French Amphib Participates in Alligator Dagger off Djibouti; First Year France Included in Exercise
U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and French Navy sailors offload from a French landing catamaran at Arta Beach, Djibouti, while conduction amphibious training during Alligator Dagger. US Marine Corps photo.
About 1,000 sailors and Marines from the United States and France trained together in the annual Alligator Dagger amphibious exercise, in the first time France has been brought into the unilateral exercise off the coast of Djibouti.
U.S. Navy Entomologists Take Malaria Fight to Sub-Saharan Africa
Lt. Cmdr. Kelly Larson, left, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Edward Lopez test a Togolese villager for malaria during an Africa Partnership Station 2012 in Togo. US Air Force Photo
Recent attacks by sub-Sahara-based terrorist organizations brought into focus the U.S. military's operations, but less noticed is the Navy's increasing fight to help save lives in the region.
Document: Frequently Asked Questions About the Oct. 2017 Attack on U.S. Soldiers in Niger
The following is the Oct. 27, 2017 Congressional Research Service report, Niger: Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2017 Attack on U.S. Soldiers. Read More →
Navy, Marines Ponder Alternative Platforms' Role as First ESB Now Operating in 5th Fleet
AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Huey helicopters assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced) land on the flight deck of the expeditionary mobile base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) in support of Alligator Dagger 2017. Alligator Dagger is a dedicated, unilateral combat rehearsal led by Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Combined Navy and Marine Corps units of the America Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Units are to practice, rehearse and exercise integrated capabilities that are available to U.S. Central Command, both afloat and ashore. US Navy photo.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy and Marine Corps are committed to using alternative platforms to move Marines around at sea, but there are still decisions yet to be made about how to maximize these ships' effectiveness and minimize risk while operating independently or as part of a strike group. Read More →
Navy Revives Idea to Beef Up Trauma Surgery at Sea
By: Gidget Fuentes
U.S. Navy Fleet Surgical Team – 3 (FST-3) and USS Essex (LHD 2) medical department personnel triage a simulated casualty as part of a casualty evacuation drill between the Essex and the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during Exercise Dawn Blitz, Oct. 22, 2017. Navy Medicine, in concert with Exercise Dawn Blitz, is experimenting with placing Role 2 capabilities across the amphibious force. US Marine Corps photo.
The Navy is experimenting with operating a specialized medical team on a smaller amphibious ship to provide more front-line trauma care at sea, filling a capability gap that arises when deployed ships are operating apart from their larger strike groups. Read More →
V-22 Osprey Suffers 'Hard Landing' in Syria, Two Service Members Injured
Undated Photo of US Air Force CV-22. US Air Force Photo
This post will be updated as new information becomes available.
A V-22 has gone down in Syria, injuring two service member sometime on Thursday, a defense official confirmed to USNI News on Friday. Read More →
Document: Marine Corps Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment Concept
The following is the Marine Corps Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment concept that released last week by the service. Read More →
VIDEO: First Female Marine Graduates from Infantry Officers Course
First female Marine infantry-qualified officer during the 13-week Infantry officers course in 2017. The officer declined to be identified. US Marine Corps Image
The first female Marine qualified to lead an infantry platoon has graduated from Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course, the service announced on Monday. Read More →
SOCOM's James Geurts Nominated to Serve as Navy Acquisition Chief; Modly Nominated as Under Secretary
James F. Geurts, U.S. Special Operations Command acquisition executive and nominee to serve as assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. US Air Force photo.
The Trump Administration nominated U.S. Special Operations Command acquisition executive James Geurts to serve as the next assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. Read More →
Navy to Commission Middle East-based Expeditionary Sea Base Lewis B. Puller as a Warship
The Military Sealift Command expeditionary mobile base USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3) departs Naval Station Norfolk to begin its first operational deployment on July 10, 2017. Puller is deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. Navy and allied military efforts in the region. US Navy photo.
The Navy will re-designate its first Expeditionary Landing Base ship a warship this week, converting the Military Sealift Command ship USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) into USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) so it can better meet operational needs abroad, USNI News has learned. Read More →