Latest news with #Marines
American Military News
a day ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Video: US military presence expands in Australia amid tension with China
The U.S. Marine Corps is conducting a major exercise in Australia as the U.S. military increases its military presence in the region amid increased tension with China. According to CBS News, while approximately 200 U.S. Marines were first deployed in 2012 as part of a rotation in Australia's Northern Territory, almost 2,500 Marines are now deployed to the country each year. The outlet noted that the U.S. military's presence in Australia is now greater than at any other time since the end of World War II. CBS News reported that the increased U.S. military presence in Australia comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping is believed to have directed the People's Liberation Army to be prepared to potentially invade Taiwan by 2027. CBS News shared a video on Thursday from an ongoing U.S. Marine Corps exercise in Australia that included both Australian and Japanese troops. The outlet noted that Australian troops are playing the role of enemy combatants as part of Exercise Southern Jackaroo. According to CBS News, Exercise Southern Jackaroo involves over 500 Marines and more than 2,000 total troops and is being conducted in a region larger than the state of Maryland. READ MORE: Pics: China holds war games at new military base near South China Sea Asked about the importance of America's alliances with Australia and Japan, Major Nicholas Foust, the commander of the exercise in Australia with U.S. Marine Rotational Force-Dawin, told CBS News, 'Knowing how one another works is of the utmost importance and being ready to respond is something critical.' CBS News reported that while the United States and its allies are using the military exercise in Australia as a deterrent for Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, Brigadier Ben McLennan, commander of the Australian Defence Force's 3rd Brigade, acknowledged that the military exercise is a 'rehearsal' for a potential war. 'Every time you commit to an exercise like this, it is a rehearsal — and you treat it as your last opportunity to do so before war arrives,' McLennan told CBS News. 'A rehearsal for a war the likes of which we haven't seen since the Second World War.' McLennan's comments were echoed by Maj. Gen. Ash Collingburn, commander of Australia's 1st Division. 'This exercise is more than just training, it is a rehearsal for the realities of war and a proving ground for partnerships,' Collingburn said. 'Every patrol, every fire mission, every radio check between nations, and every shared hardship under the southern sun – it all matters.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pentagon orders review of base moves, and more military news
TGIF! If you are a service member or a military family member, you are painfully aware of just how often troops are required to move. Now, the Pentagon is giving the military branches until Sept. 25 to come up with plans to limit the number of permanent change of station, or PCS moves, that are not absolutely essential. The military spends about $5 billion per year on PCS moves, but now wants to drastically cut that by 50% starting in fiscal year 2030. The toll taken on troops and families by constant moves has been an issue over the years. Project 2025, the policy blueprint produced by the Heritage Foundation think tank, recommended that the Defense Department evaluate 'the military family holistically when considering change-of-station moves.' More recently, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said that Marines should be able to stay at their current duty stations if they want to, instead of being forced to move every few years. 'If you want to stay at Camp Pendleton, your spouse has good employment, you're happy in your home there, and you know the terrain and you know the training, why can't you stay there for nine, or 10 or 12 years?' Smith said on May 1 during the annual Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C. 'I'm not saying you should stay there for your entire 30-year career, but we don't have to move you every three years.' Of course, there's more news. Here's your weekly rundown. Huge Somalia airstrikes. Planes from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman dropped 124,000 pounds of ordnance within two minutes during Feb. 1 airstrikes against the Islamic State group, or ISIS, in Somalia, a defense official told Task & Purpose. Within the past two years, ISIS-Somalia has grown from about 500 to roughly 1,500 members, of which an estimated 60% are foreign fighters, said Kelly Cahalan, a spokeswoman for U.S. Africa Command, which has conducted 33 airstrikes so far this year in Somalia against both ISIS and al-Shabab, a terrorist group that has pledged allegiance to al-Qaida. National Guard unit goes analog. The Missouri Air National Guard's 139th Operations Group conducted flight operations without computers or cell phones as part of an exercise that simulated a cyber attack. Airmen relied on other forms of communication, including sticky notes, dry erase boards, and smoke signals. Better late than never. After more than a decade of delays, the first Littoral Combat Ship equipped to neutralize sea mines has arrived in Bahrain, USNI News has reported. The Navy plans to eventually replace its Avenger-class minesweepers, which date back to the 1980s and have wooden hulls coated in fiberglass. Air Force sends message to China. The B-52H, B-1B, B-2, F-22. F-15C, F-16C, and A-10 flew together for the first time during a recent airshow in Miami. 'Did it send a signal to our nation's enemies, including China? Absolutely,' said retired Air Force Col. Mark Gunzinger, who previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for forces transformation and resources. Ukraine denies attacking Putin's helicopter. Ukrainian officials have denied a claim by a Russian commander that Ukrainian drones attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter when he visited a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region on May 20. The commander, Maj. Gen. Yuri Dashkin, told Russian media, 'We simultaneously waged an anti-aircraft battle and ensured the safety of the president's helicopter in the air.' 'Loss of confidence' — North Korea-style. North Korea has arrested four officials after one of the country's newest warships capsized during its May 21 launch. North Korean state-run media claims the 5,000-ton vessel was not seriously damaged and attempts to right the ship are underway. Thank you all for reading! Jeff Schogol
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Mailbag: Veteran disappointed in MAGA-style Memorial Day in Huntington Beach
As a former U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman I served with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam where I tended to Marines in combat and where I received my own Purple Heart medal. It is on Memorial Day that I attend Memorial Day services to pay respects to my fellow Marines and sailors who never made it home, as I was lucky enough to do. As a resident of Huntington Beach I attended this year's event at Pier Plaza by the pier where Memorial Day services are held annually. This year's service had the undertones of a mini MAGA pep rally. The former H.B. city attorney stood up for a bow as he was praised for doing the good work for H.B. back in Washington, D.C. We know what that work is. During a reading of the fallen, a council member dressed in bright MAGA red stood out as the current president did when he attended Pope Francis' recent funeral services. Attention-getting to be sure. This smug show of politics was so out of line. The day is meant to honor the fallen — not to enhance your political standing. Victor BravoHuntington Beach The Newport Beach City Council, which was once considered fiscally conservative, has been involved in its share of lawsuits. Perhaps this is not unusual for a city of its size. The most important one at the present time is the lawsuit that has been filed by a representative organization of residents alleging the city has violated its charter. Also, other memorable ones involved issues related to John Wayne Airport and with Banning Ranch. As to lawsuits, I have advocated for many years for greater transparency regarding the litigation the city is involved in, including its costs, but with no results. By the end of next month, public funds amounting over half a million dollars will have been spent on two special elections since 2022. The election for the NMUSD school board seat will cost up to nearly $500,000. The latest use of a large sum of the public's money was brought about by a petition signed by 361 people against a population of 123,000 NMUSD voters. It has brought disunity to Newport Beach and is a perfect example of fiscal irresponsibility, which has been supported by some of the City Council. On May 14, it was revealed by the Daily Pilot that the majority of the City Council has been backing a candidate with a questionable financial history. Andrea McElroy's financial and litigation background brings scrutiny to her qualifications to serve on the school board. Evidently some of her public supporters are unaware of this because two of them wrote previously in a letter to be made available to the city, 'Andrea, a business owner and mother, brings proven fiscal accountability...' They described her as earning trust from neighbors, educators and leaders. It is unknown who was privy to Andrea's true financial background. Maybe everybody was and they supported her nonetheless. There is also the possibility that they were just careless in their background check. Her support has seemed to remain consistent despite this revelation. It certainly would have been much more harmonious to the public and advantageous to the schools if the legal selection of Kirstin Walsh had never been challenged. Lynn LorenzNewport Beach As a former school board president who helped forge the partnership between our city and school district to bring school resource officers (SROs) to our campuses, I write to express my strong support for Andrea McElroy's candidacy for NMUSD school board trustee and to highlight the significance of her endorsement from the Newport Beach Police and Fire associations. Years ago, our community recognized the need for a collaborative approach to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. The introduction of SROs was a pivotal step, blending law enforcement's expertise with our schools' nurturing environments. This program, built on trust and mutual respect, has fostered safer schools while creating positive relationships between students, staff and officers. It wasn't just about security — it was about building a culture of care, accountability and community. The Police and Fire associations' endorsement of Andrea is no small matter. These organizations represent the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting us, and their support tells us that Andrea understands the delicate balance required to maintain safe, supportive schools. Their trust in her reflects her commitment to policies that prioritize student safety while respecting the unique role of educators. As someone who has seen the SRO program's impact firsthand, I know how critical it is to have leaders like Andrea who value these partnerships. Andrea's vision aligns with the principles that guided our original efforts: collaboration, community engagement and a steadfast commitment to our students' futures. Her endorsement by the Police and Fire associations underscores her ability to bridge public safety and education, ensuring our schools remain places where students can thrive. I urge our community to support Andrea. Her leadership will honor the legacy of our SRO program and strengthen the bonds that help our schools and our city succeed. Karen Yelsey, Former NMUSD school board presidentCorona del Mar I am writing to recommend Andrea McElroy for the open position on the Newport-Mesa Unified School District school board. I am a retired NMUSD teacher. I taught elementary students at Newport Heights Elementary for 28 years. I also taught for the education department at the University of California, Irvine and was a regular lecturer for the teacher education department at UCI. I had the pleasure of teaching Andrea's daughter, Savannah, for two years, as a second grader and as a third grader. During these periods of time, Andrea was a regular weekly volunteer in my classroom. Her easy rapport with my students enabled me to have her lead a small group of struggling math students every week. These groups usually included two or three second language students. Andrea was firm, but her sense of humor put the kids at ease, and they always looked forward to their group time with her. Andrea's daughter, Savannah, was one of the most creative and talented students I've had the good fortune to teach. From a very young age Savannah sang publicly, and her poise on stage naturally led her to an interest in acting. Savannah began playing the lead role in school productions at Newport Heights, and throughout her entire tenure in NMUSD. Although she attended Newport Harbor High School, she was often asked to perform in productions at other Newport Mesa high schools when needed, including Estancia and CDM. Contributing to the community was something both Andrea and Savannah enjoyed very much. Andrea began as the parent lead volunteer for our school plays at Newport Heights, and she continued to run school productions throughout Savannah's career at Newport Mesa. Andrea McElroy was the most prolific supporter of the arts in NMUSD during my time in the district. Being a performing musician myself, I can't imagine a better suited candidate for the school board. In my opinion, NMUSD has always needed a champion for the arts like Andrea. John G. DaffronHuntington Beach This Huntington Beach City Council is a collection of opportunists lacking true leadership or the skills to govern effectively. What you call leadership is nothing more than a parade of gimmicks — empty gestures masking incompetence. And it's the citizens who foot the bill for council failures. Just look at the air show settlement fiasco and the growing list of reckless legal battles we're likely to lose — each one, a costly reminder of the council's inability to govern responsibly. H.B. residents reacted to the latest council library overreach and collected more than 13,000 signatures to get Measures A and B on the ballot. Measure A would repeal a City Council ordinance that created a 21-member panel to oversee children's books — an unelected, unqualified group overriding trained library staff is farcical. If someone objects to a book in the library, they can submit a formal complaint. A panel of three librarians will then review the book and decide whether it is proper for that specific section of the library. Measure B protects the public library from privatization by requiring voter approval before it can be outsourced. Stop the H.B. City Council now and vote 'yes' on Measures A and B. Protect history before it is too late. Remember: Hitler did not start with ovens — he started with books. First banned, then burned — then came the people. Andrew EinhornHuntington Beach You can tell the character of an individual by the way he responds to criticism. Chad Williams responded by using the word 'porn.' Black's law dictionary defines 'porn' as that which is pertaining to obscene literature; obscene, licentious, appealing to a prurient interest. If an individual's prurient interest is aroused by a book on potty training, then he must be a very disturbed individual. The H.B. City Council seeks to privatize and control the library and ban any books they deem unfit. They appointed a committee of unqualified individuals to determine what books are fit. This is what 'Fahrenheit 451' is about. It took the signatures of nearly 14,000 registered voters, both Democrats and Republicans, to qualify and schedule the June 10, special election, at a cost of more than $1 million, when the election could have been held in November. I urge all voters to read Measures A and B to see if any porn issues are present and vote with a clear conscience. That is why I ask all Huntington Beach residents to see this election as a mandate against the MAGA vested city council and vote 'yes' on both Measure A and B, to preserve the independence of our community library. As the Rolling Stones song goes. The H.B. City Council can't always get what they want, they get what they need! Richard C. ArmendarizHuntington Beach The Huntington Beach City Council continues to misinterpret the 1st Amendment — often invoking freedom of religion while ignoring the foundational principle of separation of church and state. You're free to practice your faith in your home, your place of worship and among your community. However, intentionally imposing religious beliefs through city governance—whether in council chambers or in public libraries—is, in my view, unconstitutional. This special election goes beyond library content. It's about protecting our freedoms, our community's quality of life, and the 1st Amendment rights of all its residents. It's become a referendum on how we expect our City Council to govern — respectfully, lawfully and with due consideration. Regardless of our political views or religious affiliation (among the 30+ houses of worship in our city), we must reject the divisive rhetoric and confrontational behavior that's tearing our city apart. We all agree: Parents — not the government — should guide their children's upbringing. Further, any attempt to privatize our public library system must be put to a citywide vote, not rubber-stamped by a City Council majority. If you agree, please vote 'yes' on Measures A and B. Measure A repeals the Library Book Review Committee Ordinance. Measure B requires a public vote before contracting with any private, for-profit entity to manage our library system. Larry SlonimHuntington Beach
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A Marine swept the Corps' top marksmanship contest for first time since 1959
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Payton Garcia holds up an M1 Garand rifle presented to him at the Marine Corps Championships at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, April 18, 2025. Long before Marine Staff Sgt. Payton Garcia matched a 66-year-old Marine Corps marksmanship record last month, he was pretty sure he was a good shot. 'I did my first [Marine Corps marksmanship] match in 2021, and I did relatively well. I got a silver pistol badge on my first time,' Garcia told Task & Purpose. 'Then I went to a match on the civilian side, thinking that I was, like, 'The Shooter.' The best ever.' Advertisement He was not. 'I got beat by a 68-year-old man and a 12-year-old little boy,' Garcia remembers. 'And that's when it lit a fire, like, realizing that there's so much more to marksmanship. I was a Marine who thought that he was a really good marksman, and then getting humbled up in town made me realize how much we don't know about marksmanship.' Now a member of the Marine Corps Shooting Team, Garcia may still not be 'the best ever,' but his performance in April at the Marine Corps Championships — the top annual marksmanship competition for Marines across the service — was so dominant officials had trouble finding a historic equivalent. Shooting against 80 Marines and competitors from other services and nations, Garcia won both the rifle and pistol categories, a sweep that no shooter had pulled off since 1959. He also won the competition's multi-gun contest, an event added in recent years. Advertisement 'We were curious about that during the actual conduct of the match, and we dug through all of our history books and records,' said Capt. John Bodzoich, the shooting team commander. 'And what we found is, in the 124 years the team's been around, and since the establishment of all these matches, Sgt. Garcia is the second Marine in history to do a clean sweep of the championships. So of the thousands of Marines that have come through, he's the second one ever to win both high rifle, high pistol, and high overall [score].' Garcia's path to the top marksmanship awards in the Marine Corps, he said, traces directly back to getting smoked by a senior citizen and a grade schooler. 'One of the biggest things that went into my improvement was actually learning how to train,' Garcia said. 'Actually sitting down and deep-diving into the fundamentals of shooting.' Shooting against civilians and absorbing non-military training techniques, he said, was different than traditional Marine marksmanship training. Advertisement 'Just like any other sport, there are build-ups to each one of those fundamentals that you need to do,' he said. 'Structuralizing training and isolating skills that I've learned from those local matches, and realizing that it's not all just about shooting. There's a lot of mental aspects that go into shooting, where you're competing at any level, realizing that you need to be in the right headspace.' Trained as a fuel specialist rather than in combat arms like infantry, Garcia says he's often asked if competition-style shooting is applicable in the field. 'You ask me what my MOS is, and I answer, I'm a bulk fuel specialist,' he said. 'I don't know much about tactics, but I do know that putting rounds as accurately as possible on a target as quickly as possible will translate to the tactical world. ' The Marine Corps Shooting Team was established in 1899 to bring together top shots who would compete with elite shooters of all kinds, then share what they learned with Marines in the fleet. Based at Quantico, Virginia, the full-time team members spend about half their time training for and sponsoring competitions, and the other half training and working with marksmanship instructors and experts inside the Marines. Marine Staff Sgt. Payton Garcia moves towards a firing line at the Marine Corps Championships marksmanship competition in April 2025. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniela Chicas Torres. Garcia said his success demonstrates that marksmanship can be taught to almost anyone. Growing up in Lawrence, Kansas, he said, he had virtually no exposure to firearms beyond a few unsupervised moments that would probably terrify a Marine instructor. Advertisement 'Before I joined the Marines, I had just shot a pistol or a rifle into a dirt berm or the trash with no target,' he remembers. 'It was more for fun.' The annual Marine Corps Championships, held in Quantico, is a culminating event among shooters who advance through qualification competitions at major bases like Camp Pendleton in California and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Across 30 events, shooters face scenarios that the shooting team has dreamed up based on their experience in civilian practical shooting competitions. This year's stations included shooting lanes from boats, from a balance beam, and even with a mandatory bench press set before shooting. In one event, Garcia said, they created a shooting lane in which Marines had to shoot around a barricade while balancing on one leg with a 45-pound ruck on. In another, shooters arrived on a station that appeared to be a trash pit, with tires, ammo cans, pallets, wheels and other debris. From that, they had to build a barrier up to a preset level to shoot from. Advertisement They also shot a wide range of weapons. 'We were able to shoot the M1 Garand, the M1014,' Garcia said in a Marine Corps press release. 'We shot M16A2s, a lot of iron sights, and it was such a breath of fresh air.' The competition covered eight days. 'I went into this year with the expectation that I just wanted to make it difficult for someone else to win,' Garcia said. 'I'm going to shoot my match and support anybody that I can.' As the top shooter, Garcia was awarded a historic trophy: his own M-1 Garand rifle, the same kind used by Marines in World War II. He didn't keep it and instead gave the rifle to Sgt. Kai Byrom, the highest-scoring first-year competitor, a mortarman and marksmanship coach with Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Parris Island. Advertisement 'I thought it was more important to isolate and kind of award the next generation of Marines,' Garcia said. 'So I thought it was important to spread marksmanship knowledge and to light a fire under some of the newer guys by awarding or deferring the M1 to that Marine. It's more important for the next generation, and not about us.' The latest on Task & Purpose
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
U.S. ramps up its military footprint in Australia as tensions with China rise
Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia — The U.S. is expanding its military presence in northern Australia as it looks to project power and provide a deterrence against the increasing threat of China in the Asia-Pacific. China's President Xi Jinping is thought to have ordered his armed forces to be ready to invade the island of Taiwan by 2027, if necessary, raising fears of a conflict that could draw in American forces. In response to Beijing's expanding footprint in the region, the U.S. has seen Australia, a country located around two-and-a-half-thousand miles south of China, as a key strategic partner. In 2012, the first deployment of roughly 200 U.S. Marines rotated through the country's Northern Territory. Now it's close to 2,500 each year. The U.S. military presence is now at its biggest since 1945 at the end of the Second World War. CBS News gained access to a U.S. Marine Corps exercise, including Australian and Japanese allies in the rugged outback, as preparations against Chinese aggression ramps up. The exercise involved Australian troops playing the role of enemy combatants who attack a platoon of U.S. Marines. The drill was conducted by more than 500 U.S. Marines and over 2,000 troops in total, across an area bigger than the state of Maryland. "Knowing how one another works is of the utmost importance and being ready to respond is something critical," Major Nicholas Foust, the officer commanding the exercise with U.S. Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, told CBS News. Military experts say a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is not inevitable and that China may want to avoid war, especially with the U.S. But China's armed forces are going through an unprecedented modernization — from aircraft carriers to hypersonic missiles. While the key goal for the U.S. and its allies in the region is to deter any potential Chinese aggression, Brigadier Ben McLennan, commander of the Australian Defence Force's 3rd Brigade, told CBS News that they are preparing for the worst possible outcome. "Every time you commit to an exercise like this, it is a rehearsal — and you treat it as your last opportunity to do so before war arrives," he said. "A rehearsal for a war the likes of which we haven't seen since the Second World War." SpaceX loses contact with its Starship, spins out of control Sneak peek: My Mother's Murder Trials - Part 1 Trump administration signals Harvard has more time to respond in international student case
