Israel pre-announces missile test to stem Iran war fears | Reuters

Missile trials from a launch base near Tel Aviv, most recently in November, were not published in advance. As a result, the first Israeli media reports on them were based on often breathless witness accounts, rocking world energy markets until defense officials provided explanations.

State-run Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said in a statement that it would conduct its first test of the Arrow 3, a system developed in cooperation with the United States to shoot down ballistic missiles in space, "in the near future."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made veiled threats to attack Iran should diplomacy fail to rein in its nuclear program. U.S. President Barack Obama, whom Netanyahu will visit next week, wants to pursue sanctions for now and has voiced concern about the risk of an Israeli-Iranian war.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Arrow 3 test would entail firing a missile into space from Palmachim base south of Tel Aviv. It would take place after Monday's White House talks between Obama and Netanyahu.

"Yes, it's new," the official told Reuters about the decision to issue the IAI statement on Thursday.

"We want to avoid misunderstandings."

The official confirmed Israel wanted to limit the risk of aggravating the stand-off with Iran. Tehran denies seeking nuclear weaponry and has vowed to retaliate for any attack with missile strikes against Tel Aviv and U.S. assets in the Gulf.

ISRAELI CAPABILITIES

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, questioned last month whether Israelis had the firepower to deliver lasting damage to Iran's distant, dispersed and well-defended nuclear facilities.

Some experts suspect Israel might be bluffing about an attack to maintain pressure on Iran by war-wary world powers.

But Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and some former members of his top brass have turned to the American media to signal their seriousness and capabilities against Iran.

Among them is Amos Yadlin. One of the Israeli pilots who bombed Iraq's atomic reactor at Osirak in 1981, a mission that astonished Washington for its long-range precision, Yadlin wrote in the New York Times on Wednesday: "The mistake then, as now, was to underestimate Israel's military ingenuity."

He went on to serve as Israel's head of military intelligence, helping plan a 2007 sortie againstSyria which the United States said razed a secret North Korean-built reactor.

Israel has never confirmed striking Syria nor discussed the nature of the target, which Damascus denied was a nuclear site.

But Yadlin, who left the military in 2010, broke with the official silence to argue in favor of Israel's strategy.

"After the Osirak attack and the destruction of the Syrian reactor in 2007, the Iraqi and Syrian nuclear programs were never fully resumed," he wrote in the newspaper.

USMC Vrs Punk Ass Iran's

 Iran has dug the graves for thousands of US marines and soldiers in the Iran-Iraq border, shall Americans dare turn their threats of war against the Islamic Republic into action.


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How ever we dig graves too....

How Marines Stay Fit

Most Marines pride themselves on being physically fit, regardless of age, rank, gender or duty. Since all Marines must pass an annual Physical Fitness Test and an annual Combat Fitness Test, most sections or shops will train together to build cohesion. Lifting weights, running, or doing endless repetitions of every imaginable exercise – all so Marines can maintain the reputation as elite fighting warriors.

While exercise is important to any service member maintaining weight and fitness standards, however, Marines in a deployed environment have to balance physical training and difficult work hours in order to stay fit.

“Marines don’t stop, no matter what. When we train, we give it everything we got,” said Sgt. Christopher Bangert, 25, wire chief, RCT-6, from Richmond, Va. “Our training is the hardest! Our boot camp is the longest! We’re the best!”

Physical Training comes in many forms on Forward Operating Base Delaram II. Inside of the newly constructed gym, Marines can push themselves with weight training. They can also run the roads on the inside of the base go on a conditioning run. Another option is martial arts training, which every Marine is required to know the basics.

“The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program is arguably the toughest hand to hand combat system in the American militaries,” Staff Sgt. Frederick Mayes said, 36, personnel chief, RCT-6, from Daytona Beach. “We teach the Marines how to be deadly without a rifle, and staying in shape is a big aspect of it.”

Besides martial arts and weight training, team sports are another popular avenue for fitness. When the weather is nice you can find Marines on the basketball court having a good time

“Coming out to the court, trash-talking, having fun, it’s all good natured,” Bangert said. “Rank don’t matter on the court, so you can have some fun with your juniors and seniors and it’s not awkward.”

Training or playing sports also allows different units to come together, compete and meet Marines from other shops and units.

“It’s a way to build camaraderie and to get to know one another in a non-work environment,” Gunnery Sgt. LeMarcus L. Staley, 35, infantry unit leader, Regimental Combat Team 6, from Oklahoma City, Okla. “It’s also a way to relax, we’re in a high stress setting and being able to have fun together is important.”

Task Force Leatherneck transfers to 1st Marine Division

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan  — The 2nd Marine Division (Forward) transferred authority of Task Force Leatherneck to 1st Marine Division (Forward) during a brief ceremony, here, Feb. 25.

Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division (Fwd), relinquished command to Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, commanding general of 1st MarDiv (Fwd).

Task Force Leatherneck is the Ground Combat Element of Regional Command (Southwest), covering Helmand and Nimroz provinces.

In the past year, Craparotta, a native of South Windsor, Conn., said his division’s focus was conducting population-centric counterinsurgency, which meant living among the people and spreading out the forces.

In addition, he stressed the importance of partnered operations.

“That’s how we developed the [Afghan National Security Forces], we lived with them, we ate with them and we operated with them everyday,” said Craparotta. “The young Marines set the example to the ANSF and that’s how we got them out there operating among the population. We gave them confidence and that’s how we accelerated their development.”

When Craparotta took command in March 2011, 1st MarDiv (Fwd), then led by Brig. Gen. Joseph Osterman, had developed a plan to dismantle the insurgency and interdict the route from the south, at Bahram Chah, near the Pakistan border.

According to Craparotta, 2nd MarDiv (Fwd) executed the plan, and as a result, the insurgency was unable to launch a spring offensive and only able to project a diminished fighting season, as compared to the one in 2010.

A second element of the campaign involved earning the trust and confidence of the Afghan people and opening up the freedom of movement opportunities for the citizens.

“We spent a great deal of time improving roads,” said Craparotta. “We gave the [Afghan] citizens an opportunity to get to the market; we facilitated their freedom of movement.”

Opening up the roads also allowed the Afghan National Army and coalition forces to connect the citizens with their local government, giving them the opportunity to interact with their provincial government—and the government to outreach to the citizens in their districts.

“We needed to convince the citizens that there was some benefit to them siding with their government,” said Craparotta. “This was critically important, especially for a people who have been… intimidated and lived through the past 35 years of violence.”

The Division also trained and established local police forces that supported ANSF and linked them to elders, district chiefs of police, and district government.

Berger and 1st MarDiv (Fwd) assumed command of TFL during a time of transition, in which the ANSF would assume greater responsibility in the security and stability of Afghanistan and its people. In the next year, the total footprint of coalition forces will be reduced by approximately two thirds and many of the bases throughout Helmand province will be closed or turned over to the ANSF.

“We’re moving from partnered [operations], to the next part in which they’re in the lead,” said Berger. “They’re doing the counterinsurgency—everything that we do is supporting the ANSF.”

Task Force Leatherneck’s mission surrounds encouraging the Afghans to take the lead in all aspects of security and governance. According to Berger, the 1st MarDiv (Fwd) will be focused on ensuring the ANSF have the tools needed to become more independent.

“Whatever they’re planning and whatever they’re executing,” added Berger, “that’s going to be the first on our list.”

The 1st MarDiv (Fwd) is slated for a one year deployment. During the course of the deployment, the division’s forces are scheduled to conduct a time-phased reduction, which will bring troop levels down by two thirds.

Editor’s Note: The 1st MarDiv (Fwd) works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

By Sgt. Jacob Harrer  , 1st Marine Division 

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Marine Military Academy

Among America's Top
Military Schools

The Marine Military Academy is a private college preparatory military school for young men, 8th through 12th grades, which develops disciplined, morally strong, college ready young men who are prepared for responsible leadership.

While MMA is a College Preparatory school, we do more than prepare our students for college. MMA prepares our students for Life. We emphasize academics, self-discipline, teamwork and leadership. We help young men succeed by offering a structured learning environment. Of all the military boarding schools, the Marine Military Academy is the only one in the world based on the traditions, values, and ideals of the United States Marine Corps.


The faculty and staff of Marine Military Academy provide a dynamic curriculum taught from a college preparatory perspective. They provide structured, challenging and innovative instruction that exceeds national norms. All students are expected to give full attention to a demanding program of studies. Expectations for both conduct and achievement are set high.

Small class sizes, specialized curricula, and individual attention from faculty and advisors at the Marine Military Academy gives our students many distinct advantages. Our students acquire abilities that ensure success in college and in life such as the ability to: study hard and apply themselves, manage their time, set goals for themselves, think for themselves, get along with others, accept responsibility, and be active participants - not passive recipients.

Whether it will be in business, education, military service, science or the arts, a young man graduating from MMA has all the tools, physical, mental and spiritual, to meet life head on and succeed. As a result of our program, nearly all of MMA graduates are accepted into post secondary education.

Military schools are often the first choice of both young men and their parents who want superior academics in addition to the best aspects of the military system: responsibility, leadership, and discipline.

US Marine Corps Combat Boots

The Temperate Weather (TW) and Hot Weather (HW) Marine Corps Combat Boots (MCCBs) are the latest developments in an ongoing process to improve Marine combat footwear.  The intent is to bring Marines standard temperate and hot-weather boots of a quality comparable or better to many popular commercial brands.

Both boots have been standardized to provide uniformity of appearance.  The boots are dyed 'coyote brown' and either pair may be worn with either the desert or woodland combat utility uniforms.  

Marines are allowed to wear either the current combat black boots or new MCCBs with either new or old utility uniform until 1 March 2004.  On that date, MCCBs may continue to be worn with either the camouflage or combat utility uniforms, but black combat boots will be worn with the old camouflage utility uniform only.  On 1 October 2004, black combat boots will be unauthorized for all utility uniforms.  Black organizational boots, such as safety boots or flight boots will continue to be worn as the commander prescribes (work environment only).

The new MCCBs are intentionally designed to be low maintenance.  The only authorized manner of cleaning them is with a scrub brush and plain water.  Marines are not allowed to use forced air (radiators, hair blowers, etc) to dry them after cleaning because it will cause the leather to crack.  Spit polishing is not allowed as it blocks the pores of the leather and prevents the boot from breathing as it should.  Leather conditioner is not allowed, either, as it will darken the shade of the boot.  When the leather gets "hot spots", or smooth areas, Marines may use sandpaper or a wire brush to rough out the leather to where it looks like the rest of the leather.  Although these guidelines may seem very restrictive, they are intended to make sure the leather is not damaged and to emphasize that the boot is designed for combat functionality instead of garrison appearance.  The boots should taken care of and kept clean, not "dressed up."