Category: Military

Strangelove Revisited: How I Learned to Stop Studying and Light A Bong

Military Radioactive 18 Comments

Associated press;

The force of 450 Minuteman 3 missiles is primed to unleash nuclear devastation on a moment’s notice, capable of obliterating people and places halfway around the globe.

And the guys running the joint have been cheating on exams.

The cheating involved unauthorized passing of answers to exams designed to test missile launch officers’ proficiency in handling “emergency war orders,” which are messages involving the targeting and launching of missiles. […]
A total of 100 missile launch crew members at Malmstrom were identified as potentially involved in the cheating, but nine were cleared by investigators. Another nine of the 100 are being handled separately by the Air Force Office of Special Investigation; eight of those nine involve possible criminal charges stemming from the alleged mishandling of classified information.
Of the remaining 82 officers, an estimated 30 to 40 are eligible to be retrained and returned to duty on the missile force; the rest face unspecified disciplinary action that could include dismissal from the Air Force, officials said. Of the 82 facing disciplinary action, 79 are still at Malmstrom; the three others had moved to other bases or left active duty.

Oh, did I say “joint”?

The cheating at Malmstrom was discovered in early January during the course of an unrelated drug investigation that included two launch officers …

From the comments – “Is this what Obama was referring to the other day when he said that his biggest fear was someone nuking New York City?”

The Upside

Military Sleeping With The Enemy 33 Comments

TIME notes that the repercussions of the Ukraine incursion aren’t exactly rosy for Putin, either.
I think, however, that TIME isn’t thinking it out as long term as they should. Unlike some alarmists, I don’t see an escalation by the Russians as an end game. I think Putin’s end game is already here.

  • Polls change, especially if you’re deemed the ‘winner’,
  • He’s secured the warm water ports,
  • As TIME notes, his ‘red line’ was enforced,
  • Obama’s reputation is in tatters,
  • He’s realigned eastern European influence,
  • The Ukraine is effectively a satellite state of Russia now.

Pushing further (aside from peaceful assimilation of Ukraine) would invoke treaties, real treaties. Putin isn’t stupid and he isn’t backed into a corner. War with the West wouldn’t end well for anyone.

Is There Nothing That Obama Can’t Do?

Forward! I Miss W. Military Political Animal 14 Comments

Now is the time at SDA for a little nostalgia.

Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor running for president, has told an audience in New Hampshire that the United States “won’t always have the strongest military,” an assertion that drew a strong rebuke today from one of his rivals for the Democratic nomination. […]
Dr. Dean rejected that characterization of his comment. “What serious presidential candidate would ever say such a thing?” he said. “How ridiculous!”

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

It's Probably Nothing Military 28 Comments

Drones that “think” for themselves;

Drones that can choose to deviate from a set mission and hunt in ‘swarms’ could be patrolling skies within the next 25 years, according to a new roadmap.
Unmanned aircraft carrying stronger chemical weapons could also be on the horizon, the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) revealed in its Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap.
While the document sets out plans for unmanned maritime, land and air vehicles, there is a lot of focus on the future capability of controversial drones, which, if the plans come to fruition, could deviate from mission commands set by humans if they spot a better target.

h/t peterj

The Decline And Fall Of The American Empire

Forward! Military 37 Comments

CNS;

Females in the Marine Corps currently are not required to do even a single pull-up, and a deadline mandating that by Jan. 1, 2014, they be able to do at least 3 pull-ups as part of their training has been delayed for at least a year, the Corps quietly announced on social media.
Unlike their female counterparts, male Marines have long been required to do at least 3 pullups as part of the Physical Fitness Test (PFT).

The Endangered Warthog

Military 44 Comments

USAF Targets Its Legendary Close Air Support Platform

The A-10 was built on the mantra of being able to fly extremely damaged on ‘half of one wing, one tail, one engine, one elevator missing’. Of extreme importance for CAS missions is the A-10’s relatively slow speed which unlike fast-moving jet fighter aircraft allows the pilot to accurately acquire and engage targets. In addition, its turbofan engines give the A-10 increased fuel efficiency, significant loiter capability (on the order of several hours versus minutes for high-speed aircraft), time on station, and time over target, which are critical for on-call missions in support of ground forces. Most impressively, the A-10 excellently provides this lethal and effective capability at a cost of only $11-19 million dollars per aircraft.

Current trends again see the planned reduction of the A-10 fleet. Recent defense budget reductions have led the USAF to propose cutting five A-10 squadrons and ultimately reducing the fleet to around 240-50 aircraft (down from approx. 350), while more drastic plans call for getting rid of them altogether.

This looks to be a pretty good site, check out Marc’s other stuff.

We Will Never Forget

Insufferable Twits Military 32 Comments

Most communities roll out the welcome wagon for military veterans, solid families and Habitat for Humanity.
But some Morton residents don’t want that kind of riff-raff in their neighborhood. Noses in air, a petition is being circulated to protest the arrival of the first military home by Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Peoria Area. Why? The dwelling is — gasp! — made of wood, while all of the surrounding residences consist of brick.

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