July 27, 2009 — The Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) has been an integral part of the Marine Corps since it was commissioned in 1972. According to www.globalsecurity.org, the 26-ton vehicle is equipped with a jet propulsion unit that allows it to reach speeds up to eight knots at sea for seven hours and carries four bilge pumps capable of removing 400 gallons of MORE
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July 23, 2009 — Australian soldiers from 3rd Royal Australian Regiment and U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in an urban assault at the Joint Combat Training Capability Urban Operations Training Facility as part of Exercise Talisman Saber 2009. The UOTF resembles an urban town, allowing troops to train for current operations in such MORE
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July 20, 2009 — Nearly 150 Australian Defence Force members teamed up with more than 60 Marines and sailors from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to conduct a joint coalition combined-arms live-fire exercise, July 9-15. Australian and U.S. firepower included artillery, mortars, air support and naval surface fires. The Royal Australian MORE
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July 20, 2009 — As the sun began to set over the horizon, 3rd Royal Australian Regiment, in support of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, made their way through thick brush to a small village where they would secure the town from hostile villagers during the Battle of Sam Hill July 17.Umpires from the Australian Army’s Forces Command were on site to observe and MORE
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July 20, 2009 — The chilly pre-dawn silence along the Australian coast was broken recently as Australian Defence Force members, and Marines and sailors from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted a mock amphibious assault, displaying the MEU’s over-the horizon capability and projecting power more than 1,500 meters from ship to shore, July 15. MORE
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July 10, 2009 — Twelve years ago, a young recruit, like hundreds before him, stood as straight and tall as he could manage, while doing his best to get through his first day at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. His senior drill instructor walked briskly into the squad bay and he was struck with a mixture of admiration and intimidation reserved only MORE
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July 07, 2009 — More than 1,800 Marines and sailors from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) visited Australia for the first time when the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and the forward-deployed dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) pulled into Cairns, Australia, June 28 – July 6. The port visit offered MEU Marines and sailors the MORE
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