Latest news with #Marines'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Marines reenlist in disgusting pool of muck because Marines
When you see a small group of Marines standing at attention while shoulder deep in murky water, don't worry, this is normal — or at least as normal as Marines get. Marines thrive in austere environments. As such, they have turned embracing the suck into a science — would another branch voluntarily send human life forms to Twentynine Palms, California? So, it makes sense that some Marines would choose to hold their reenlistment ceremonies in some sort of body of water so that they and the rest of their squad can be wet, cold, and mildly miserable during one of the most important days in their careers. A recent video posted on social media shows two Marines electing to do just that. In this case, they and their fellow Marines are almost totally submerged in what looks like a pond of squalid water that could be the ancestral home of the mosquito. Both Marines are water support technicians assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, said Capt. Jacob Ballard, a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing spokesperson. Marines in that specialty are tasked with purifying the type of putrid water they are standing in to make it potable for Marines in the field. 'It is always significant when a Marine raises their right hand and voluntarily pledges to serve another four years for their Corps and country,' Gunnery Sgt. Kaleb A. Skaggs, utilities operations chief for the support squadron, said in a statement. 'Cpl. Jarrett Cadd and Cpl. Matthew Stone, both 1171 water support technicians by trade, recently did just that.' 'A reenlistment in the very water they train in holds deeper meaning for a 1171,' Skaggs continued. 'Their decision to reenlist while standing in murky water is symbolic: This is exactly the kind of environment they are trained to transform to support their fellow Marines. There's no place more fitting to reaffirm their commitment.' The Marine officiating ceremony reads a letter from the two Marines' commanding officer that is dated July 15. After both Marines take their enlistment oaths, their buddies applaud and whistle their support, even though they are immersed in the ooze. Top Stories This Week News Army infantry training unit reverses 'bay tossing' ban Army infantry training unit reverses 'bay tossing' ban By Jeff Schogol News Several thousand US troops deployed to LA. Now a judge will decide if it was legal. Several thousand US troops deployed to LA. Now a judge will decide if it was legal. By Nicholas Slayton Culture Laura Loomer unites vets from both sides of aisle after Medal of Honor rant Laura Loomer unites vets from both sides of aisle after Medal of Honor rant By Matt White The tradition of holding aquatic ceremonies is not limited to a particular military occupational specialty. In 2022, Sgt. Jordan James, a Scout Sniper, was promoted to his current rank while standing in swampy water, while other Marines were up to their chins in the muck. James told Task & Purpose at the time that he decided to have his promotion ceremony during a training event in which he and his fellow Scout Snipers could use mud to make their ghillie suits, which are made from local reeds and other plants to allow them to blend into their surroundings. He superficially picked a swamp in Okinawa, nicknamed the 'Pig Pond,' to reenlist because all Marines are equal in that environment, he said. 'Everything we do in Scout Sniper Platoon is very team-oriented,' James said. 'So, doing it in the Pig Pond, being together, all wearing the same garb, all kind of suffering together, just made it seem like more of a team thing.' And that is the Marine ethos in a nutshell: Everyone suffers together. Solve the daily Crossword
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First Post
22-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Pentagon pulls 700 US Marines from Los Angeles as backlash over deployment continues
The Pentagon has announced the withdrawal of 700 US Marines from Los Angeles, ending a controversial deployment ordered by President Donald Trump in response to protests over immigration raids, despite strong opposition from California's governor and city officials. read more Members of the California National Guard stand outside the Edward R Roybal federal building after their deployment by US President Donald Trump, in response to protests against immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, US June 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters The Pentagon on Monday announced the withdrawal of 700 US Marines from Los Angeles, ending a controversial military deployment that had drawn criticism from local and state leaders. The Marines were sent to the city last month following President Donald Trump's order to deploy thousands of National Guard troops and several hundred Marines in response to widespread protests over federal immigration raids. The move was strongly opposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who both criticized the presence of troops on city streets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the Marines' presence delivered a 'clear message' that lawlessness would not be tolerated. He praised their 'rapid response and discipline' for helping to restore order during a period of unrest. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the withdrawal order days after authorizing the drawdown of 2,000 National Guard troops, effectively cutting the overall federal troop presence in the city by half. Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the decision in a post on X, calling it 'another win' for Los Angeles and labeling the deployment 'unnecessary.' Los Angeles, a self-declared sanctuary city with a large undocumented population, has been a frequent target of Trump's immigration policies since his return to office earlier this year. Last month's raids triggered protests and tension across the city, prompting Trump to deploy federal forces—despite opposition from state officials. The deployment marked the first time since 1965 that a sitting U.S. president ordered the National Guard into a state against the governor's wishes.
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Administration Sending Hundreds of Marines to Florida to Help ICE
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. military announced Thursday that 200 Marines will be deployed to Florida to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with administrative and logistical support. According to the statement, the Marines represent the first phase of U.S. Northern Command's backing of ICE's enforcement operations. "Service members participating in this mission will perform strictly non-law enforcement duties within ICE facilities," USNORTHCOM said in a statement. The military emphasized that the Marines' duties will be limited to administrative and logistical support, with strict prohibitions against any direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in the custody process. In June, the Pentagon approved the deployment of up to 700 Defense Department personnel to assist ICE operations across Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. That same month, President Donald Trump also ordered 700 Marines to Los Angeles to provide protection for immigration agents conducting raids targeting undocumented migrants. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
1News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- 1News
Marines in LA while cities across US prep for 'No Kings' rallies
After a week of protests over federal immigration raids, about 200 Marines have moved into Los Angeles to guard a federal building in the city while communities across the country prepped for what's anticipated to be a nationwide wave of large-scale demonstrations against President Donald Trump's polices this weekend. The Marine troops with rifles, combat gear and walkie-talkies took over some posts from National Guard members who were deployed to the city after the protests erupted last week. Those protests sparked dozens more over several days around the country, with some leading to clashes with police and hundreds of arrests. The Marines had not been seen on Los Angeles city streets until Friday (local time). They finished training on civil disturbance and have started to replace Guard members protecting the federal building west of downtown, so the Guard soldiers can be assigned to protect law enforcement officers on raids, the commander in charge of 4700 troops deployed to the LA protests said. The Marines moved into Los Angeles before Saturday's planned "No Kings" demonstrations nationally against Trump's policies, which will also happen the same day as a military parade in Washington, DC, when troops will march and tanks will rumble through the streets of the nation's capital. The Marines' arrival also came a day after the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a federal judge's order that had directed Trump to return control of Guard troops to California. The judge had ruled the Guard deployment was illegal, violated the Tenth Amendment, which defines the power between state and federal governments, and exceeded Trump's statutory authority. The judge did not rule on the presence of the Marines. ADVERTISEMENT US Marines work next to members of the California National Guard outside of a federal building. (Source: Associated Press) Military mission Some 2000 National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles this week. Hundreds have provided protection to immigration agents making arrests. Another 2000 Guard members were notified of deployment earlier this week. None of the military troops will be detaining anyone, Major General Scott Sherman, the commander of Task Force 51 who is overseeing the 4700 combined troops, said. "I would like to emphasise that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities," Sherman said. "Rather, they'll be focused on protecting federal law enforcement personnel." Roughly 500 National Guard members have been used to provide security on immigration raids after undergoing expanded instruction, legal training and rehearsals with the agents doing the enforcement before they go on those missions. By mid-afternoon Friday, more than a dozen Marines were stationed outside the 17-storey Wilshire Federal Building, replacing some members of the National Guard at various entrances. They mostly appeared to be checking tickets from members of the public who were there to renew their passports. ADVERTISEMENT US Senator Alex Padilla is pushed out of the room as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference regarding the recent protests in Los Angeles. (Source: Associated Press) The building is the same place Democratic US Senator Alex Padilla on Thursday was forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's news conference and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about the immigration raids. There were no protesters around the building. Occasionally, a passing driver shouted from their window, registering a mix of anger and support for the military presence. Sherman said the US Marine Corps is responsible for guarding US embassies overseas, so they are well-trained on how to defend a federal building. California vs Trump California Govenor Gavin Newsom has called the troop deployment a "serious breach of state sovereignty" and a power grab by Trump, and he has gone to court to stop it. The president has cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilise federal service members when there is "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States". A federal judge said in a ruling late Thursday that what is happening in Los Angeles does not meet the definition of a rebellion and issued an order to return control of the Guard to California before the appeals court stopped it from going into effect Friday. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump thanked the appeals court Friday morning. ADVERTISEMENT "If I didn't send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now," he said. The court will hold a hearing on the matter Tuesday. Under federal law, active-duty forces are prohibited by law from conducting law enforcement. The Trump administration has characterised the city as a "war zone," which local authorities dispute. Recent protesters have drawn a few hundred attendees who marched through downtown chanting, dancing and poking fun at the Trump administration's characterisation of the city. There have been about 500 arrests since Saturday, mostly for failing to leave the area at the request of law enforcement, according to the police. There have been a handful of more serious charges, including for assault against officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun. Nine officers have been hurt, mostly with minor injuries. An 8pm curfew has been in place in a 2.5-square-kilometre section of downtown. The city of Los Angeles encompasses roughly 1295-square-kilometres. Protests have ended after a few hours with arrests this week largely for failure to disperse. A protesters waves a flag standing by California National Guard parked along a street in Santa Ana (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT 'No Kings' The "No Kings" demonstrations are planned in nearly 2000 locations around the country, according to the movement's website. A flagship march and rally are planned for Philadelphia, but no protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, DC, where the military parade will be held. Participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation, organisers say. In Florida, state Attorney General James Uthmeier warned that any protesters who become violent will be dealt with harshly. States face questions on deploying troops Texas Govenor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has put 5000 National Guard members on standby in cities where demonstrations are planned. In other Republican-controlled states, governors have not said when or how they may deploy troops. A group of Democratic governors in a statement called Trump's deployments "an alarming abuse of power". ADVERTISEMENT Washington state Govenor Bob Ferguson took to social media Friday to call for peaceful protests over the weekend, to ensure the military is not sent to the state. "Don't give him an excuse to try and federalise the National Guard like he did in California," he said. Military parade The military parade in Washington which Trump had unsuccessfully pushed for during his first term — will also feature concerts, fireworks, NFL players, fitness competitions and displays all over the National Mall for daylong festivities. The celebration Saturday also happens to be Trump's birthday. The Army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend and says putting on the celebration will cost an estimated US$25 million (NZ$41.6 million) to US$45 million (NZ$74.9 million).
Yomiuri Shimbun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Marines Take Over some Security in LA While Cities across U.S. Prep for ‘No Kings' Rallies
AP U.S. Marines work outside of a federal building, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles. LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a week of protests over federal immigration raids, about 200 Marines moved into Los Angeles on Friday to guard a federal building in the city while communities across the country prepped for what's anticipated to be a nationwide wave of large-scale demonstrations against President Donald Trump's polices this weekend. The Marine troops with rifles, combat gear and walkie-talkies took over some posts from National Guard members who were deployed to the city after the protests erupted last week. Those protests sparked dozens more over several days around the country, with some leading to clashes with police and hundreds of arrests. The Marines had not been seen on Los Angeles city streets until Friday. They finished training on civil disturbance and have started to replace Guard members protecting the federal building west of downtown, so the Guard soldiers can be assigned to protect law enforcement officers on raids, the commander in charge of 4,700 troops deployed to the LA protests said. The Marines moved into Los Angeles before Saturday's planned 'No Kings' demonstrations nationally against Trump's policies, which will also happen the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., when troops will march and tanks will rumble through the streets of the nation's capital. The Marines' arrival also came a day after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a federal judge's order that had directed Trump to return control of Guard troops to California. The judge had ruled the Guard deployment was illegal, violated the Tenth Amendment, which defines the power between state and federal governments, and exceeded Trump's statutory authority. The judge did not rule on the presence of the Marines. Military mission Some 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles this week. Hundreds have provided protection to immigration agents making arrests. Another 2,000 Guard members were notified of deployment earlier this week. None of the military troops will be detaining anyone, Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, the commander of Task Force 51 who is overseeing the 4,700 combined troops, said. 'I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities,' Sherman said. 'Rather, they'll be focused on protecting federal law enforcement personnel.' Roughly 500 National Guard members have been used to provide security on immigration raids after undergoing expanded instruction, legal training and rehearsals with the agents doing the enforcement before they go on those missions. By mid-afternoon Friday, more than a dozen Marines were stationed outside the 17-story Wilshire Federal Building, replacing some members of the National Guard at various entrances. They mostly appeared to be checking tickets from members of the public who were there to renew their passports. The building is the same place Democratic U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla on Thursday was forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's news conference and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about the immigration raids. There were no protesters around the building. Occasionally, a passing driver shouted from their window, registering a mix of anger and support for the military presence. Sherman said the U.S. Marine Corps is responsible for guarding U.S. embassies overseas so they are well-trained on how to defend a federal building. California vs. Trump California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called the troop deployment a 'serious breach of state sovereignty' and a power grab by Trump, and he has gone to court to stop it. The president has cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilize federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' A federal judge said in a ruling late Thursday that what is happening in Los Angeles does not meet the definition of a rebellion and issued an order to return control of the Guard to California before the appeals court stopped it from going into effect Friday. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump thanked the appeals court Friday morning. 'If I didn't send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now,' he said. The court will hold a hearing on the matter Tuesday. Under federal law, active-duty forces are prohibited by law from conducting law enforcement. The Trump administration has characterized the city as a 'war zone,' which local authorities dispute. Recent protesters have drawn a few hundred attendees who marched through downtown chanting, dancing and poking fun at the Trump administration's characterization of the city. There have been about 500 arrests since Saturday, mostly for failing to leave the area at the request of law enforcement, according to the police. There have been a handful of more serious charges, including for assault against officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun. Nine officers have been hurt, mostly with minor injuries. An 8 p.m. curfew has been in place in a 1-square-mile (2.5-square-kilometer) section of downtown. The city of Los Angeles encompasses roughly 500 square miles (1,295 square kilometers). Protests have ended after a few hours with arrests this week largely for failure to disperse. No Kings The 'No Kings' demonstrations are planned in nearly 2,000 locations around the country, according to the movement's website. A flagship march and rally is planned for Philadelphia, but no protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., where the military parade will be held. Participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation, organizers say. In Florida, state Attorney General James Uthmeier warned that any protesters who become violent will be dealt with harshly. States face questions on deploying troops Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has put 5,000 National Guard members on standby in cities where demonstrations are planned. In other Republican-controlled states, governors have not said when or how they may deploy troops. A group of Democratic governors in a statement called Trump's deployments 'an alarming abuse of power.' Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson took to social media Friday to call for peaceful protests over the weekend, to ensure the military is not sent to the state. 'Don't give him an excuse to try and federalize the National Guard like he did in California,' he said. Military parade The military parade in Washington which Trump had unsuccessfully pushed for during his first term — will also feature concerts, fireworks, NFL players, fitness competitions and displays all over the National Mall for daylong festivities. The celebration Saturday also happens to be Trump's birthday. The Army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend and says putting on the celebration will cost an estimated $25 million to $45 million.
