APRIL 2, 2015, WASHINGTON - To highlight the year-round contributions, courage and patriotism of the military community’s youngest members, the Defense Department observes April as the Month of the Military Child, a Pentagon official told DoD News. Established by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1986, the month recognizes some 1.9 million U.S. military … [Read more...]
Fox Battery Gears Up For Culminating Event, “Top Gun”
MARCH 25, 2015, FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Marines with Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division gear up for the competition Top Gun during exercise Rolling Thunder aboard Fort Bragg, North Carolina, March 7, 2015. The purpose of Rolling Thunder is to exercise, assess and improve the regiment’s ability to shoot, move and communicate in a field … [Read more...]
MACS-4, Ready to Roll
MARCH 17, 2015, MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Okinawa, Japan - Marines crowd around a Humvee to witness, what some consider, a phenomenon. “We call it a unicorn, because you may hear about it, but you’ll almost never see it,” said Chief Warrant Officer Sean C. Flores. Marine Air Control Squadron 4 reached 100% equipment readiness when the last bolt was … [Read more...]
Military Working Dogs Participate in C-IED Training
MARCH 16, 2015, CAMP PENDLETON, California - Marines patrol the path led by military working dogs, trained to detect improvised explosive devices using scent bags that contain partial ingredients used in making IEDs. The dogs detect danger areas and the handlers halt the patrol before Marines enter the danger zone. Saber, a black lab, notifies his handler of explosive … [Read more...]
Marine Commandant Outlines Budget-Based Priority Shifts
March 9, 2015, Washington - The Marine Corps has adjusted to budget constraints by prioritizing the readiness of forward deployed forces, the service's top officer told Congress March 4. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. told the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee that amid budget uncertainty, the Marine Corps will strive to meet … [Read more...]