The chief of naval operations and commandant of the Marine Corps say they are increasingly clear on how they’d want to fight a peer adversary, what attributes would make their forces successful and what platforms they need to equip that force. Now, they just need help from Congress turning that into a budget everyone can […]
101 OKINAWA, JAPAN – On Feb. 17, 2021, Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment (1/2), 2d Marine Division returned from a paradigm shifting deployment in the vast and exotic training areas of Japan. During a year marred by the effects of COVID-19, the battalion successfully deployed to Okinawa, Japan in the Fall of 2020, as part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP).
After arriving in Japan, the battalion adhered to a strict two-week restriction of movement plan. Upon release from isolation, Marines continued to abide by the standard COVID guidelines and other considerations by the host nation, with strict supervision.
“We went in with the intent of paying the cost upfront,” said Maj. Dennis Graziosi, operations officer, 1/2. “It hurt that Marines were sitting in tough restrictions, but after the two weeks of restriction we were able to begin training while adhering to protocol. Bottom line is, heavy restrictions allowed us to do more at t
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SOFREP
Dec 21, 2020
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Marines fire an MK-153 shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon during Fuji Viper at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, Dec. 10, 2020. The exercise allows infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics.
The MK-153 launches from the shoulder, making it an excellent portable assault weapon for disrupting emplacements and reinforced positions a.k.a. bunkers. It also serves as an anti-armor rocket. Its maximum effective range against a tank-sized target is 500 meters. The MK-153 was originally introduced into the military in 1984 and is still in service today.
Recent applications of the MK 153 have included the addition of a thermobaric rocket which has the power to raze an entire building.