Rules of engagement again questioned on Capitol Hill
June 29th, 2010 | Afghanistan Capitol Hill Infantry | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Cpl. James Kirkpatrick, of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, makes a long leap across a canal east of Marjah, Afghanistan while on patrol May 24. Kirkpatrick's squad was later attacked during that same patrol in a coordinated attack. (Thomas Brown/Staff)
Rep. Walter Jones is back at it.
The Republican congressman with Camp Lejeune, N.C., in his backyard has again picked up the drumbeat calling for a congressional review of the rules of engagement used by the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
In a letter released Friday, Jones again asked House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton, D.-Mo., and ranking member Howard “Buck” McKeon, R.-Calif., to hold a “classified hearing” in which military leadership explains the rules under which rank-and-file troops conduct operations outside the wire. The letter is also signed by Reps. Jeff Miller, R.-Fla., and Doug Lamborn, R.-Colo.
“As you are fully aware, recent media reports have increasingly raised the issue of the current Rules of Engagement (ROE) and Tactical Directives in Afghanistan,” the letter said. “We feel it is imperative that the Full Committee hold a classified hearing on this issue as soon as possible in order for Members to better understand whether the current Rules of Engagement and Tactical Directives are the best policy for our servicemembers fighting bravely in Afghanistan.”
It isn’t the first time Jones has called for a review of ROE, the classified guidelines under which Marines, soldiers and other U.S. service members fight. As Marine Corps Times has covered ad nauseum, they’ve been criticized repeatedly in recent months, including in an October cover story in our magazine.
In previous interviews, House Armed Services Committee staffers have said an open hearing on ROE would not be possible due to the classified nature of the discussion. A classified briefing before the whole committee is unlikely unless more members call for it, a committee staff member speaking on background told me in October.
An interesting footnote to the whole discussion: Jones, Miller and Lamborn use comments in the recent blockbuster Rolling Stone article that led to the demise of Gen. Stanley McChrystal to bolster their argument. They point out that a Special Forces operator who spent years in Iraq and Afghanistan told Rolling Stone that “every real soldier will tell you the same thing” about the ROE — that it puts lives in danger.
Coming off my recent embed with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, in Marjah, it came as no surprise to me that Rolling Stone was able to find troops frustrated by the ROE defined by McChrystal. For example, Marines I went on patrol with in Afghanistan expressed dread over dealing with spotters, who observe Marines on patrol and drop back as they advance, only to disappear completely when nearby insurgents working in coordination with the spotters open fire.
Since the spotters carry no weapons, Marines say they are not allowed to fire on them, even though their involvement in a pending attack is obvious. As one corpsman said before we came under fire in May, it always starts with “one guy pointing.”
In a telephone interview, Jones told me this afternoon that he continues to hear ROE concerns from “moms and dads” in his district regularly, and believes the whole armed services committee needs to hear about the restrictions U.S. troops face.
“To me, it just sounds like a chaotic situation,” he said. “If we’re going to send them over there and keep them there, for God’s sakes, they need to be able to defend themselves.”
Behind the cover: FY 2011 SRBs
June 29th, 2010 | Battle Rattle Behind the Cover | Posted by militaryonline
Battle Rattle presents its second installment of “Behind the Cover.” This week, Marine Corps Times conducts an in-depth analysis of fiscal 2011 Selective Re-enlistment Bonuses.
No doubt, Marines throughout the fleet have heard that the bonus well is running dry. That’s not necessarily the case. Although the total funding allotted to re-enlistment bonuses in fiscal 2011 is 54 percent less than the amount offered this year, Marines can still earn up to $90,000 depending on their primary military occupational specialty and whether they choose to embark on a completely new, in demand career path.
The article highlights the MOSs that offer the greatest payout, career fields that are eligible for bonuses in fiscal 2011 that weren’t eligible this year, and 13 in demand fields that will open up for early lateral moves on July 1.
Officials did issue one word of caution: Re-up in July before boatspaces fill up. That’s right, boatspace caps are back once again, which means the Corps simply doesn’t have enough room for everyone to stay in.
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Javeline Thrust 2010 now just a memory for 24th Marines
June 25th, 2010 | Afghanistan Infantry Reserve Training | Posted by Gina Cavallaro
Marines with 1st Battalion, 24th Marines will head back to their Selfridge, Mich., headquarters Saturday after working their seats off for two weeks in Javeline Thrust 2010.
More than 4,500 Marines from air, ground and logistics units participated in the exercise, the largest Marine Forces Reserve exercise of the year. It took place between the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., and the Hawathorn Weapons Army Depot in Hawthorn, Nev.
The terrain, with elevations ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 feet over a 180-square-mile area, simulated conditions in Afghanistan, minus actual Taliban fighters.
My drink with Gen. Jim Amos
June 24th, 2010 | Battle Rattle | Posted by Tony Lombardo
Tired of standing in a crowded Washington bar, my friends and I spied some open seats at a table already in use by a couple eating dinner. We joined them, and moments later the Corps’ future commandant bought me a whiskey.
The long version goes like this:
Back in February, I was just digging into my new role as Marine Corps Times’ news editor, so I did not immediately recognize Gen. Jim Amos, who was out of uniform and with his wife, Bonnie. My friends and I asked the couple if we could share their table space, and they were happy to oblige.
Striking up conversation, Amos asked what I was doing in Washington. I explained my job to him, and he smiled.
“I’m the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps,” he said. 
My eyes practically popped out of my skull. Sure, the place was across the street from Marine Barracks at 8th & I, but I had no reason to think I’d stumble into a seat next to one of the Corps’ top leaders.
I said, “Sir, nice to meet you!” and shook his hand. Our group’s ensuing discussion touched on life in D.C., marriage (I tied the knot in May; the Amoses have been married 39 years) and, of all things, memories of New Orleans.
Though he abstained, the general was kind enough to buy a round for the table, and that’s how the CMC-to-be bought me a glass of Wild Turkey.
Petraeus replaces McChrystal
June 23rd, 2010 | Battle Rattle | Posted by militaryonline
President Obama fired Gen. Stanley McChrystal Wednesday after he and his team made offensive comments to Rolling Stone magazine about the president, vice president and other key members of the national security team.
Despite wide-spread speculation that Marine Gen. James N. Mattis would be the new four star in charge of the Afghanistan war effort, Obama instead named Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Central Command. Petraeus also oversaw the surge and new counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq.
Did Obama make the right decision in firing McChrystal? And is Petraeus the right choice to take his place? Let us know what you think.
Mattis to lead Afghan fight?
June 22nd, 2010 | Battle Rattle | Posted by Gina Cavallaro
Gen. James Mattis (Photo by Cpl. Zachary Dyer/Marine Corps)
Lots of speculation out there about the fate of Gen. Stanley McChrystal after his uncharacteristic display of indiscipline during interviews with Rolling Stone magazine.
At least one Washington military analyst says the job should go to Army Gen. David Petraeus, but will more likely go to Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, who just got passed over for the job of commandant and is about to step down as head of Joint Forces Command.
In a blog entry at foreignpolicy.com, author and former Washington Post military writer Tom Ricks says it “may be time for a whole new team in Afghanistan” and that Mattis could be the man to head that team, despite his reputation for being even more outspoken than McChrystal just became.
What do you think?
Behind the Cover: A look at Gen. James Amos, your next CMC
June 21st, 2010 | Behind the Cover General officers The CMC | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Beginning this week, Rattle Rattle will present “Behind the Cover,” a brief look at what’s inside the print edition of Marine Corps Times.
We start that feature today with a rather obvious cover story on newsstands this week: A look at your next Marine Corps commandant.
As first reported by Marine Corps Times sister publication Defense News, Gen. James Amos, the current assistant commandant, has been selected by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to lead the Marine Corps after Gen. James Conway retires this fall. The Associated Press reported that he interviewed with President Barack Obama for the job on Thursday.
James Amos, 33 years ago. (Photo courtesy the University of Idaho)
That’s common knowledge at this point, but we’ve taken it a step farther, diving into the rationale for selecting what will be the first ever aviator to lead the Marine Corps. We also explore the general’s rise through the Corps and his leadership style, speaking with numerous sources who have worked with him while he served as a general officer.
One fun fact I’ll share here: Amos graduated from the University of Idaho in 1970.
That’s his photo in the university’s 1967 yearbook to the left.
Back in the office and putting it in perspective
June 17th, 2010 | Afghanistan Embedded journalism Infantry Marjah | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Cpl. Jordan Weaver, a designated marksman and team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, communicates by radio with leadership at Combat Outpost Yazzie during a Marine patrol in Marjah, Afghanistan, last month. (Dan Lamothe//Staff)
SPRINGFIELD, Va. — The journey is over.
After six weeks in Afghanistan, three of which came in some of the most violent sections of Marjah, I’m back in the office at Military Times headquarters. The main focus today for me is pitching in on an in-depth print story about Gen. James Amos likely becoming the next commandant of the Marine Corps, while combing through notes and anecdotes collected in Afghanistan that I haven’t yet reported.
Wearing a shirt and tie for the first time in nearly two months, I’m still struggling to put my trip in perspective, but I’m grateful for the experience. In fact, I’m already considering what my next war zone foray might be, because I’m now convinced that there is no substitute for embedding with military units to accurately capture the moods, hardships and successes that occur at the ground level.
Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while knows that my reporting team encountered its adventures while out in the field with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. Just like Marine deployments, the assignment had moments that were frustrating and scary, but there were also times filled with laughter, relief and boredom, too.
Perhaps the most rewarding part was getting to know some of the Marines in the field who made life a little easier for me, knowing full well that it was my duty to report things as I saw them, pros and cons included.
I’ll remember Sgt. Daniel Leith, the burly squad leader who patiently fielded question after question from me after my initial foray outside the wire with India Company, 3/6.
I’ll remember Staff Sgt. Ryan Clay, a salty platoon sergeant who threw one hell of a spiral with a football and who made sure we felt welcome at the rustic Yellow Schoolhouse, even if there wasn’t always much to share.
And, yes, I’ll remember Gunnery Sgt. Benjamin Lepping, who is now famous for his Sarah Palin tattoo, but is widely loved and respected for his sense of humor and fearless willingness to go outside the wire late at night to disarm improvised explosive devices.
There’s easily a dozen other Marines I could mention, but you get the point.
Two weeks ago after I cycled out of Marjah, my mother, dealing with having a son in a war zone for the first time, quietly left the following comment on this blog:
I want to thank all the guys and all the families who have been so supportive of my kid’s work in the last few weeks.
I was a little antsy about Dan going into a war zone with a week’s worth of training, armed with nothing but a pencil and a laptop. From where I sit, your guys have been extremely helpful to the rookie tag-a-long, watching his butt like it was one of their own. Thanks for keeping my clown in one piece.
I might wince a bit at the “rookie” part, but I have no problems making sure that readers see her sentiments here today. Like many Marines, I’m lucky to have a supportive family and a patient wife who already has told me she understands my job and doesn’t mind me going to Afghanistan again.
Thanks for the hospitality, Marines. I’ll see you downrange again soon.
Making sense of the numbers
June 17th, 2010 | Battle Rattle | Posted by militaryonline
President Obama has tapped Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, the former Mississippi governor, to formulate “a long-term Gulf Coast restoration plan.”
Details about the plan are not clear, but it’s likely to span several decades. BP also has recently agreed to put $20 billion aside for claims, but the New York Times reported that legal costs could soar to more than $60 billion if criminal charges are filed. Just to put that into perspective, that’s more than double the Corps’ total budget request for fiscal 2011.
Get some … Xbox LIVE points
June 16th, 2010 | Battle Rattle Recruiting | Posted by militaryonline
You can earn your share of 200,000 Microsoft points when you download Marine Corps gamer themes, like the one above, and pictures packs from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
So far, 883 have said they “like” the announcement on the Corps’ official Facebook page and 169 have commented on the post. Although most of those comments consist of Ooh-rahs, a handful of Marines have asked the Corps to show some love for PS3. It’s not clear if there are any plans in the works for that.