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The 3rd Marine Regiment: A Look at the Marine Rifle Squad

 

In the past couple of years, the U.S. Marine Corps has experienced some upheaval as the Corps is recalibrated and dramatic changes are made to its ranks. Most notably, the Corps got rid of its armor assets and tanks are no longer a thing in the Marines as the force returns to its agile and light structure. Armor support for Marines will now come from the U.S. Army.

While roughly 12,000 were severed from the ranks of the sea’s premier infantry service, there was an addition with the activation of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR). Activated in 2022, the 3rd Marine Regiment, now an MLR, is a major pivot in the manner in which the Marine Corps operates in the Pacific.

A Marine squad typically consists of 13 Marines divided into three fire teams of four led by a squad leader. Under the new 3rd Marine Regiment MLR model, a squad will be 14 people, split into two fire teams of six Marines, with a squad leader and assistant squad leader. The fire teams in the 3rd Marine Regiment new MLR model will have a team leader. 

The MLR is one part of the larger force design intended to remedy challenges created by the continued evolution of the character of warfare – specifically the proliferation of the Mature Precision Strike Regime.

The 3rd Marine Regiment MLR model is now a self-deployable, multi-domain force optimized for the contact and blunt layers. It will persistently operate to support the Joint Force’s role in assuring allies and partners, deterring adversaries, conducting and enabling Joint Force contact, blunt, and surge activities.

The 3rd Marine Regiment, and other MLRs like it, are designed as a naval formation, including capabilities to enable maneuver and operations in the maritime domain. It will be a stand-in force: mobile, low-signature, persistent in the contact to blunt layers, and relatively easy to maintain and sustain as part of a naval expeditionary force.

The 3rd Marine Regiment as an MLR will leverage the full ability of amphibious platforms, connectors, and boats. Significantly, the Navy and Marine Corps will field a Light Amphibious Warship to enhance MLR mobility and sustainment.

The 3rd Marine Regiment, and other MLRs, will be capable of the following missions:

  • Conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
  • Conduct Strike
  • Coordinate Air and Missile Defense Actions
  • Support Maritime Domain Awareness
  • Support Surface Warfare
  • Support Operations in the Information Environment

The 3rd Marine Regiment as an MLR is the first of its kind in the Marine Corps. Subsequent MLRs will potentially be based in other Pacific theater locations.

The MLR will employ three subordinate elements: a Littoral Combat Team (LCT); a Littoral Anti-Air Battalion; and a Combat Logistics Battalion.

The LCT will be task organized around an infantry battalion along with an anti-ship missile battery. It is designed to provide the basis for employing multiple platoon-reinforced-size expeditionary advanced base sites that can host and enable a variety of missions such as long-range anti-ship fires, forward arming and refueling of aircraft, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance of key maritime terrain, and air-defense and early warning.

The Littoral Anti-Air Battalion is designed to provide air defense, air surveillance and early warning, air control, and forward rearming and refueling capabilities.

The Combat Logistics Battalion provides tactical logistics support to the MLR by resupplying expeditionary advanced base sites, managing cache sites, and connecting to higher-level logistics providers. It provides expanded purchasing authorities, limited Role II medical forces, distribution of ammunition and fuel, and field level maintenance.

The MLR, like the 3rd Marine Regiment commands and controls these subordinate organizations via a robust regimental headquarters with enhanced signals and human intelligence, reconnaissance, communications, logistics planning, civil affairs, cyber, and information operations capabilities.

The approximate size of the 3rd Marine Regiment and other MLRs is anticipated to be between 1,800 – 2,000 Marines and Sailors.  By comparison, 3rd Marines (with three infantry battalions, a Combat Assault Company, and regimental headquarters) has approximately 3,400 Marine and Sailors.

The establishment of the 3rd Marine Regiment as an MLR in Hawaii will give the Marine Corps an initial operational capability to conduct sea denial operations in the Indo-Pacific Theater starting in 2023. This initial MLR will also serve to test and validate concepts and inform structure refinements before subsequent MLRs are established elsewhere within III Marine Expeditionary Force.

The majority of the Hawaii-based MLR was created using units that already exist there in the 3rd Marine Regiment. The unit was activated before all the personnel and equipment flowed in.

The 3rd Marine Regiment now as an MLR is tailored to integrate with naval forces and serve as a key enabler for joint forces, allies, and partners. Its low signature in the electromagnetic spectrum will help the MLR remain difficult to detect, allowing it to function within range of the adversary’s weapons systems.

From there, the MLR will integrate communications, sensor networks, and weapons systems to strengthen joint kill webs and increase the joint force’s ability to detect and target adversary forces. These actions will complicate an adversary’s decision-making process while providing additional options for friendly forces. Further details of how the MLR will operate are still in development and will continue to be informed by experimentation.

The Marine Corps administratively redesignated the 3rd Marine Regiment to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in a ceremony in March 2022. That occasion marked the establishment of the first MLR in the Marine Corps.

The redesignation of the storied 3rd Marine Regiment is an important chapter in Marine Corps history and builds on its reputation as a versatile, agile, and lethal warfighting organization.



“Marines on the leading edge of change is nothing new,” said Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, commanding general of 3rd Marine Division in a Marine Corps news article. “Adapting and overcoming challenge is part of our history and a critical component of our maneuver warfare philosophy. Marines have always been at the forefront of change when required, generating innovative solutions to challenging operational problems.”

While the 3rd MLR is not envisioned to be fully operational for several years, its establishment demonstrates progress in the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 modernization effort.

The administrative redesignation to the 3rd MLR sets key personnel in place and allows the unit to manage existing facilities and equipment previously managed by the 3rd Marine Regiment. The redesignation also facilitates wargaming and experimentation to better define unit requirements and employment concepts in support of the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 modernization goals.

As designed, the 3rd MLR is comprised of a headquarters element and three subordinate commands.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This post was written extensively using Marine Corps press releases and Marine Corps government news stories available as public information.)

Patriotic Shirts That'll Make You Proud to be an American

 

Patriotic apparel is not only fashionable, but it is also a great way to show your American pride and love of country. Service pride is something that can easily be displayed by the wearing of patriotic apparel. Patriotic shirts, are definitely the best way to show everyone your patriotic side.

While some people might argue that patriotic shirts that have a U.S. flag on it is not patriotic since it violates U.S. Code, in particular rules about the U.S. flag, there are easy workarounds if you want to show love of country and service loyalty. Here are some ideas for patriotic shirts.

Patriotic Shirts

Whether it is a custom polo shirt, or an off the rack t-shirt, military shirts make great patriotic shirts, and they can be worn in a variety of situations. Patriotic shirts can be worn for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. In addition to the days previously mentioned, if you are a member of a veterans’ service organization, these are great to wear to meetings and organizational events.

If you’re still on active duty, the Guard or reserve, consider buying something that shows your esprit de corps in your specialty. Polo shirts are great for more formal unit events like community service, golf outings or even casual off-duty unit functions. T-shirts are certainly more casual, and you can wear those to unit barbecues or other similar outdoor type of functions.

Polo Shirts

Nicer patriotic shirts are polo shirts. Much like the custom rank hats, these can be customized to order with name, rank, and rank insignia. Put as little or as much as you like on this performance clothing item. It won’t disappoint and it is a popular patriotic shirt. This item is great for golfers or if a unit wants a to sport a uniform look at events, like a cookout or a community service project.

If you are shopping for a service member because they expressed interest in patriotic shirts, the key is to know what they will like. Customized and personalized patriotic shirts are great for those who are serving because it enables them to show their pride while still in uniform. For veterans or retirees, the patriotic shirts enable them to show their service pride, but it also reconnects them to a significant part of the lives. Customized patriotic shirts make great gifts.

T-Shirts

You’ve heard the phrase, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Well, you can actually get a great patriotic shirt that allows you to show everyone where you’ve been and what you’ve done. USAMM has a wide selection of t-shirts from service branch specific to military occupational specialties. 

Hoodies

Okay, hoodies might not be patriotic shirts, but the rise of hoodies as a fashionable clothing item cannot be denied and we thought it was important to include hoodies in this post given the hoodie is now one of the most popular clothing items around. Like patriotic shirts, hoodies can be customized in some cases, but there are also plenty of choices to help you show your patriotism, including hoodies that show occupational loyalty like infantry, aviation, armor, military police, etc.

Sweaters

A lot of sweater manufacturers make patriotic apparel. High-end brands known for using the American flag as an attractive symbol to lure consumers are popular. As mentioned, 4 U.S. Code subsection 8 outlines what can/can’t be done with the American flag, but the American public seems flexible about how the flag is used.

For example, did you know that the U.S. flag cannot be carried flat, but in many professional sporting events giant flags are carried flat onto the field for the National Anthem, and many times they are carried by military personnel. The intent of the sporting event isn’t to desecrate or dishonor the flag, so that is likely overlooked by many Americans. The same goes with clothing. While having an American flag on an item of clothing is technically illegal, most companies create the clothing items to celebrate America and her freedoms.

To arm you with knowledge, we are providing the U.S. Code as it applies to the American flag just in case that’s a line you don’t want to cross.

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Military Operations: 5 Weirdest Names in History

 

Ever wonder whose job it is to name military operations? Who was responsible for naming those kick-ass operations like Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Overlord, Operation Desert Storm? All of those names evoke a sense of unbridled power and as those names are released to the public, it is probably pretty intimidating to be an enemy of the United States.

The practice of naming military operations can be attributed to the Germans and they started doing it during World War I. The practice spread and eventually in World War II, Winston Churchill, who named the Normandy invasion, warned that care needed to be taken in naming military operations.

Churchill wrote a memorandum that said: “Operations in which large numbers of men may lose their lives ought not to be described by code words which imply a boastful or overconfident sentiment...They ought not to be names of a frivolous character...the world is wide, and intelligent thought will readily supply an unlimited number of well-sounding names which do not suggest the character of the operation or disparage it in any way and do not enable some widow or mother to say that her son was killed in an operation called ‘Bunnyhug’ or ‘Ballyhoo.’”

But in military history, apparently some did not get the memo and there have been some strange names assigned to military operations. The names assigned to the following military operations might leave you scratching your head and wondering, could they not have named these military operations something else?

Below is a list of some of the weirdest military operations (names) in military history.

Operation Vittles

We’ll be honest. This one kind of makes sense, but it sounds cutesy and we wonder if this operation’s name was coined by a good old American boy, but the mission itself was immensely effective and one of the bright spots for the new U.S. Air Force.

In 1948 the Soviet Union blockaded western sectors of Berlin. Faced with starving German citizens, President Harry Truman authorized the operation that would become more popularly known as the Berlin Airlift. Much needed food supplies were flown in until about a year later, the Soviet Union removed their blockades and allowed access.

Operation Barbarossa

You have to know a little Italian in order to appreciate this military operation's name. In 1941, the German military was on a mission to destroy Joseph Stalin’s forces by invading the Soviet Union. The military operations for that objective were called Operation Barbarossa.

Germans were supposed to invade, take control of the western Soviet Union and occupy the region. Instead, they got their butts handed to them. But what does Barbarossa mean? It is Italian for “Red Beard.” The name comes from Frederick I who was the king of Germany in 1155. He died in Asia Minor and believed in expanding Germany’s imperialistic empire.

Operation Mincemeat

While the name doesn’t sound appetizing, the outcome was certain. This was one of those military operations where a multitude of moving parts all contributed, so it is unknown whether Operation Mincemeat was a success as a standalone operation, but one thing is certain, its goal, to disguise the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, must have worked because the Allies took Sicily faster than expected, and with fewer casualties.

At its core, Mincemeat was a deceptive operation where false military intelligence was placed on the body of a Welsh homeless man who was found dead in England. The British military and intelligence communities dressed him in a British military uniform, planted fake identification credentials and intelligence on his body, and set him adrift to be picked up by the Nazis. Spanish fishermen pulled him from the ocean and turned over the body to the Germans. The rest is history and this is one of those military operations that many don’t know about.

Operation Barroom

Nope, that’s not “bar room,” it is barroom, as in the sound of a really huge fart. This flatulent-named operation was eventually made into a Disney movie titled Operation Dumbo Drop (a fictitious title since the real name would likely not be well received by a non-military audience). The name Barroom came from the sound an elephant makes when it farts.

The real-life operation took place in 1968 in Vietnam and involved American Special Forces personnel moving two pachyderms 300 miles in C-130s and then moving them another 60+ miles into the jungle via helicopters. Villagers needed the elephants to help run a sawmill the Special Forces soldiers had helped them purchase and establish. The lumber made at the mill would help build training camps where SF personnel could train the indigenous forces.

Operation Magic Carpet

We aren’t being critical, but we think this operation should have been named something like Operation Hero Homecoming or Operation Yellow Brick Road. This military operation was a heavy lift and brought more than eight million American service members home from the various theaters of World War II. It took about 15 months to get folks home and just about every ship was utilized to bring home American service members.

After the Vietnam War, the Defense Department took a hard look at its operational naming guidelines and it cautioned military leaders to not use names for military operations that were “inconsistent with traditional American ideals or current foreign policy,” and that names should not be offensive or derogatory. The guidance stated names should not employ exotic words or well-known commercial trademarks. The Pentagon mandated that all military operations have two words and the word operation.

In 1975, computers were added to validate and store operational names. Today, each U.S. military command is given a series of two-letter prefixes. They are assigned blocks of the alphabet, say from AA to AD, from which they can choose two-word names. The first word of every operational name must start with one of those prefixes.

10 Gifts for Military Promotions Your Service Member Will Love

 

Military promotions are earned. Service members are required to have a certain amount of time in grade, time in service, and an attained level of skill in their military occupational specialty.

The first few ranks, regardless of how they are attained, are relatively simple to explain. Graduation from warrant officer or officer candidate school might be needed to make O-1, and graduation from basic training is usually required to be an E-1. As a service member progresses up the ranks, the requirements to earn rank get more rigid and rank is harder to attain.

That makes military promotions something special. If you are the loved one of a military service member, naturally you want to get something special to mark the occasion.

Gifts for military promotions aren’t too hard to buy as long as you go into it knowing what your service member likes or doesn’t like. Clearly your gifts for military promotions can be simple, like taking the person out to dinner or buying them a drink (even though military tradition stipulates that the person getting promoted buys the drinks), but if you prefer getting the person a more traditional military gift. We’ve got some ideas.

Here is USAMM’s list of gifts for military promotions.

Battle Mug

The Battle Mug is a military favorite. This is one of the best gifts for military promotions you can buy. If the recipient belongs to an infantry unit or works in a military profession that carries a rifle, they will love this gift. The Battle Mug is fully customizable. Not only can you put their name, new rank, and unit information on it, or anything else that you think belongs on there, but you can also add a rifle-like handle, railings, and their ribbon rack to it. This isn’t one of those military going away gifts that they will set aside and place on a shelf. This rugged mug will get used regularly and will be a career heirloom for whomever receives it. Your departing friend will likely use this thing a lot at his/her assignment and often think about the times you guys had together.

Alder Plaques

The Alder plaques are unique gifts for military promotions that can capture a service members entire career or just a snapshot of it. In other words, if you have someone who was recently promoted, these are super affordable and really nice. These are great gifts for military promotions because there is plenty of room on the high-quality wood’s surface to include a career’s worth of military awards and badges, or just limit it to awards or badges earned during a specific period, like the period of time a person held a particular rank. Either way, these fully customized Alder plaques are colorful and ideal military going away gifts.

Navy Custom Ship 3D Laser Engraved Plaque

There are a lot of choices for gifts for military promotions for sailors or old sea dogs. One of our favorite gifts for military promotions are the ship 3D laser engraved plaques. They make wonderful gifts for military promotions because the sailor/former sailor can select his/her ship class, name, and hull number, and it will all be custom engraved. These are great for quarters, offices or man cave or she shed.

Shadowboxes

Shadowboxes will always be incredible gifts for military promotions, but these tend to be presented upon retirement from the U.S. military. This is a go-to gift which obviously can be personalized by adding the individual’s awards, badges, and mementos. They can also be customized by having a brass plaque engraved and placed inside the box which has the recipient’s name and military information on it. To do this right, make sure you work with the service member’s family and the human resources team to ensure all the right medals, badges, ribbons, are included in the shadowbox.

Custom Navy Caps

Caps make great gifts for military promotions because like the 3D laser plaque, they can be customized to the liking of the wearer. They can proudly display the ship of the person who was promoted and the sailors can rock these caps at veteran events and patriotic holidays. Great gifts for military promotions are ones that the recipient can wear.

Custom Rank Hats

Whether the person you are shopping for is enlisted, warrant or commissioned officer, they will love a Custom Rank Hat. These make great gifts for military promotions because they include the person’s name and new rank and they come in multi-cam and coyote colors.

Navy Ship Wrapped Canvas

Customizable Navy ship class wrapped canvas prints are unique gifts for military promotions because they are artwork that will bring color to any room or office. Much like their 3D engraved plaque cousins, the recipient can customize their print to any ship class and hull number. And they cost much less than the plaques, but like the plaques, they are still very affordable for a quality customized product.

Drinkware

Water bottles, mugs, flasks, and steins can all be customized and make great gifts. Name, new rank, and other personalized information can be placed on these items and consider including the unit’s emblem.

Custom Canvas

Consider a custom canvas as a type of soft plaque. These come in various colors, including an OCP pattern, and different items and wording can be placed on it to customize it for your service member. These can also make great gifts for military promotions.

Gift Cards

Hard copy gift cards are super easy to give and digital cards are even easier. You can just e-mail them to the lucky recipient and they can use the funds to buy their new rank and make changes to their uniform.

10 Best Military Going Away Gifts for Deployment

 

Ask a military veteran about their life in the service and they will mention several places that they lived or visited. The fact is, military service is synonymous with mobility and travel. Every few years, the services ask its people to pack up and head to a new assignment. It makes military personnel some of the most traveled people in the United States.

When a military member must PCS, or experience a permanent change of station, they leave behind friends and co-workers they’ve bonded with and they head off to start anew elsewhere. When members of a shop, office or unit depart, it is customary to get those people military going away gifts as mementos of their time.

The venerated veteran employees of USAMM got together over some cold ones recently and talked about their favorite military going away gifts and while some can’t be mentioned on these pages, we think this is a pretty good list of military going away gifts that can help you shop for a battle buddy or wingman who might be leaving and heading to a new assignment.

Here is USAMM’s list of military going away gifts in no particular order.

Battle Mug

This thing is awesome and frankly, one of the best military going away gifts you can buy. If you belong to an infantry unit or work in a military profession that carries a rifle, they will love this gift. The Battle Mug is fully customizable. Not only can you put their name, rank, and unit information on it, or anything else that you think belongs on there, but you can also add a rifle-like handle, railings, and their ribbon rack to it. This isn’t one of those military going away gifts that they will set aside and place on a shelf. This rugged mug will get used regularly and will be a career heirloom for whomever receives it. Your departing friend will likely use this thing a lot at his/her assignment and often think about the times you guys had together.

Alder Plaques

The Alder plaques are unique military going away gifts that can capture a service members entire career or just a snapshot of it. In other words, if you have someone who is leaving because they are retiring, these are super affordable and really nice. These are great military going away gifts because there is plenty of room on the high-quality wood’s surface to include a career’s worth of military awards and badges, or just limit it to awards or badges earned during a specific period, like the assignment they are leaving. Either way, these fully customized Alder plaques are colorful and ideal military going away gifts.

Navy Custom Ship 3D Laser Engraved Plaque

There are a lot of choices for military going away gifts for sailors or old sea dogs. One of our favorite military going away gifts are the ship 3D laser engraved plaques. They make wonderful PCS military going away gifts because the sailor/former sailor can select his/her ship class, name, and hull number, and it will all be custom engraved. These are great for quarters, offices or man cave or she shed. More importantly, this will encapsulate their assignment and they can proudly display it.

Shadowboxes

Shadowboxes will always be incredible military going away gifts, but these tend to be presented upon retirement from the U.S. military. This is a go-to gift which obviously can be personalized by adding the individual’s awards, badges, and mementos. They can also be customized by having a brass plaque engraved and placed inside the box which has the recipient’s name and military information on it. To do this right, make sure you work with the service member’s family and the human resources team to ensure all the right medals, badges, ribbons, are included in the shadowbox.

Custom Navy Caps

Caps make great military going away gifts because like the 3D laser plaque, they can be customized to the liking of the wearer. They can proudly display the ship of last assignment and the sailors can rock these caps at veteran events and patriotic holidays. A great military going away gift is one that the departee can wear as they leave.

Custom Rank Hats

Whether the person you are shopping for is enlisted, warrant or commissioned officer, they will love a Custom Rank Hat. These military going away gifts are awesome and include the person’s name and rank and they come in multi-cam and coyote colors. These are great especially for personnel who are getting promoted as they depart. It is nice for them to have something with their new rank on it.

Navy Ship Wrapped Canvas

Customizable Navy ship class wrapped canvas prints are unique military going away gifts because they are artwork that will bring color to any room or office. Much like their 3D engraved plaque cousins, the recipient can customize their print to any ship class and hull number. And they cost much less than the plaques, but like the plaques, they are still very affordable for a quality customized product.

Drinkware

Water bottles, mugs, flasks, and steins can all be customized and make great military going away gifts. Name, rank, and other personalized information can be placed on these items and consider including the unit’s emblem.

Custom Canvas

Consider a custom canvas as a type of soft plaque. These come in various colors, including an OCP pattern, and different items and wording can be placed on it to customize it for your service member. These can also make great going away presents when a person leaves an assignment.

T-Shirts

You’ve heard the phrase, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Well, you can actually get a customized shirt that allows your departing teammate to tell everyone where he’s been and what he’s done. Wearable gifts are awesome and make great gifts for those who might not be fans of I Love Me walls. 

Coping with Deployment Separation During the Holidays

 

Although major deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq have slowed or stopped altogether, the U.S. military continues to deploy to various spots around the globe. That means that military families are left coping with deployment separation during the holidays.

While material things cannot in anyway replace a loved one, a personal or coveted item can help someone coping with deployment separation. Maybe the deployed service member keeps personal family items with them during the deployment to help ease the homesickness, or family members of a deployed military member have keepsakes of their loved one, personal items can help people coping with deployment separation.

Whether you are getting ready to deploy, or your loved one is facing a deployment, there are some personal items that make good gifts to help folks coping with deployment separation. 

Coping with deployment separation is rough, especially during the holiday season when usually families gather to spend time together. A deployed family member is a noticeable and tangible void. However, while the void can’t be filled, there are things that you can do to bring you closer to your deployed loved one or to those you might have left behind (if you are the service member).

For family members who might be coping with deployment separation a good item to show support for your deployed loved one might be to purchase a military spouse clothing item or military spouse item that shows you are proud of them. The men and women in the U.S. military who deploy need the support of those on the home front as they endure the stressors of deployment. Showing your support will make them feel good.

For those who are deployed, coping with deployment separation can be a little easier if they have items that remind them of home. Maybe a customized mug or an engravable coin that they can always carry with them.

It is important to remember if you are giving someone who is deploying a military gift that you think will help them with coping with deployment separation that the item be something portable. It likely isn’t a good idea to give them a large plaque or a shadowbox. You can always save those for when they return. Portability and size are key when giving someone something that they will take with them on deployment. Keep it small, keep it meaningful.

If you are a service member who is deploying, your options to help someone coping with deployment separation are a little more robust. You can give them something personal, like maybe a set of custom dog tags with your name and information on them. Ask them to always wear them while you are gone and that when you return, you will both take off the dog tags. You can also give them something larger and more personalized to reflect your service and their sacrifice.

If personal gifts aren’t your thing and maybe you want to help a buddy who is coping with deployment separation, tactical gifts that help while the person is deployed can help reduce stress. Holsters, vests, water bladders, backpacks and other tactical items are great to improve work conditions for your buddy on the ground.

If they are facing a deployment in austere conditions, consider gifts like solar phone chargers and knives. Items that make life easier on the ground will help eliminate stress and enable your pal to focus on the mission.

Comfort items like sweatpants and hoodies, especially if they are deploying someplace cold, make a huge difference. These make great pajamas especially if that CHU you are sleeping in doesn’t have heat (if you are lucky enough to even have a CHU). Ponchos, poncho liners, field jackets, wool caps, gloves, and other cold weather items can help fight off Jack Frost and those items would certainly be welcomed by your buddy.

A deployed service member can help loved ones coping with deployment separation by keeping in touch regularly as the mission allows. Most U.S. military personnel on deployment have access to e-mail, mail service and even video teleconferencing. Long gone are the days of a family member dropping a letter in the mail and it takes two months to reach the service member at their deployment site. Today, most mail is delivered much faster, including packages and while e-mail is super-fast, a handwritten note goes a long way, especially for those loved ones who are older. Save the e-mails and video calls for those who are younger and grasp the technology.

Keeping in touch with folks back home is a huge way to help them cope with the fact that you are not there. If you are fortunate to have a military occupational specialty that gives you regular access to e-mail, make it a point to routinely check in and let them know you miss them and love them.

If your only access is the internet café on the FOB, try to get e-mails out as much as you can so everyone back home knows how you are doing. Set expectations; they will know how busy you are, but understand they need to hear from you.

As a loved one back home, understand that your loved who is deployed might not have access to communication tools to keep in touch. Access to communications equipment might be sporadic. Make it a point to have your cellphone accessible at all times and ensure that your service member knows that late at night you won’t answer because you are sleeping.

E-mail is a great way to keep in touch because there are no time zones to consider. A deployed service member can send a note at two in the morning and it won’t matter.

Remember, deployments are hard on everyone involved but they can be more manageable with just a little effort.

10 Military Personalized Gifts for the Holidays

 

Military service is all about uniformity. Uniformed personnel dress the same, follow a rigid set of rules to govern themselves on and off duty, and they live and perform within standards.

It should come as no surprise that those who serve or have served like a little bit of individualism when they can get it. With all that conformity and selfless service, it’s okay to remind a friend or loved one that they are individuals. Sure, there is no “I” in team, but it’s okay to give a military personalized gift to someone you care about who always puts everyone first.

Military personalized gifts are fantastic things to give during the holidays that show the person you care about that you value them for who they are, but also for what they do. Here is USAMM’s list of top ten military personalized gifts in no particular order.

Battle Mug

This thing is bad ass and frankly, one of the best military personalized gifts you can buy. If the recipient is someone who carried or carries a rifle as part of their military profession, they will love this gift. The Battle Mug is fully customizable. Not only can you put their name, rank, and unit information on it, or anything else that you think belongs on there, but you can also add a rifle-like handle, railings, and their ribbon rack to it. This isn’t one of those military personalized gifts that they will set aside and place on a shelf. This rugged mug will get used regularly and will be a career heirloom for whomever receives it.

Alder Plaques

The Alder plaques are unique military personalized gifts that can capture a service members entire career or just a snapshot of it. These are great military personalized gifts because there is plenty of room on the high-quality wood’s surface to include a career’s worth of military awards and badges, or just limit it to awards or badges earned during a specific period, like a deployment or temporary duty mission. Either way, these fully customized Alder plaques are colorful and ideal military personalized gifts.

Navy Custom Ship 3D Laser Engraved Plaque

There are a lot of choices for military personalized gifts for sailors or veteran salts. One of our favorite military personalized gifts are the ship 3D laser engraved plaques. They make wonderful holiday military personalized gifts because the sailor/former sailor can select his/her ship class, name, and hull number, and it will all be custom engraved. These are great for quarters, offices or man cave or she shed.

Shadowboxes

Shadowboxes will always be incredible military personalized gifts. This is a go-to gift which obviously can be personalized by adding the individual’s awards, badges, and mementos. They can also be customized by having a brass plaque engraved and placed inside the box which has the recipient’s name and military information on it. Empty shadowboxes with customized brass plates make great military personalized gifts because it gives the recipient a blank canvas and they can secure their military mementos in the box however they prefer.

Custom Navy Caps

Caps make great military personalized gifts because like the 3D laser plaque, they can be customized to the liking of the wearer. They can proudly display their favorite ship and rock these caps at veteran events and patriotic holidays.

Custom Rank Hats

Whether the person you are shopping for is enlisted, warrant or commissioned officer, they will love a Custom Rank Hat. These military personalized gifts are awesome and include the person’s name and rank and they come in multi-cam and coyote colors. These are great for those official/unofficial unit events where a uniform isn’t required.

Navy Ship Wrapped Canvas

Customizable Navy ship class wrapped canvas prints are awesome personalized military gifts because they are artwork that will bring color to any room or office. Much like their 3D engraved plaque cousins, the recipient can customize their print to any ship class and hull number. And they cost much less than the plaques, but like the plaques, they are still very affordable for a quality customized product.

Drinkware

Water bottles, mugs, flasks, and steins can all be customized and make great military personalized gifts. Name, rank, and other personalized information can be placed on these items.

Custom Canvas

Consider a custom canvas as a type of soft plaque. These come in various colors, including an OCP pattern, and different items and wording can be placed on it to customize it for your service member. These can also make great going away presents when a person leaves an assignment.

Polo Shirts

Our last item on our list of military personalized gifts is a polo shirt. Much like the custom rank hats, these can be customized to order with name, rank, and rank insignia. Put as little or as much as you like on this performance clothing item. It won’t disappoint. This item is great for golfers or if a unit wants a to sport a uniform look at events, like a cookout or a community service project.

The thing to remember when shopping for a service member for the holidays is to know what they will like. Customized and personalized military gifts are great for those who are serving because it enables them to show their pride while still in uniform. For veterans or retirees, the customized gifts also enable them to show their service pride, but it also reconnects them to a significant part of the lives.

Customized military gifts make great holiday gifts and just remember to shop well enough ahead of time to allow for shipping time. Holiday shipping delays are always something to take into consideration.

Military Bases: A Complete Guide

 

The U.S. military has a vast network of military installations all over the world. While many speculate on the number of military bases around the world, it is just that, speculation. The truth is that only the Pentagon knows exactly how many military bases there are around the globe, and they aren’t talking.

It makes sense that the U.S. military doesn’t disclose how many military bases it has around the world. It also makes sense that the U.S. military doesn’t disclose how many military bases it has in the United States, but most estimates are in the range of around 500.

At this point, it is important to note that when the term “military installation” is used, it means any base, camp, fort, station, yard, etc. that is used by the Department of Defense. So, when we mention military bases, it has some broad reach.

The U.S. military has military bases on every continent. Think about that for a minute. That’s quite a network. For the sake of this article, we will focus on U.S. bases in North America.

While states like Vermont and Minnesota do not have formal U.S. military bases, they do have military facilities that belong to their state National Guard units and those units can be federalized by order of the president. Otherwise, every state has U.S. military bases and of course, some, like Texas and California, because of their size, have many more military bases than other states.

It should be noted too that the coastal states tend to have military bases for the sea services, like the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Coast Guard (which is not a part of the Defense Department unless elements of it are mobilized to serve under the command and control of the U.S. Navy). The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force fill the middle of the country, but they also have military bases peppered throughout the nation.

New Hampshire has the least amounts of military bases with only one. Texas, Virginia, and California have the most military bases out of all states. 

The largest military base by populace is Fort Bragg which as of 2022 has more than 90,000 personnel who work and live on it. The largest of military bases by area is Fort Hood, Texas, with nearly 215,000 acres of land.

Virginia, North Dakota, and North Carolina round out the top states with the highest share of active-duty troops relative to the state’s occupants.

White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico has 3,200 square miles of space and is a short drive from Fort Bliss outside of El Paso, Texas. The Trinity Site is located here and it is the site of the first atomic bomb test which happened in in 1945.

All branches of service have their own military bases and they are titled differently depending on the branch of service and the particular mission of the military bases. Most Army posts are called forts. For example, Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Fort Eustis are all Army installations.

U.S. Air Force bases are called, well, bases. Marines call their military bases camps. The Corps has Camp LeJeune, Camp Pendleton, for example, but they also have Depots, Stations, and Bases. Marine Recruit Depot Parris Island, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, and Marine Corps Base Quantico, for example.

The U.S. Navy shares a similar naming convention as the Marine Corps. The Navy has bases, stations, and Depots as well. There is Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Naval Air Base, Pensacola, and Naval Station Norfolk, for example. As of mid-2021, the U.S. Navy maintains 82 primary activities, stations, and bases, according to the Navy website.

The U.S. Coast Guard has bases and stations since they have both air and ocean assets. Lastly, the U.S. Space Force has bases and stations.

Of course, there are other types of installations like yards, ranges, and facilities, but most are either a fort, base, station, camp, or depot.

Depots tend to be locations where supplies are stored and issued. Forts have multiple functions. Bases are normally associated with aviation. Stations tend to be linked to providing service or ports for fleet vessels (including spacecraft). Camps are similar to forts in that they have varying missions.

Stateside, military bases for the U.S. Air Force are called Air Force Bases. Overseas they are called air bases. For example, Osan Air Base instead of Osan Air Force Base. It is a subtlety.

U.S. Army installations overseas are named garrisons, but the Army also has camps. We can confuse you even more. Many National Guard military bases are called camps. For example, Camp Mabry, Camp Swift and Camp Minden all belong to the National Guard.

While it can be confusing, there are U.S. military bases all over the world and they all have a purpose and a mission. They are also strategically located, placed in locations intentionally for a reason. However, they all share the same purpose, and that is to protect freedom.

Five Marine Corps Tanks You May Not Have Heard Of

 

In 2021, the U.S. Marine Corps bid farewell to its armor assets positioning itself for a tankless future where the light and expeditionary force would rely on the heavy-equipped U.S. Army for tank support. Marine Corps tanks would become obsolete.

In March 2020 the official decision for the Marine Corps to get out of the tank business came down from Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger. Months later, Marine Corps tanks were unceremoniously put atop train cars and hauled away from the 1st Tank Battalion, 2nd Tank Battalion, and 4th Tank Battalion.

The tankers were allowed to retire if they had at least 15 years in service, or transfer to the U.S. Army or the Army National Guard. They were also given the opportunity to reclassify in another military occupational specialty. The removal of armor will enable the Marine Corps to reduce its ranks by 12,000 Marines over the next decade and make the Corps a more agile and flexible force designed to be able to improve its expeditionary mission.

However, once upon a time, Marine Corps tanks were a large part of the Marine Corps’ arsenal, and those tank forces grew from threats the Marines faced on the battlefield. In its heyday, Marine Corps tanks saw the development of some interesting and famously rugged armor equipment.

Here is USAMM’s list of five historical Marine Corps tanks you probably didn’t know about. Consider this our way of toasting Marine Corps tanks as they leave the Corps. Ching-ching.

1. Marine Corps tanks (Artillery)
Once upon a time during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, some Marines did not have the necessary weapons to conduct combat operations. Lacking mortars and artillery, Marines in Marine Corps tanks would position their tanks on berms or hills to raise the trajectory of their armored guns to ensure they could get maximum reach out of them.

The Marine Corps tanks were mostly inaccurate, but they harassed the enemy and occasionally scored some damage. Check out the pic of the two Marine Corps tanks providing nighttime indirect fire support. You just have to love the creativity and adaptability of those Marines. Adapt, overcome and improvise.

2. M1917 Light Tank
The M1917 was America’s first mass-produced tank which copied the French Renault FT-17. These Marine Corps tanks were created to deploy with American Expeditionary Forces to France in World War I. Production took a lot longer than expected and the first tanks arrived just days before the Armistice.

Equipped with a Browning .30-caliber machine gun, the Marine Corps tanks were crewed by a Light Tank Platoon USMC out of Quantico. The M1917 established the Marine Corps’ armor doctrine that was used in the Pacific islands during World War II.

These tanks did deploy around the world, but not for combat. They were used mostly for ceremonies and to show American military might.

3. M3A1 Flame Tank
The M3A1 “Satan” was a modified Stuart Light Tank, and it was one of the first flamethrower Marine Corps tanks. The Marines began experimenting with tank-mounted flamethrowers and in 1943 the flamethrower was positioned in the bow turret on the Satan.

This tank was effective at clearing Japanese bunkers which were difficult obstacles early on for the Marines. Deploying the flamethrowing tank meant that men armed with flamethrowers did not have to put themselves at risk as much to deploy the weapon.

Marine Corps tanks with flamethrowers saw action throughout the Pacific during World War II.

4. Marmon-Herrington CTL
In the 1930s, the Marines needed a light tank that could be used in amphibious operations. Marmon Herrington produced a light, turretless tank with a 12.7 mm machine gun and two .30 caliber machine guns. It had a crew of two, a driver and a gunner, and it was protected by a half inch of armor. CTL stood for Combat Light Tank.

The tank was powered by a Lincoln V-12, Hercules 6-cylinder gas engine with 120 horsepower (about the power of a six-cylinder 1966 Ford Mustang). It had a top speed of 33 mph. Various models were made during its development but in 1940 the Corps rendered it obsolete and relegated it to training. The CTL never saw combat with the USMC.

5. M4A1 Sherman
Although the Sherman paled in comparison to German tanks, and it was plagued with problems, soldiers and historians love this old tin; think Fury. Okay, so maybe this isn’t one that you haven’t heard of, but we can’t have a tank list without mention of the Sherman tank.

The Marine Corps first used the Sherman tank on Tarawa when they deployed the M4A2 small hatch tank. The tanks were delivered by the manufacturer with no training and they fought against similar Japanese tanks that faced similar problems on the battlefield.

The Marines had two months to learn how to drive the Shermans and fire their weapons. The M4A2s Marine Corps tanks had no waterproofing, and no deep wading ability. In fact, they could only ford a little more than three and a half feet of water. In addition, the Marine Corp tanks had radios that were not on the same frequency as the infantry units.

Nonetheless, these were widely mass produced to support the war on two fronts, in Europe and in the Pacific. The Shermans became symbolic of America’s involvement in World War II and American military muscle in the 1940s.

How Many Ships Are in the U.S. Navy? A Breakdown

 

If you have ever asked yourself, how many ships are in the US Navy, you’re in luck. We have the answer. But it is important to understand how the Navy is structured and some of the various types of ships it has in it.

The U.S. Navy has seven numbered fleets in its arsenal; the 2nd Fleet, 3rd Fleet, 4th Fleet, 5th Fleet, 6th Fleet, 7th Fleet and 10th Fleet. If you noticed, one, eight and nine are missing and that’s because those fleets were established during World War II and have since been deactivated or merged with other fleets.

The U.S. Navy is the world’s second-largest navy with more than 280 ships, both commissioned and non-commissioned ships. China has the biggest navy on earth, but they have smaller coastal ships, and the American Navy simply has more power even though it has less ships. The U.S. Navy has larger, more capable vessels than any other navy in the world. So, if someone asks what the largest Navy in the world is, or how many ships are in the US Navy, frankly none of it matters because American ships are power projection platforms that can unleash a world of hurt on anything, land, sea, or air.

HOW MANY SHIPS ARE IN THE US NAVY SERVING AS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS?
A Navy aircraft carrier doesn't just launch aircraft – it projects power. A carrier air wing can dominate large stretches of territory – on the ocean or to land – with their reach and technological sophistication.

There are two active classes of nuclear-powered Navy aircraft carriers: the legacy Nimitz class, and the new Ford class. How many ships are in the US Navy matters less when the U.S. Navy has 11 of the world’s 43 carriers.

HOW MANY SHIPS ARE IN THE US NAVY SERVING AS CRUISERS & DESTROYERS?
Because cruisers and destroyers are so important to Navy operations, they are called “escort vessels.” But make no mistake, these ships are powerful and capable enough to operate on their own in almost any situation. There are 72 destroyers and 17 cruisers.

Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt class destroyers, are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.

Ticonderoga-Class Guided-Missile Cruiser
These multi-role warships were commissioned in 1983 and they can launch missiles, perform anti-submarine missions and conduct interdiction or escort operations.

Arleigh-Burke Class Guided-Missile Destroyer
This is the Navy’s longest-running class which entered service in 1991. It can perform anti-air, anti-sub, and surface warfare.

Zumwalt-Class Destroyer
This is the Navy’s stealth destroyer that has an innovative technology that enables it to appear as a fishing boat on radar. It is about 40 percent larger than an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The Zumwalt-Class has been plagued by program costs overrun and performance challenges.

HOW MANY SHIPS ARE IN THE US NAVY SERVING AS SUBMARINES?
Navy submarines are among the most high-tech vessels in the world. They can insert SEAL teams into hostile target areas, launch guided or ballistic missiles, take out enemy subs and ships, and perform reconnaissance and rescue missions.

The U.S. Navy has 50 attack submarines, 14 ballistic missile subs, and 4 guided missile submarines.

HOW MANY SHIPS ARE IN THE US NAVY SERVING AS LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPS?
Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) come in two classes, Freedom and Independence. Their key advantage is that they are re-configurable. They can be fitted with "mission modules" specific to the task at hand. These ships perform a variety of missions like anti-mine, anti-submarine, and surface warfare.

The Freedom variant of the U.S. Navy’s LCS is a high-speed, agile, shallow-draft and networked surface ship. The LCS 1 and follow-on ships (LCS 3, LCS 5, LCS 7, etc.) are open-ocean capable, but are designed to defeat growing littoral threats and provide access and dominance in the coastal water battlespace. A fast, maneuverable and networked surface combatant, LCS provides the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to accomplish critical warfighting missions, including mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare with inherent capabilities that also support missions such as special operations and maritime interdiction.

The LCS delivers combat capability from core self-defense systems in concert with rapidly interchangeable, modular mission packages and an open architecture command and control system. The LCS aviation facilities and watercraft launch-and-recovery capability support focused mission packages outfitted with both manned and unmanned air, surface, and sub-surface vehicles. Reconfigurable spaces and weapons modules provide support service interfaces between mission package weapons, sensors and vehicles and the sea frame. Modularity maximizes the flexibility of LCS and enables commanders to meet changing warfare needs, while also supporting faster, easier technological updates. The LCS will be networked to share tactical information with aircraft, ships, submarines, joint and coalition units both at sea and on shore, and with LCS operating groups.

The Rolls Royce MT30 gas turbines on the Freedom variant are the largest of any surface combatant in the U.S. Navy. The flight deck is larger than those on U.S. Navy guided missile frigates, destroyers, and cruisers.

The Independence Variant of the LCS Class is a high speed, agile, shallow draft and networked surface ship. The LCS 2 and follow (LCS 4, LCS 6 and LCS 8 etc.) are open ocean capable ships but are designed to defeat growing littoral threats and provide access and dominance in the coastal water battlespace. A fast, maneuverable and networked surface combatant, LCS provides the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to accomplish critical warfighting missions including mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare with inherent capabilities that also support missions such as special operations and maritime interdiction.

LCS delivers combat capability from core self-defense systems in concert with rapidly interchangeable, modular mission packages and an open architecture command and control system. The LCS Independence variant aviation facilities and watercraft launch, and recovery capability support focused-mission packages outfitted with both manned and unmanned air, surface, and sub-surface vehicles. A mission bay and three weapons modules provide support service interfaces between mission package weapons, sensors and vehicles and the sea frame. Modularity maximizes the flexibility of LCS and enables commanders to meet changing warfare needs, while also supporting faster, easier technological updates. LCS will be networked to share tactical information with aircraft, ships, submarines, joint and coalition units both at sea and on shore, and with LCS operating groups.

The trimaran construction is unique to the US Navy and lends the USS Independence some unique characteristics. Its flight deck is the largest of any current surface combatant, and its hangar bay can hold two MH-60 helicopters.

The U.S. Navy has 22 LCS-Class ships.

HOW MANY SHIPS ARE IN THE US NAVY SERVING AS HOSPITAL SHIPS?
Whether providing medical support to deployed troops or offering critical care and humanitarian assistance in the wake of tragedy, hospital ships offer unique health care to those in need.

The U.S. Navy has two hospital ships.

HOW MANY SHIPS ARE IN THE US NAVY SERVING AS AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS?
Amphibious warfare ships resemble a small aircraft carrier; capable of Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing, Short Take-Off Vertical Landing, Vertical Take-Off and Landing tilt-rotor and Rotary Wing aircraft operations; contains a well deck to support use of Landing Craft, Air Cushioned and other watercraft.

Modern U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group / Expeditionary Strike Group. A key element of the Seapower 21 pillars of Sea Strike and Sea Basing, these ships transport and land elements of the Marine Expeditionary Unit or Marine Expeditionary Brigade with a combination of aircraft and landing craft.

The Tarawa-classes provide the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in addition to movement by landing craft. They have extensive storage capacity and can accommodate Landing Craft Utility and LCAC craft. They were active during Operations Desert Shield / Storm. Since that time, LHAs have been participants in major humanitarian-assistance, occupation and combat operations in which the United States has been involved. Such operations have included participating as launch platforms for Marine Corps expeditionary forces into Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and 2002, Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and humanitarian support after the catastrophic Tsunami in 2004. In 2004, they were used to transport thousands of Marines and their equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan for combat operations. 

Amphibious warships are designed to support the Marine Corps tenets of Operational Maneuver from the Sea and Ship to Objective Maneuver. They must be able to sail in harm’s way and provide a rapid buildup of combat power ashore in the face of opposition. Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to also support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice. The United States maintains the largest and most capable amphibious force in the world.

The U.S. Navy has 23 amphibious ships.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was created using U.S. Navy press releases and websites that contain public information.)

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