Happy Birthday Marine Corps, older than the country

The Marine Corps is celebrating 236 years today.

11/8/2011 By Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers
Headquarters Marine CorpsCommandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos cuts the Marine Corps birthday cake during the cake cutting ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington Nov. 8. A sword is used to cut the cake to remind Marines that they are a band of warriors, committed to carrying the sword so that the nation may live in peace.

The founders of the United States of America made many decisions during the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence being known by most people. Now, the founding of the Marine Corps is not known by most people. It was during the American Revolution that a committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, to write a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. Approved on November 10, 1775, this resolution officially formed the Continental Marines.

In 1921 Gen. John A. Lejeune  issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921.  Gen. Lejeune's order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps.  It further directed that the order be read to all Marines on 10 November of each year to honor the founding of the Marine Corps.  Thereafter, 10 November became a unique day for U.S. Marines throughout the world.

   Soon, some Marine commands began to not only honor the birthday, but celebrate it. 



The first "formal" Birthday Ball took place on Philadelphia in 1925.  Over the years the annual Birthday Ball grew and grew, taking on a life of its own.  In 1952 the Commandant, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., formalized the cake-cutting ceremony and other traditional observances.  For example, Marine Corps policy now mandates that the first piece of cake must be presented to the oldest U.S. Marine present.  The second piece goes to the youngest Marine.  Among the many such mandates is a solemn reading of the Commandant's birthday message to the Corps. Marine heritage

Working with the world

The U.S. Marines don't often work with the forces of other countries, less than some other branches of the armed services like the Air Force and the Army, but sometimes the work with others pretty well.

 As part of the United States Militery Training Mission to Saudi Arabia:

"The U.S. Marine Corps Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT), is based in the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Headquarters, Riyadh. The TAFT provides advisors to both Saudi Marine Forces Brigades in Jubail and Qadimah. Additionally, they provide technical advice to the Director of Marine Forces Schools at Ras al Gar. Advisor duties reflect the full range of combat skills to include field exercises, CPX, assault support training, and live-fire for individual, crew-served, and TOW missile systems. Organized to support Saudi Marine Forces Brigade Commanders, they provide advice and recommendations to both the Eastern and Western Fleet Commanders. " http://www.globalsecurity.org/

And the Scottish, March 2011:

Scottish soldiers and US Marines mark historic relationship

In fact there is a whole Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program. "The Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program (MCFPEP) is a means of continuing a long-term, selectively visible presence and association among military counterparts to enhance worldwide security cooperation."  http://www.marines.mil/unit/aviation/Pages/PersonalExchangePrograms.aspx

"The MCFPEP began during combined operations in World War II when a critical need to exchange and standardize operational doctrines between allied forces was identified, according to Marine Corps Order 5700.4E. More recently, a reduction in U.S. military presence in several regions around the world has created a need for closer relationships between friendly nations and coalition partners. MCFPEP is one means of continuing a long-term presence and association among military counterparts to enhance worldwide security cooperation.
The MCFPEP began during combined operations in World War II when a critical need to exchange and standardize operational doctrines between allied forces was identified, according to Marine Corps Order 5700.4E. More recently, a reduction in U.S. military presence in several regions around the world has created a need for closer relationships between friendly nations and coalition partners. MCFPEP is one means of continuing a long-term presence and association among military counterparts to enhance worldwide security cooperation." US Marine major flies with Royal Navy forces in Afghanistan 

9/15/2010 By Sgt. Deanne Hurla
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD)
U.S. Marine Maj. Joshua Nelson, an Mk4 "Sea King" pilot with 846 Naval Air Squadron, Commando Helicopter Force in the Royal Navy, is participating in the Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program. Nelson is a CH-46E "Sea Knight" pilot for the Corps, but has flown the Sea King for a year and a half with the Royal Navy. The MCFPEP was created during World War II to keep close relationships between friendly nations and coalition partners.

 And of course they can come to us as well:

British Troops on US soil "sharing through "Foreign Exchange" program. Image: US Marines, sailors share "best practices" with Malaysian Rangers

http://www.examiner.com/

Why?

Training with allied forces on foreign terrain introduces new obstacles and allows for the development of new war-fighting tactics, or the honing of existing doctrine specific to a region. Joint training also enables the sharing of tactics between U.S. service members and ally counterparts. Strength through unity is at the heart of this concept.
Military forces of allied nations training side-by-side enhances military interoperability and strengthens the allied fighting forces as a whole. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/South-Korea/blog-460333.html

Twentynine Palms, Cali.

It's a long dry road to Twentynine Palms but beautiful, magnificent and mesmerizing.

And once you get there there really are palm trees.

Twentynine Palms, Calif. is all about Marines. The main streets are lined with tattoo parlors; auto sales and repair shops; and little this and thats. Beautiful murals decorate every couple of blocks, Marine murals about pride and flags and wars, native plant murals about the beauty of the desert and historical murals about the history of the city.

The only theater is a drive-in, first movie family oriented, second movie for the adults. SUVs and trucks with kids in PJs cuddled in the back fill the parking spaces except for the occasional older couple holding hands in their fold-out chairs.

The newspaper is about Marines and they have an entire television station devoted to Marines.

"Twentynine Palms was named for the palm trees located in the Oasis of Mara, at the Joshua Tree National Park headquarters. When the area was settled by gold miners in the late 19th century, there were 29 palm trees growing in the oasis, most of which are still standing today.
After decades as a rest stop for wagon travelers on what's called the "Utah Trail" named for a group of Mormon discoverers, the town was established in the 1920s.
There's a small Indian reservation belonging to the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians. The nearby Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms was founded in 1952." wikipedia

My Marine, when asked if he likes it there, shrugs his shoulders and says, "It's just like home."
Really the only difference between Twentynine Palms is that they have Joshua Trees and we, in southern New Mexico, have mesquite.

There are two movies called Twentynine Palms, both look very different, yet both seem to use the place as sort of an allegorical desolation and distance, an application of the desert to the human soul.
I haven't seen either of them yet but plan to. They are not about Marines.

"What draws us into the desert is the search for something intimate in the remote."           -Edward Abbey

And too there is Robert Plant - 29 Palms - again into a human desert, more internal than not:

"Taking me back down the road that leads back to you
29 Palms - I feel the heat of your desert heart" - Robert Plant

Where they live: Cribs/Barracks

They gotta live somewhere and they gotta keep it clean.

Here is actually a very interesting article on the rules about barracks and what can be done there:
 Relaxing in the barracks
Just a sample from the above story ...

"It’s no secret that some service members marry for two reasons other than love: No more barracks living and more money. Some Marines refer to them as 'contract marriages'"

"'I’m almost 28, and I can’t do half the stuff I want to do. If I want to have a lady friend stay the night, I should be able to,' McCumber said. 'But I have to go over to her place or get a hotel. And my family can’t come over and visit unless I have money for a hotel room, too.'”

That could explain this which seriously confused me at first.


Where it all began: Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. is located at 8th and I Streets, Southeast in Washington, D.C. Established in 1801, it is a National Historic Landmark, the oldest post in the United States Marine Corps, the official residence of the Commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806, and main ceremonial grounds of the Corps. wikipedia

Panoramio

The oldest continually active post in the Corps, the Marine Barracks served as Marine Corps Headquarters from 1801 to 1901. Here recruits and officers were trained, and vital decisions were made affecting Corps development. Troops quartered at the Barracks played significant roles in the wars with the Barbary pirates, the War of 1812, the Seminole War, the capture of John Brown at Harper's Ferry, and the conquest of Cuba in the Spanish-American War. As the home of the Marine Band, which has played for every President since John Adams, the Marine Barracks witnessed a significant epoch in American musical history when John Philip Sousa, the "March King," served as leader from 1880 to 1892. The Marine Band is still stationed at the Barracks and remains the official White House musical unit. Marine Barracks

Marine's digs in Fort Lost in the Woods:


Must be field day




A place for Firewatch




Roomy too



Smile

Bravo Team MTIC graduate

Bravo Team MTIC

Goodbye Fort Leonard Wood, this Marine can drive now.

Job Description: Motor vehicle operators operate passenger and cargo carrying wheeled vehicles (except LVS's) to include M-Series tactical vehicles to rated capacity.  http://usmilitary.about.com/

The United States Armed forces own and operate over 50,000 heavy trucks and transport vehicles, which include water/fuel tank trucks, semi-tractor trailers, troop transports, heavy equipment transports, and passenger buses. Motor Transport Operators are primarily responsible for supervising or operating wheel vehicles to transport personnel and cargo.

Duties performed in this MOS include:
Operates all wheel vehicles and equipment over varied terrain and roadways for support of combat operations. Manages entrucking and detrucking of personnel being transported. Oversees and checks proper loading and unloading of cargo on vehicles and trailers. Secures cargo against inclement weather, pilferage, and damage. Operates vehicle component material handling equipment (MHE), as required. Employs land navigation techniques. Must be knowledgeable with the operation of radios and weapons when they are mounted on the vehicle. Performs vehicle self-recovery and field expedients to include towing vehicles. Corrects or reports all vehicle deficiencies; supports mechanics where necessary. Prepares vehicles for movement/shipment by air, rail, or vessel.
Provides guidance to subordinates in accomplishing their duties. Organizes and participates in convoys. Dispatches vehicles; verifies vehicle logbooks. Receives and fills requests from authorized persons for motor transport. Compiles time, mileage and load data. http://usmilitary.about.com/

 

And ... on to 29 Palms - 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion

What he drives

Graduating from his MOS on Wednesday, my Marine is learning to drive a 7 ton monster. Tuesday night is the final night driveing adventure. He said his class has learned as much in this week on this machine as they learned in all the previous weeks of MOS.

Defense update

Built to go over even the roughest terrains and through the most hazardous environments, the Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) is a high-performance, extremely durable, all-terrain vehicle military personnel can rely on. The MTVR easily carries 15 tons over the highway and up to 7 tons off-road. And with advanced technologies like TAK-4^® independent suspension and the Command Zone^™ integrated control and diagnostics system, the MTVR has the brawn and the brains to take on any obstacle that attempts to impede the mission. oshkoshdefense

All versions of the MTVR use the same 6x6 configuration. Engine is located under a forward fiberglass bonnet. Roof of the cab with hinged aluminum windscreen and door frames can be folded down to reduce overall height.

It's wide versatility makes the MTVE an integral part of the Marine Corps logistical backbone. This vehicle is the  prime mover for the M777 howitzer, troops, fuel, water and a wide variety of other equipment.

The MTVR truck can be fitted with armor protection kit or armed with a 12.7-mm or 7.82-mm machine gun. Armament sit in a mounted position above the cab.

The Oshkosh MTVR is powered by the Caterpillar C-12 11.9-liter turbocharged diesel engine, developing 425 hp. It has a full-time all-wheel drive. Vehicle has an independent suspension and is fitted with a central tyre inflation system. The MTVR uses some commercially available driveline components. Some versions of the MTVR are fitted with a 9-ton capacity winch. Vehicle can be airlifted by the C-130 Hercules aircraft (with some preparation) and CH-53 helicopter. military-today.com

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Marine ranks: PFC-plus

Marine ranks

Hmmm, I think I lost a post somewhere. Well it's been a crazy few weeks, I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. I'm sorry. My Marine has been promoted a level to Private First Class (Sept. 1, 2011) and has that little thingy on his clothes now. next Wednesday he graduates from his MOS and Thursday gets on an airplane to his permanent duty station at 29 Palms, California.

Some of the other recruits received the PFC designation in boot camp already, This can only happen under very special circumstances: If you were an Eagle Scout, in High School JROTC or had Prior Service in the military. You can also get it meritoriously out of boot camp if you are an excellent recruit. Or two referrals in the DEP, as a platoon honor grad, over 15 credit hours of college, or are in the top 10 percent in your series. leatherneck

Anyway, whatever the timing, I am still ridiculously proud of my fabulous Marine son!

Bravo Team MTIC

Up up and on the way:

"In the United States Marine Corps, the rank of Private First Class is the second lowest, just under Lance Corporal and just above Private, equivalent to NATO Grade OR-2, being pay grade E-2. It was established in 1917 to match the newly created Army rank, although it is actually one grade lower." wikipedia