WE DROP BOWS ON EM!!! ----->(MOAB)

How we doing hard-chargers!?! :)

So I'm sure you've heard about the 21,600lb bomb we dropped on an ISIS target right??? No??? Ok well lemme give you a better explanation thereof...

Thursday, U.S. forces dropped the largest conventional bomb in its depository on an ISIS tunnel complex in Nangahar province, which is eastern Afghanistan. 

The proper nomenclature is  the GUB-43 Massive Ordinance Air Blast. aka ----> "Mother Of All Bombs" or "MOAB" which is 21,600lbs and it was developed in 2003 during our Iraq campaign.The explosion of this beast is equivalent to 11 tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and is capable of a one mile blast radius in every direction. 

It is said to be the largest guided bomb in the history of the world with extraordinary impact and detonation. This would be the first time of its usage in combat and serves as a reminder that this war has lasted 15 plus years since we as the US first invaded Afghanistan.The strike was designed to minimize the risk of Afghan and U.S. Forces conducting clearing operations in the area while maximizing the destruction of ISIS-K fighters and facilities. MOAB is intended for soft to medium surface targets covering extended areas, so this would be targets contained in an environment. (i.e.) Caves, Canyons, clearing extensive mine fields' and for psychological effects.

As of now ISIS fighters are using bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defenses. So this would be the correct munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our defensive against these savages.

According to US officials the number of ISIS fighters in eastern Afghanistan is estimated to be around 600-800 which is a major decrease in numbers from an estimated 3000 in late 2015.The U.S. military has been conducting operations against ISIS in Afghanistan for the past year. Specifically in southern Nangahar, since March, and have reduced the threat to a smaller area by two thirds. This was the first time that the U.S. encountered an extensive obstacle to its progress.

To everyone freaking out over this happening, the U.S. military's planning to use the MOAB goes back to the Obama administration. Therefore the Department of Defense officials were aware of the intent and plans to deploy this beast of a weapon.

                                                        

People seem to be a bit nervous with North Korea, preparing to conduct a nuclear test of their own. So many have questioned our commander in chief if this would send a message to the eastern aggressor.It is rumored that North Korea, led by dictator Kim Jong-Un, vowed to 'pulverize' US bases and South Korean capital Seoul if it was threatened by the US military, which is carrying out drills on the Korean peninsula. 

(Don't threatened my country...)
Trump stated “I don’t know if this sends a message. It doesn’t make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of.”                         

The U.S. using this bomb again in the future depends on the tactical situation, the weapon was employed for a specific tactical solution to a military problem and that alone determines when and how one would operate on the battlefield.

As always hard-chargers, keep up with current events.

Isaac J. Hall II

#SemperKill

NATO No Longer Obsolete

U.S. President Donald Trump stated "NATO is no longer obsolete" which was a HUGE reversal from a stance that got the attention of U.S. allies including one in a series of recent foreign policy changes.

During a joint press conference with NATO secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, stated Trump will continue to work closely with NATO allies specifically working together to fight against terrorism.

Trump stated he and the secretary general had a productive discussion on what more NATO could do in the fight against terrorism." Trump stated his concern about that matter prior to his presidency. Since then a change has been made to fight terrorism.

"I said it was obsolete, It is no longer obsolete."

 

Trump reversed and digressed from his campaign-trail rhetoric on other foreign policy issues. Trump also said via Wall Street Journal that he would not label China as a currency manipulator, and he would fill two vacancies on the Export-Import Bank, which he decried as a candidate.

 Just last week the administration flipped from the equivocation on regime change in Syria, to a U.S. airstrike against the regime's deadly chemical weapons attack and insistence that Syrian President Bashar Assad leave.

That in itself has fueled a row with Moscow that seemed to upend a staunchly goal for Trump. Trump expressed optimism after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who visited with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow.

Trump Stated "It would be wonderful, as we were discussing if NATO and our country could get along with Russia. As of now we're not getting along with Russia at all, we may be at an all time low in terms of relationship with Russia. This has built for a long period of time, but we're going to see what happens. Putin is the leader of Russia, and Russia is a strong country. We are a very, very strong country, so we'll see how it works."

 

Foreign Ministry spokewoman, Maria Zakharova, said on "Nobody understands what they will do in the Middle East because it is a very complicated region. No-one understands what they will do with Iran, nor what they will do with Afghanistan."

As of late allies have been struggling to parse the administration's mixed signals. Rex Tillerson, confused European diplomats at a meeting in Italy when he said "Why should U.S. taxpayers be interested in Ukraine?"

This statement came after Tillerson, affirmed in a TV interview broadcast that the U.S. and Europe shouldn't lift the sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and its annexation of the Crimea region.

Trump has continuously stated that NATO must meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. As of now all NATO countries have agreed to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic  product on their own defense by 2024, only a few of the member countries have met that goal.

Trump hopes NATO allies will take a larger role in supporting Iraq and that he is dispatching National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster to Afghanistan to find a way to make progress with Afghan and NATO allies.

Stoltenberg said NATO is increasing its readiness, and called for the ongoing deployment of four battle groups to Eastern Europe an adequate answer to Russia. He stated Trumps strong, clear message on member-nation defense spending has been helpful, as the alliance is on track to increase defense spending by 3.8 percent.

Trump is completely committed to the alliance, and has met with leaders of NATO allies U.K., Germany and Denmark.

The airstrike last week, was an indication that they are moving towards what used to be the center stripe, mainstream on foreign policy.

The reality is without NATO and our allies we cannot defend the current world order. If we fail to defend it, all bets are off.

Bashing NATO sounds great to disgruntled voters who see a crazy world but the reality is it would make things much worse for everyone but especially America and Europe.

Keep up with current events people, things are getting quite interesting.

 

Isaac J. Hall II

 

#SemperKill

Is Force Recon a part of SOCOM???

Good day everyone, got a very interesting question today. The very question was are Force Recon Marines, a part of SOCOM??? and the answer is ————————>>>> NO they’re not.

Force Recon should not be confused with Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

    

MARSOC is Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM’s) newest unit. (2007) Force Recon is considered a “Special Operations Capable” unit, however, they belong exclusively to the Marine Corps.

One would have to understand how things worked prior to 2007. I’ll explain…

(Of course there will be naysayers here) The Marine Corps is considered the US’ “elite” force. Therefore the Marine Corps is a quick reaction force and are experts at conducting amphibious operations.

Quick example —>> In WWII, the Marine Corps was deployed to the Pacific and began the “island hopping campaign” this was however years before the U.S. Army was able to land forces in North Africa and Normandy.

With the growth of the Special Operations community in the 1970s and 1980s, the Marine Corps resisted in creating its own Special Operations unit.

SOCOM was inaugurated in 1987, the Marines chose not to include their own Force Recon. The reason for this was simple, every Marine is special and elite, therefore we refused to label Marines as being more special and elite than the others.

Force Recon was created in the 1950s. Its mission, then and now, was to go deep behind enemy lines in order to gather reconnaissance of the enemy.

They are similar to Navy SEALs being that they are heavily trained in airborne and combat diving techniques. This allows them to bypass traditional land defense systems.

The water, and swimming, is a heavy component of being in Force Recon. The difference between them is that the SEALs’ purpose is to kill enemy forces, while Force Recon’s main purpose is to gather intelligence.

Force Recon’s mission is considered a success if no shots are fired. Marines in Force Recon are absolutely trained in direct action missions, and are capable of performing in combat situations, but that is not their primary role.

Now we’re going to jump to the events after the 9/11 attack.

The United States sent its most elite operatives (SOCOM) into Afghanistan way before it sent in conventional forces. This is the role that Marines have historically been employed in.

However, since the Marine Corps declined to have any units in SOCOM, no Marines are sent to Afghanistan during the opening stages of the war. The top brass of the Marine Corps had to suffer the embarrassment of being the only branch of the military with no troops in Afghanistan immediately post-9/11.

Due to these events the Marines, working closely with then Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, reversed course and created MARSOC to be the Marine Corps’ unit in SOCOM.

This was started in 2007, Its current role is a lot like the Army’s Special Forces (Green Berets), working closely with foreign militaries to help in training.

Since the Marine Corps has historically had a heavy presence in Southeast Asia, MARSOC has been working closely with military forces in the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Indonesia to train their military forces.

Force Recon does not belong to SOCOM, but it is still providing commanders with a valuable resource as “special operations capable” forces.

They get the same training and equipment as SOCOM forces, but they are fully under the control of the Marine Corps. MARSOC is under the control of SOCOM, and thus Marine officers do not have final say in how they are deployed or used.
I hope this answered your question. Shout out to all the SOCOM operators out there.

Isaac Hall

Semper Kill

Comparing U.S. Marines & U.S. Army

The United States Marine Corps is only quasi-independent from the US Navy because its historic operations. Which were/are different than the Army.

The US Marines have an oceanic duty, rooted in its history of serving aboard US Navy ships. Thus acting as warrior-protectors of those ships, invaders of other ships and landing crews to destroy or temporarily occupy enemy nations.

Over time many have felt that the roles and operations of the Marines are similar to those of the US Army. They’re actually quite different in terms of missions.

To be frank here, the US Marine Corps is designed to dismantle and annihilate enemies. Its training is far more difficult, its brotherhood is based on being deadly…

Now c’mon, this doesn’t mean we’re warmongering corsairs, however, the entire mysticism of the USMC is about striking fear into the enemies. This is done by being so fucking got-damn overwhelmingly deadly that the mere pretense of the USMC would end a battle before fighting begins.(respect)

I’m sure this comes off a bit offensive to the US Army. People forget that the goal of the US Army is very much like the Marines. EXCEPT the Army employs logistical, surgeons and a LOT of other people. (very big branch here)

They carry out nation building and larger political missions. The Marines see itself as a branch of deadly warriors ready to drop what they are doing and destroy at any minute. No matter the individual, Marines are always prepared to pick up a rifle and fight.

**The training is grueling, painful, and very emotional. It is intentionally the hardest basic training in the USA and for obvious reasons.

  The Army’s larger logistical and political mission make it a far more diverse military branch. It has supreme fighters as well I mean lets not forget about the Rangers, Asymmetric-Warfare Group, Special Forces. Ohh and then they’re these bad asses who call themselves Delta Force.

We completely respect our brothers from the Army branch. They’ve done great things throughout history I’m merely just mapping out a few differences between us and them.

 

Isaac J. Hall II

#SemperKill