Author: AW1Ed

  • US Navy Rescues 3 Fishermen Adrift for 8 Days

    P-8A

    Navy Times reports the U.S. Navy rescued three fishermen Tuesday who were adrift on a boat in the Pacific Ocean for eight days.

    The men were reported missing Feb. 12 after failing to return from a fishing trip in Micronesia. The men had food and water aboard their 19-foot skiff, but no safety equipment or radios.

    The U.S. Coast Guard based in Guam searched for the men for several days before calling in a Navy team from Japan, who used a P-8A Poseidon plane equipped with advanced radar to find the boat within three hours.

    The Navy said they dropped a kit to the boat containing food, water, medicine and communications equipment before a nearby police boat picked up the fishermen a few hours later.

    “It was incredibly rewarding to be a part of saving lives — it’s what everyone joins the Navy to do,” said Lt. Miles Schumacher, the tactical coordinator of the Patrol Squadron Eight aircrew.

    Schumacher said in a statement that the P-8A Poseidon aircraft had enabled a “massive step forward” in the ability of search and rescue teams to search large areas quickly and effectively, even in the farthest corners of the globe.

    Micronesia is about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia, and is home to about 100,000 people.

    Successful rescues make my day, especially when “my” aircraft performs the save. The SAR kit is stored in the weapons bay, and is a vast improvement over the P-3 kit, which was deployed from the main cabin door.

  • Update on Ft. Meade Incursion

    ft meade

    The Military Times reports two of the three people occupying a sport-utility vehicle that was fired on and halted as it attempted to gain access to the National Security Agency (NSA) have been released. The third party was turned over to the Howard County Sheriff’s office for failing to make child support payments. Investigators believe the incident occurred when the vehicle made a wrong turn and wound up at the NSA’s gate.

    “The FBI continues to believe that yesterday’s encounter was an isolated incident,” Fitz said in a statement. “Our investigation continues and we do not see a nexus to terrorism.”

    The unauthorized vehicle’s arrival at the NSA’s campus prompted shots to be fired at the vehicle Wednesday morning. The driver was hospitalized, though NSA and FBI officials say they don’t believe any injuries were caused by bullets.

    Three guys getting turned around after a long night, no doubt. I can sympathize to a certain extent, but just damn! The Lord favors drunks and fools, and these guys are blessed.

  • New Pentagon rule bans ‘offensive jokes’ and harassing behavior.

    Mattis

    Military Times reports on Thursday the Pentagon released Department of Defense Instruction 1020.03, “Harassment Prevention and Response in the Armed Forces.” The new instruction establishes guidance to the services’ to prevent all types of harassment, ranging from offensive jokes to sexual harassment.

    Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, known for his own use of colorful language to inspire the troops, said a new Pentagon policy targeting offensive language and behavior should not be interpreted as a draconian end to military camaraderie.

    “You have to adapt to your times,” Mattis said. “There’s a rough, good humor among soldiers. We all know that. But I have never seen rough good humor countenance or in any way frame something that’s disgusting, repellent or something like that.”

    According to the instruction, “harassment may include offensive jokes, epithets, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs,” as well as physical threats or racially-tinged interactions that “creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.”

    I’m of a mixed mind about this. One person’s harassment is another’s vivid learning experience. Times change- I get that- and we all can agree there is no place in the military for sexual harassment. But I can see this becoming a sop for some puppy’s hurt feelings when receiving some well-deserved stick-and-rudder from a superior. Thoughts?

  • The Gospel According To John Moses Browning

    JMB

    Today we celebrate the birthday of John Moses Browning, and his Gospel. Sit you down and harken.

    1 In the beginning was the 1911, and the 1911 was THE pistol, and it was good. And behold the Lord said, “Thou shalt not muck with my disciple John’s design for it is good and it workith. For John made the 1911, and lo all of his weapons, from the designs which I, the Lord, gave him upon the mountain.”

    2 “And shouldst thou muck with it, and hang all manner of foul implements upon it, and profane its internal parts, thou shalt surely have malfunctions, and in the midst of battle thou shalt surely come to harm.”

    3 And as the ages passed men in their ignorance and arrogance didst forget the word of the Lord and began to profane the 1911. The tribe of the gamesman did place recoil spring guides and extended slide releases upon the 1911 and their metal smiths didst tighten the tolerances and alter parts to their liking, their clearness of mind being clouded by lust.

    4 Their artisans did hang all manner of foul implements upon the 1911 and did so alter it that it became impractical to purchase. For lo, the artisans didst charge a great tax upon the purchasers of the 1911 so that the lowly field worker could not afford one. And the profaning of the internal parts didst render it unworkable when the dust of the land fell upon it, and these profaners didst try and fit more rounds of ammunition into the magazines than the holy number of seven, appointed for the .45.

    5 And lo, they didst install adjustable sights, which are an abomination unto the Lord. For they doth break and lose their zero when thou dost need true aim. And those who have done so will be slain in great numbers by their enemies in the great battle.

    6 And it came to pass that the Lord didst see the abomination wrought by man and didst cause, as he had warned, fearful malfunctions to come upon the abominations and upon the artisans who thought they could do no wrong.

    7 Seeing the malfunctions and the confusion of men, the lord of the underworld did see an opportunity to further ensnare man and didst bring forth pistols made of plastic, whose form was such that they looked and felt like a brick, yet the eyes of man being clouded, they were consumed by the plastic pistol and did buy vast quantities of them.

    8 And being a deceitful spirit, the lord of the underworld did make these plastic pistols, filled with tiny springs and parts that were easily lostc, and they were unmenable to the artisans of earth so they were unable to muck much with the design, and lo these pistols did appear to function.

    9 And the evil one also brought forth pistols in which the trigger didst both cock and fire them and which require a “dingus” to make them appear safe.

    10 But man being stupid did not understand these new pistols and didst proceed to shoot themselves with the plastic pistol and with the trigger cocking pistols for lo their manual of arms required great intelligence which man had long since forsaken. Yet man continue to gloat over these new pistols blaming evil forces for the negligent discharges which they themselves had committed.

    11 And when man had been totally ensnared with the plastic pistol, the lord of the underworld didst cause a plague of the terrible Ka-Boom to descend upon man and the plastic pistols delivered their retribution upon men. And there was a great wailing and gnashing of teeth in the land.

    12 Then seeing that the eyes of man were slowly being opened and that man was truly sorrowful for his sinful misdeeds, the Lord did send his messengers in the form of artisans who did hear and obey the teachings of the prophet and who didst restore the profaned 1911s to their proper configuration, and lo, to the amazement of men they didst begin to work as the Lord had intended.

    13 And the men of the land didst drive out the charlatans and profaners from the land, and there was joy and peace in the land, except for the evil sprits which tried occasionally to prey on the men and women of the land and who were sent to the place of eternal damnation b by the followers of John.

    Now go ye forth and sin no more.
    Amen.

    Thanks to Friar Frog

  • US destroyer sails near contested reef in South China Sea, angering Beijing

    uss hopper

    Fox News reports USS Hopper, a guided missile destroyer, sailed near a contested reef near the Philippines this week, resulting in a protest from Beijing, claiming it trespassed in Chinese territorial waters.

    Wednesday’s Freedom of Navigation exercise occurred two days before Defense Secretary Mattis revealed a new strategy, naming China and Russia as the biggest threats to the U.S., and the U.S. military advantage over China is eroding.

    A U.S. official confirmed the operation to Fox News saying it was merely “innocent passage” when the USS Hopper, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of the uninhabited reef, Scarborough Shoal.

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. action and China would take “necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty,” the South China Morning Post reported.

    Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said China dispatched a missile frigate to identify the U.S. vessel and warned it to leave the area.

    We hope that the U.S. respects China’s sovereignty, respects the efforts by regional countries and do not make trouble out of nothing,” Wu said.

    The United States conducts routine and regular FONOPs (Freedom of Navigation Operations), as we have done in the past and will continue to do so in the future,” Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman said Saturday. “We have a comprehensive FONOP program under which U.S. forces challenge excessive maritime claims across the globe to demonstrate our commitment to uphold the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law. FONOPs are not about any one country, nor are they about making political statements. FONOPS are designed to comply with international law and not threaten the lawful security interest of coastal States.

    Twelve nautical miles from land is internationally recognized as the territorial limit for all nations. Since the U.S. doesn’t honor many of the claims by China in the South China Sea, Freedom of Navigation Operations are conducted by Navy warships.

    The South China Sea has crucial shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds and potential oil, gas and other mineral deposits. China claims most of it.

  • Visit the Hermit Kingdom- the State Department has a couple recommendations first.

    KJU

    Fox News reports the US State Department is fine with Americans traveling to North Korea, but will not guarantee one’s safe return. In fact, they recommend making preparations in the all too likely event the trip will be one-way.

    ‘“The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea,” the State Department published Wednesday on its website.’

    There is a special validation, handed out on a limited basis, to those who wish to travel there. These are available on very limited circumstances, and travelers should prepare for the worst- filing a will and making property and funeral arrangements before the visit.

    “Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney; discuss a plan ‘with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.,” according to the recommendations.’

    The agency also recommended travelers have a “contingency plan for emergency situations,” on file on the State Department’s social media platform and alert systems.

    “President Trump announced in November the U.S. designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, adding the country to a short list including Iran, Sudan and Syria. North Korea had been removed from the list by the Bush administration in 2008.”

    Come for the culture, stay for the prison farm in KJU’s murderous rogue regime. Just the place to visit after that hiking trip in the mountainous, remote Hindu Kush, infidel.

  • Hawaii: Ballistic Missile Threat Alert was a Mistake

    alert

    Fox news is reporting on Saturday morning citizens of Hawaii received an emergency phone alert stating “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

    The alert caused panic among residents, who were told to evacuate and seek shelter. Turns out the message was sent in error during an emergency test. Over 30 minutes after the erroneous alert was sent, officials sent a correction message.

    ‘Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, tweeted “it was a false alarm based on human error. There is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process.”

    Cdr. Dave Benham, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Command, told Fox News they have “detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. Earlier message was sent in error. State of Hawaii will send out a correction message as soon as possible.”’

    Schatz wrote in a separate tweet that what happened was “totally inexcusable.”
    “The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process,” the senator wrote.’

    Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, tweeted that she would work to find out what occurred.

    “Today’s alert was a false alarm,” Hirono wrote. “At a time of heightened tensions, we need to make sure all information released to the community is accurate. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure it never happens again.”

    President Trump was informed of the event, which is described as “purely a state exercise.”

    Hawaii Gov. David Ige said in a statement that “While I am thankful this morning’s alert was a false alarm, the public must have confidence in our emergency alert system. I am working to get to the bottom of this so we can prevent an error of this type in the future.”

    Human error has been blamed for the event; let’s hope lessons were learned from this debacle. To paraphrase Ricky Ricardo, someone’s got some ‘splainin’ to do.

  • “Grunts in the Sky”

    It took nearly four years for the Air Force to release an official mini-documentary on the A-10 Warthog and its contributions to the war efforts in Afghanistan. Apparently suppressed for political reasons, it was finally released due to a FIOA in December, and appeared on an unofficial Air Force Facebook group. 20 minutes in length, it consists of B-rolls, combat footage, and candid interviews with pilots and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) embedded with ground troops. Its well worth watching.

    Read more at: The Drive

    Or better yet, watch the video. Grunts in the Sky

    Tip o’ the hat to The Drive, The War Zone.