MARINE AIRCRAFT 'READY TO GO' FOR POSSIBLE EVACUATION IN LIBYA
The Marine Corps has moved eight MV-22 Ospreys and 250 Marines to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy to potentially evacuate Americans from the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, Marine Corps and Pentagon officials said. Continued violence in the region has prompted Saudi Arabia and Algeria to evacuate their embassies in Tripoli and led the U.S. military to take preparatory measures in the event that the State Department requests evacuation assistance for U.S. personnel. "This is about being on heightened alert and preparation," said Capt. Eric Flanagan, Marine Corps spokesman. "These moves will improve our capability to respond should the need arise. There is no request and no demand for a military operation at this time." Read more
MARINE CORPS TESTS NEW FEMALE DRESS BLUE COAT
The Marine Corps is considering a recommendation to redesign the female officer and enlisted dress blue uniform to a style similar to the male dress blue coat with the traditional high collar. In the coming months, the Corps will expand its field-testing of a new female dress blue coat prototype. "Providing female Marines the opportunity to wear the most identifiable uniform in the Marine Corps would recognize their significant achievements on the battlefield over the last decade plus," said Col. Christian G. Cabaniss, commanding officer of Marine Barracks Washington. Following the testing period, results will be presented to the uniform board, which will consider the issue and provide a recommendation to the commandant. Read more
CMC THANKS MARINES INVOLVED IN FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS
On May 18, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos gave his personal thanks and congratulations to Marines and firefighters involved in the firefighting operations in San Diego County, San Diego, Calif. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing dropped more than 540,000 gallons of water to assist with the firefighting efforts. At the time, the Tomahawk fire burned 5,400 acres and was 97 percent contained, the Las Pulgas fire burned 15,000 acres and was 55 percent contained, and the San Mateo Fire that burned 1,500 acres was 80 precent contained. Read more
MARINES TEST NEW ENERGY-HARVESTING GEAR
The Marine Corps launched the Experimental Forward Operating Base '14 (ExFOB), a weeklong demonstration of the Corps' potential new and upcoming equipment, May 12-16. The ExFOB is part of Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos' Expeditionary Energy Strategy that was released in 2011. "In that strategy, he set a pretty aggressive goal," said Katie Hantson, Program Analyst with the Expeditionary Energy Office. "By 2025, Marines will be able to maneuver from the sea, conduct distributive operations, and the only fuel they would need is for vehicles." To achieve that goal, the Marine Corps is looking for ways to equip Marines with technology to reduce energy usage. Examples of waste energy include the exhaust or heat from a generator or a vehicle engine, kinetic energy from an individual, and solar power. Read more
Watch: ExFOB '14: Warfighters Do More With Less
DOD: MARINES' MOVE WILL BOOST GUAM'S REVENUE BY $37M A YEAR
Defense officials say the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan, will boost Guam's revenue by at least $37 million a year. The Joint Guam Program Office says the money will come from income taxes paid by 5,000 Marines who will move to Guam. The federal government remits servicemember income taxes to the territory in a lump sum each year. Joint Guam Program Office-Forward Deputy Director Maj. Darren Alvarez says this income tax revenue will peak at $62 million in 2021. Read more