Bold Alligator 2012
February 10th, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
A CH-53 lands aboard USS Wasp in Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 03, 2012. The Wasp is participating in Bold Alligator 2012. (Mike Morones/Staff)
I spent a few days aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp for part of the exercise Bold Alligator 2012 with Marine Corps Times writer Dan Lamothe. I don’t get away from the desk much so it was a nice change of pace to spend some time with the sailors and Marines as they went about their business. As often happens our coverage plans went out the window in the face of unforeseen circumstances, bad weather and some logistical problems but we adjusted as best we could. Despite not seeing everything we wanted to report on, it was a great chance to experience life aboard a ship, especially in light of the fact that many Marines have never served aboard a ship. You can see some of Dan’s work over on the Battle Rattle blog.
Nighttime is the Right Time for Live Fire
January 16th, 2012 | From the Ranks | Posted by Mike Morones
ARABIAN SEA (Jan 13, 2012) – Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s maritime raid force identify targets during a live-fire exercise aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The unit is currently deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKIARG), which is a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is also providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Chad J. Pulliam)
Breaking Down Barriers
January 13th, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
Cpl. James Hernandez, a combat engineer with Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, and a native of Goodyear, Ariz., uses an electric saw to dismantle a HESCO barrier at Firebase Saenz, Helmand province, Dec. 13. FB Saenz is the first of several patrol bases being demilitarized by the Marines of 9th ESB throughout the month of December. (Cpl. Bryan Nygaard/USMC)
AP Photographer Searches For Wounded Marine
December 29th, 2011 | Photography The Wires | Posted by Mike Morones
In this Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, photo, injured United States Marine Cpl. Burness Britt reacts after seeing pictures of his evacuation laid out on his bed in the Hunter Holmes Medical Center in Richmond, Va. Britt is facing a long recovery after a large piece of shrapnel from an IED in Afghanistan in June 2011 cut a major artery on his neck. During his first operation in Afghanistan he suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
AP photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus has covered war and conflict for 20 years. She has received a Pulitzer Prize and the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Award for her work. She has spent considerable time covering the Afghan conflict and spent 2 1/2 weeks in June with the U.S. Army’s “Dust Off” Medevac unit in southwest Afghanistan.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Inside the medevac helicopter in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Cpl. Burness Britt bleeds profusely from his neck. He and two other Marines have just been hit by shrapnel, with Britt’s injuries the most serious. The medevac crew chief clutches one of Britt’s blood-covered hands as he is given oxygen. I take hold of the other.
With my free hand, I lift my camera and take some pictures. I squeeze Britt’s hand and he returns the gesture, gripping my palm tighter and tighter until he slips into unconsciousness. His shirt is ripped, but I notice a piece of wheat stuck to it. I pluck it off and tuck it away in the pocket of my body armor.
In my 20 years as a photographer, covering conflicts from Bosnia to Gaza to Iraq to Afghanistan, injured civilians and soldiers have passed through my life many times. None has left a greater impression on me than Britt.
I knew him only for a few minutes in that helicopter, but I believed we would meet again one day, and I hoped to give him that small, special piece of wheat. Click to continue reading here
In this Saturday, June 4, 2011, photo, injured United States Marine Cpl. Burness Britt reacts after being lifted onto a medevac helicopter from the U.S. Army’s Task Force Lift “Dust Off,” Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment. Britt was wounded in an IED strike near Sangin, in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan. At the Hunter Holmes Medical Center in Richmond, Va., Britt is facing a long recovery after a large piece of shrapnel cut a major artery on his neck. During his first operation in Afghanistan he suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
2011 Military Photos of the Year
December 22nd, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
PHOTO OF THE YEAR: Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, kisses her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2011 after Gaeta’s ship returned from 80 days at sea. It’s a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings – one lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss with a loved one. (AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot, Brian J. Clark)
The Trees Can Talk
December 21st, 2011 | From the Ranks | Posted by Mike Morones
KUANTAN, Malaysia (Dec. 17, 2008) Scout snipers from Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) participate in a stalking exercise with snipers from the Malaysian army during Exercise Kilat Eagle, a bilateral training exercise between Marines and sailors of the 11th MEU and soldiers from the Malaysian army. The Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based unit is embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and arrived in Malaysia Dec. 14 as part of a scheduled deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Chance W. Haworth/Released)
First Sergeant Santa
December 21st, 2011 | From the Ranks | Posted by Mike Morones
Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, enter the Boondocker training area at Marine Corps Base Hawaii after a 9-mile hike Dec. 19. More than 500 people attended the Island Warrior Combat Competition III and Toys for Tots drive, which included a hike, toy collection and a series of physical competitions. This was the first time the unit included a Toys for Tots drive in their combat competition. The Marines and sailors hiked carrying toys and wearing festive decorations with their combat gear. The five companies in 2/3 also competed in four different events including tug-of-war, an obstacle course, pugil sticks and a sandbag relay. Weapons Company won the wooden-battleaxe trophy for the overall competition. (Kristen Wong/USMC)
The War in Iraq Through the Lens of Military Times
December 16th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
While by no means a complete history of the war in Iraq, here are a handful of images as Military Times photographers covered the 2003 invasion as well as various assignments through 2011.
Making Friends
December 6th, 2011 | From the Ranks | Posted by Mike Morones
U.S. Marine Sgt. Marcus Martin, a 32-year-old squad leader with Guard Force Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment and native of Charlottesville, Va., practices Pashto with Afghan boys while providing security outside the district center on Nov. 28. Guard Force isn’t a traditional infantry platoon. It’s a melting pot of Marines from various occupational specialties that functions as the main security element for the battalion headquarters at Forward Operating Base Delhi. (Cpl. Reece Lodder/USMC)
Onboard Training
December 3rd, 2011 | From the Ranks | Posted by Mike Morones
Embark chief Sgt. Eric J. Dessart (right) kicks as Gunnery Sgt. Jason G. Turner blocks during martial arts training aboard USS Pearl Harbor Dec. 1. Dessart, 27, is from Fox Lake, Ill. Turner, 30, is from Binghamton, N.Y. They both serve with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, which provides logistics and services for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Nov. 14, beginning a seven-month deployment to the western Pacific and Middle East regions. (Cpl. Tommy Huynh/USMC)