Marines sport Justin Bieber paraphernalia in Afghanistan?
May 3rd, 2012 | Battle Rattle Marines Pop culture | Posted by James Sanborn
The Daily Mail, a British tabloid, ran a story today about some “Marines” in Afghanistan sporting tight pink shirts with pop-star Justin Bieber on them. When I first saw the headline I thought why would any U.S. Marine — a hardened warrior — sport a tight Justin Bieber shirt?
Then I looked more closely and something seems off. These guys have a lot of hair. And the guy on the left needs to police his ‘stache. The Daily Mail reports that the photos were uploaded to Reddit by someone identifying themselves only as vchama.
Thus begins my conspiracy theory. I think this is all a ruse — part of an inter-service rivalry in Afghanistan. Are these guys Royal Marines? Are they Canadian soldiers who couldn’t resist supporting their fellow countryman? Yes Bieber is Canadian. I thought this must be a practical joke and whoever these guys are stole some MarPat to sully the good name of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Well, as the dedicated investigative journalist I am, always asking the hard questions and digging into the core of what is important to the Corps, I tracked down the user’s account. There I found a caption that didn’t say much, but does say THESE ARE CANADIANS! NOT U.S. MARINES! Also after a detailed forensic analysis of the photos it was revealed that the utilities worn by these solders are not actual MarPat.
As further evidence that these are not U.S. Marines these photos were also on the account.
What do you think the story behind these photos is?
Behind the cover: Female Marines head to infantry school
April 23rd, 2012 | Battle Rattle | Posted by James Sanborn
This week’s Marine Corps Times is a must read. In it we give you the lowdown on the Corps’ plan to test women for combat specialties.
Under Defense Department guidance, women are banned from serving in specialties whose primary function is to close with and destroy the enemy. But that could change. In a historic first, the Marine Corps is now planning to send women to the Infantry Officers School as part of a comprehensive research program that looks at whether opening more fields to women is a possibility. Enlisted women could get a shot, too, at one of the Infantry Training Battalions. Also part of the possible plan are gender-neutral physical fitness standards that would apply to men and women and a Corps-wide survey so you can sound off on the matter.
Could women soon be marching into battle as infantry-women? For all the details, and more stories that matter to you, pick up this week’s edition of Marine Corps Times, on newsstands now. Or subscribe here.
Pentagon portrait of Navy captain a prank
April 17th, 2012 | Battle Rattle History and heritage Pentagon Washington | Posted by James Sanborn
The Pentagon’s halls are adorned with artifacts, paintings and portraits that herald each of the service’s illustrious histories. Walking from one wing to another visitors and staff pass portraits of military greats like Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, Gen. George S. Patton, and Adm. Chester Nimitz.
One portrait, however, was a mystery that turned out to be a prank of epic proportions. Check out this story by the Wall Street Journal on how Capt. Eldridge Hord III, now 53, has had his portrait hanging in the nation’s seat of military power for nearly a year with a plaque claiming it was the likeness of an ensign lost at sea in the 19th century.
His modern blow-dried hairstyle finally gave him away.
Do you have any stories of epic hoaxes or pranks from your time in the military?
Behind the Cover: The Drawdown Plan
April 9th, 2012 | Afghanistan Battle Rattle Behind the Cover budget Camp Lejeune Drawdown Manpower Marines | Posted by James Sanborn
By now it’s no news that the military is facing serious cuts. The Marine Corps alone will drop 20,000 over the next five years. But just how leaders will make those cuts has been a mystery — until now.
To get the lowdown on how the Marine Corps will drawdown by 2016, and what the plan means for you, check out this week’s edition of Marine Corps Times.
For our cover story, we traveled to Camp Lejeune, N.C., to sit in on a briefing by the drawdown’s architects who are now on an eight-week tour of the fleet. In it, we learned what cash incentives are up for grabs, how it will effect re-up and promotion opportunities, and what MOSs and ranks are most at risk.
Also in this week’s issue is a pair of great faker stories by staff writer Gina Cavallaro. The first is about a Pennsylvania man who claims to be a Marine first sergeant. Even his brother has called him out, but he was still able to dupe a Canadian soldier who started a foundation for Afghanistan veterans grappling with PTSD. The second revisits the case of Skyler Whalen. He once claimed to be a gunny, but has now moved on to impersonating a police officer.
Pick up Marine Corps Times on newsstands now or click here to subscribe.
Katy Perry joins the Marine Corps?
March 21st, 2012 | Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Marines Pop culture Recruit Recruiting women | Posted by James Sanborn
Check out Katy Perry’s new “Part of Me” music video filmed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. She joins the Marine Corps in what amounts to one big, long, awesome recruiting ad. Its not quite a Marine in dress blues slaying wizards on a chess board, but its a close second.
Get More: Katy Perry, Part Of Me, Music, More Music Videos
If you missed that vintage reference, check out this recruiting commercial from before some of you were born.
Fuel TV posts profile of former Marine and UFC fighter Brian Stann
March 21st, 2012 | Battle Rattle Infantry Iraq Mixed marital arts Sports Veterans Wounded warriors | Posted by James Sanborn
Fuel TV has posted the Brian Stann profile that aired last night. In it, the former Marine officer turned pro-MMA fighter recounts his time in Iraq including a six-day battle for which he was awarded the Silver Star.
Former Marine Brian Stann profiled on UFC Ultimate Insider
March 21st, 2012 | Iraq Mixed marital arts Veterans | Posted by James Sanborn
Last night, UFC Ultimate Insider on Fuel TV profiled Marine Captain turned pro fighter Brian Stann. For those of you who missed it, UFC.com should post the entire episode online later this week. Check back for a link.
In the meantime, watch the trailer. In it Stann talks not just about his UFC career, but about his time in Iraq where he was awarded the Silver Star for a pitched six day battle in 2005. He and his unit — 2nd Mobile Assault Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines — held a critical bridge after being ambushed by insurgents from all sides and taking more than 30 RPG rounds.
Since then Stann has launched a successful MMA career and opened his own gym names Warrior Legion MMA in Alpharetta, Ga. He operates it with George Lockhart, his friend and a former instructor at the Marine Corps Martial Arts Center of Excellence, in Quantico, Va.
Marines with HMH-464 return to North Carolina from Afghanistan deployment
February 9th, 2012 | Aviation Battle Rattle Marjah Sangin | Posted by James Sanborn
Members of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 are slated to return to Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., on Monday after a seven month deployment to Afghsnitan.
While downrange, “The Condors” provided assault support for 16 Marine and 5 coalition units moving a total of 35,000 passengers and 6.5 million pounds of cargo, according to Lt. Col. Alison J. Thompson, the unit’s commanding officer.
Check out this video produced by combat cameramen to hear Thompson speak about the unit’s experience downrange.
Army 3-star general: Army should be more like Marines
January 31st, 2012 | Afghanistan Manpower Reserve | Posted by James Sanborn
The head of the Army Reserve said Tuesday that the Army should be more like the Marine Corps — at least in the way the Marine Corps cultivates a strong life-long brotherhood.
Although Marines and soldiers usually boast about being better than the other, Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, head of the Army Reserve, said at this year’s Reserve Officers Association symposium in Washington, D.C., that the Marine Corps does a good job inculcating the idea of “once a Marine, always a Marine.” That helps them pull active duty Marines into the Reserve at the end of their service.
The Army would do well to mimic that as a way to retain hard-won experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While many soldiers see their four-year contract as finite, many Marines see it as just the first chapter of their military career. Army leadership, he said, often paints a black and white picture by asking soldiers near the end of their service if they are re-enlisting or getting out. They should be asking if soldiers are re-enlisting or transitioning to the Reserve, he said. They could do more to make a career in the reserve an enticing prospect.
VMM-365 Marines replace 162 operating Ospreys in Afghanistan
January 24th, 2012 | Afghanistan Aviation | Posted by James Sanborn
Members of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, pile into an MV-22B Osprey Jan. 17, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. The flight was VMM-162's last on a six-month deployment.
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 — The Blue Knights — deployed to Afghanistan earlier this month to replace VMM-162 which conducted its last mission there Jan. 17.
The Blue Knights out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., departed Jan. 6 and will take over resupply and transportation missions in Helmand province for 162 which spent six months at Camp Bastion. The Marines of 365 spent their final days at home preparing their Ospreys for an aircraft swap with the pilots of 162. Due to cost, units don’t take their own aircraft when they deploy. Instead they use Ospreys already in Afghanistan and give their own to the retuning squadron.