Iron Man suits without the hype

There has been a rash of stories about the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS).  You can see some of the excitement here, hereand here and the military itself including SOCOM’s Admiral McCraven along with DoD are trying to fan the flames .  The suit is supposed to provide ballistic/shock/fire protection, increased situational awareness, potential …

Christmas Wishes From GruntsandCo

We have much to be thankful for and want to single out those deployed from home this coming holiday.  I pray you are all home safe and soon.  I’d like to wish all of our readers a very special holiday and a Merry Christmas (no offense meant to those that don’t celebrate Christmas).  Shivering at …

The A-10, a hard plane for the USAF to kill

The A-10 is the only US plane ever developed specifically to attack ground targets.  It has a distinguished history and is probably the most beloved fixed wing aircraft among the last several decades worth of grunts.   I was privileged to watch it do CAS firsthand two decades ago in Iraq.  MUCH has been written of …

USAFA Informant Story, A Leadership Black Hole (Update:15 Dec)

A scandal brewing at the Air Force Academy has come full circle.  It features pathetic decision making, a lack of moral courage, leadership by coercion, abandoning of one’s troops, then silence, deny and counter accuse.  When the furor didn’t die down the leadership decided to take charge of what they weren’t aware of before, investigate …

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT AN “ASSAULT RIFLE?”

Essay by Yankee Papa (all rights reserved) Someone asks you, “Why would anyone want an “assault rifle…?” The hysteria over “assault rifles” has swept a large segment of the population.  A senseless tragedy has been used by a hostile Administration as a propaganda “Reichstag Fire…” The constant drumbeat plays on the worst fears of those …

WWII Battleships as Marine Heavy Assault Ship?

Yes, there was a plan!  The Navy and Marines presented Congress a concept in the 70’s to turn Iowa class battleships into heavy assault ships.  The Iowa class battleship was originally designed to accompany WWII carrier task forces.  Four of six planned ships were built and were the longest battleships ever built.  Coming into the …

Mexican Cartels with M1 Killing AT Weapons?

Small Wars Journal ran an extremely interesting and well referenced article on this development There’s a “museum” in Mexico City open only to the Mexican government and used to train anti-drug forces.  The “Museo de Enervantes” as it’s called in Spanish features a “model” of the RPG-29 Vampir (Vampyre).   It’s called the RPG-29. The RPG-29 …

Gen Amos cleared of showing favoritism

Gen Amos was cleared by the DoD IG of showing favoritism to Maj. James B. Conway the previous Marine Commandant’s son.  The officers of Maj Conway’s battalion were flagged after the marine urination incident in Afghanistan.  Officers were not allowed to be promoted and transferred except for Maj Conway who was subsequently promoted and assigned …

Marines Graduate “Infantrywomen”

On 21 November the Marine Corps will likely graduate its first three Infantrywomen (one was hurt in the final week and complete a final PT test with the following class).  A huge congratulations is in order to the women who will complete the Marines’ enlisted basic Infantry course.  It is a significant personal accomplishment for …

New Section Infantry Mission, Heraldry & Awards

Just posted!  Our latest reference section, Infantry Mission, Heraldry & Awards is loaded with tons of info.  The mission of the Infantry is pretty straight forward  but there’s tons of history to appreciate about the Infantry’s heraldry and awards.  Heraldry is the system by which coats of arms and other armorial bearings are devised, described, …