landing on a beach near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, April 1.

Continue reading "USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Land on Djiboutian Beach" »

Posted by at 11:21 AM | Permalink

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. —
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit has been conducting a comprehensive Marine air-ground task force exercise since March 20 at numerous locations in California as part of its pre-deployment program.

Continue reading "11th MEU conducts last land-based Marine air-ground task force exercise" »

Posted by sr at 8:06 PM | Permalink

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. —
After years of estrangement from Marine expeditionary units, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company personnel, or Anglico, the Corp’s air controllers, are once again back with the 11th MEU to do what they do best: Bring death from above.

Continue reading "Corps’ premiere air-controllers back with 11th MEU" »

Posted by sr at 9:28 AM | Permalink

Marines stand by as one of their own dons a black protective suit in preparation for what seems to be a race. As the Marine finishes putting on the suit, a dog handler emerges from the background with a barking German shepherd. As the Marine slowly walks in front of the dog, the dog’s bark grows louder. A few more seconds pass then without notice, the Marine begins to run. Not long after, the handler releases the dog’s leash, and the animal lunges after the Marine in search for the perfect angle of attack.

Continue reading "Quick Reaction Force learns more about man’s best friend" »

Posted by sr at 12:10 AM | Permalink

MANAMA, Bahrain – Marines and Sailors assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) spent the day playing with children from the Alia School for Early Intervention in Bahrain March, 24.

Continue reading "Marines and Sailors Volunteer at Children’s Center" »

Posted by sr at 10:19 PM | Permalink

(CNN) -- Seven suspected pirates are in German custody after they fired on a naval tanker off the coast of Somalia and were pursued by warships, the German military said.

Continue reading "Pirates captured after attacking German tanker" »

Posted by sr at 12:42 PM | Permalink

U.S. troops gather evidence for prosecution of Aden piracy

The second part of a series.

THE GULF OF ADEN — When American forces in the Gulf of Aden find a suspected pirate skiff, they don’t send in the Marines, Navy SEALs or other combat forces. The first people to confront the suspected pirates are members of a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment.

Continue reading "The law of the seas" »

Posted by sr at 12:48 PM | Permalink

Other Attacks Increase off Somali Coast

USS BOXER, At Sea – In a show of international sea power in the Gulf of Aden, seven nations representing three task forces coordinated efforts to pursue a skiff after the pirates on board opened fire on a German oiler, the Federal German Ship (FGS) Spessart, March 29.

Continue reading "Boxer Supports International Counter-Piracy Effort in Gulf of Aden" »

Posted by sr at 12:38 PM | Permalink

(Day One of a two-day series)

THE GULF OF ADEN — The USS Boxer is an impressive ship, purpose-built to show up on the horizon and grab a well-protected beach from a determined enemy. An array of helicopters can spot threats before they ever see the amphibious assault ship. Harrier jets can pound them into the ground. And hovercrafts can carry hundreds of Marines and their armored vehicles to storm the beach.

Continue reading "Combined Task Force 151 hunts down pirates in the Gulf of Aden" »

Posted by sr at 12:53 PM | Permalink

A Marine will receive the Navy Cross on Friday for helping his comrades fight their way out of an ambush in Afghanistan despite sustaining a traumatic injury to his right leg, officials said Tuesday.

Continue reading "2/7 Marine to receive Navy Cross on Friday" »

Posted by at 3:50 PM | Permalink

CAMP MEJID, Iraq – The members of Military Transition Team 7, working with the Reconnaissance Platoon of Regimental Combat Team 8, recently launched a month-long training course designed to hone the skills of the 7th Iraqi Army Division’s Special Operations Battalion.

Continue reading "7th Iraqi Army Division kicks off month-long commando course" »

Posted by sr at 12:34 PM | Permalink

AL KHARMA, Iraq – Dogs barked as four Iraqi soldiers advanced toward a house nestled between dirt fields outside Tharthar, Iraq. Once at the house, an Iraqi soldier questioned the male occupant as another soldier kept a watchful eye during a cache sweep in the vicinity of Al Kharma, Iraq, March 23, 2009.

Continue reading "Recon teams with Iraqi scout platoon in search of caches" »

Posted by sr at 12:26 PM | Permalink

MANAMA, Bahrain – The U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship that collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, have been undergoing extensive engineering and damage assessments since pulling into Bahrain March 21.

Continue reading "USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Undergo Extensive Assessments" »

Posted by at 10:33 AM | Permalink

NINEWA PROVINCE, Iraq – Since the Marine Corps is known for its expeditionary prowess, maybe one of the best examples of this trait can be found in Iraq’s Ninewa province. Patrolling the terrain of northern Iraq, the Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, have spent the bulk of their deployment staying true to this expeditionary mindset by remaining ‘outside the wire’ to interdict smuggling.

Continue reading "LAR remains expeditionary throughout deployment" »

Posted by sr at 10:22 PM | Permalink

(CNN) -- U.S. naval forces hunting pirates off Somalia detained six people this week who appeared to be pursuing a commercial shipping vessel, but soon released them because of a lack of evidence.

Continue reading "U.S. Navy detains, releases six suspected pirates" »

Posted by at 5:04 PM | Permalink

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship that collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, arrived in port Bahrain March 21.

Continue reading "USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Arrive In Port Bahrain" »

Posted by at 5:01 PM | Permalink

USS Boxer, At Sea – The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) apprehended six suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden yesterday after responding to a distress call from two nearby merchant vessels.

Continue reading "Suspected Pirates Apprehended and Released in the Gulf of Aden" »

Posted by at 4:58 PM | Permalink

MANAMA, Bahrain – Two U.S. Navy vessels — a nuclear-powered submarine and an amphibious ship — collided before dawn Friday in the mouth of the Persian Gulf, one of the world's most important sea passages for oil supplies.

Continue reading "2 US Navy vessels collide in Strait of Hormuz" »

Posted by at 4:51 PM | Permalink

USS BOXER, At Sea - Elements from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted bilateral training with regional partners, March 5-17, to strengthen relationships and improve interoperability.

Continue reading "13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Conducts Exercise Sea Soldier" »

Posted by sr at 8:51 AM | Permalink