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Camp Pendleton, California. (December 9, 2024): After overcoming initial obstacles, the Marine Corps is currently deploying its new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) to bases in Japan, Guam, and the Philippines. In this photo by Corporal Kyle Chan, a Marine guides this next generation amphibious craft toward shore during exercises with the 1st Marine Division. The ACV deployment is part of an overall refocusing of strategy to confront China in the Indo-Pacific.
Under this new plan, the Marines would rapidly deploy to remote islands to operate in smaller, more dispersed groups. This is a challenging logistical task given the size of the Indo-Pacific. The goal is to field a highly dispersed force capable of conducting amphibious operations independently with the least amount of logistical support.
The new ACV offers greater mobility and has many improvements in fire power and personnel protection. Manufactured by BAE Systems, the ACV is an eight-wheel craft launched and recovered from ships in open water that can carry up to thirteen Marines. The new design has improved survivability with a blast-resistant hull, energy absorbing seats, and an automatic fire suppression system. Its V-shaped frame further reduces the risk to its occupants from mines and improvised explosive devices.
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Tokyo, Japan. (December 15, 2024): In this photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley Cheesman, Cracker Jack the Sailor Cat proudly sports his Navy garb to celebrate International Cat Day. America’s Sailors have a long and mutually beneficial relationship with cats. Cracker Jack the Sailor Cat is a character celebrated by sailors for the historical role cats served on ships. Boxes of Cracker Jacks featured a Sailor and his dog in the 1920 and American mariners began calling their uniforms “cracker jacks.”
For centuries, Ships’ cats were a vital part of the crew by helping to keep their mutual home free of rats and other vermin. They were also known for their ability to sense changes in barometric pressure, helping crews predict storms.
Rats can cause damage to ropes, woodwork, and electrical wiring and they were a threat to ships' stores, devouring crews' food, and cargo. They were also a source of disease as rat fleas carried plague and are believed to be the source of the ghastly Black Death.
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Twentynine Palms, California. (December 6, 2024): As the saying goes, bureaucracies strangle innovation. To cut through the red tape, the Defense Department has created an agency to accelerate the process of absorbing new technologies, in this case drones. In this photo by Devon Bistarkey, the Defense Innovation Unit is using drone operators and experts to field test, evaluate, and accelerate the adoption of commercial technology by the military. The Agency holds periodic “Challenges” like these to allow companies to compete by demonstrating their latest innovations to the Military.
These Innovation Unit team Challenges attract drone operators and test experts of various uncrewed aerial systems from all over the world. The purpose of this event was to directly evaluate Unmanned Aerial System platforms and assess rapid-update software. If selected, the approved drones may join the UAS list for rapid deployment.
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Fort Stewart, Georgia. (November 28, 2024): In this photo by Sergeant Anthony Ford, soldiers take cover as a Bangalore torpedo explodes just to their front. This famous device is credited with saving thousands of allied lives on D-Day. The Bangalore was originally designed by local farmers wanting to clear paths and heavy undergrowth. Along comes Captain R. L. McClintock of the Royal Engineers in 1912 who created a more powerful explosion and a whole new role for the Bangalore.
Soon, use of the “Bangalore” mine would sweep through the British Army and it quickly became the primary tool used by combat engineers. The device saved lives by allowing troops to clear obstacles that would otherwise require them to approach directly, possibly under fire. The mine originally looked something like a long chimney brush with an explosive charge attached and then several connected tubes added to the required length.
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Coronado, California. (December 10, 2024): The Navy’s home of amphibious warfare looks every bit like an exotic oceanfront resort. Situated on 5,500 yards of Pacific Ocean beaches, you wouldn’t suspect this is the home of America’s premier Naval gladiators. In this photo by Corporal Kyle Chan, Marines drag a combat rubber raiding craft onshore during an infantry company small boat raid course. The Coronado facility is home to the Naval Special Warfare Command, Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, and the Navy's Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) Team.
This sprawling base is where the Marines practice their amphibious assault skills, particularly in deploying and maneuvering small boats. These smaller craft are used to insert Marines for various operations including executing raids or securing beachheads. To be successful, Marines must be able to manage these unruly crafts in heavy seas and under the most challenging conditions.
The beaches at Coronado are an ideal place to practice infiltrating and exfiltrating forces under realistic conditions. The Marines train in providing small-caliber gunfire support for fellow Marines going ashore and recovering the wounded. Other topics taught at Coronado include conducting coastal patrols, surveillance, interdiction, and search and rescue operations.
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Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. (December 8, 2024): How do you promote and retain highly capable senior NCOs whose knowledge and skills are vital to the Army? Why not give them a chance to become an “Officer by another means.” In this photo by Sergeant 1st Class Shane Smith, Sergent 1st Class Ratthiny Ly is promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 1 with all the duties and privileges of that office.
WO1 Ly will join the roughly 26,000 warrant officers in today’s Army who serve as both technical experts and leaders who command units, aircraft, vessels, and armored vehicles. A warrant officer is a hybrid between enlisted personnel and commissioned officers.