And I would argue that Marine pilots are the best in the world when it comes to close air support. Everything in the Marines is built around supporting the infantry. From heavy armor to artillery to planes the focus is always on the grunts. Marine Corps airbases are always near infantry bases and they train together constantly plus they have unified command structure and communications systems which makes everythiung go smoother.
I'm not sure how the current ratings are in the various ground attack competitions. When I was in the service the regular winners weren't Marines or USAF regulars either. Most of the top awards went to various Air National Guard units.
For what the marines do though, the F-18 isn't really that great a choice. It's too much of a jack of all trades plane. I think they'd have been better off with A-10s but hey, that's opinion and I'm biased. I've never much liked the F-18 at all. It's a pretty aircraft but seems to lack focus.
May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk.
Old Egyptian Blessing
Old Egyptian Blessing
I'm in favor of repealing DADT, but this made me briefly reconsider
- 21/04/2010 05:29:45 AM
1266 Views
...did you read the article? They aren't in the military any more. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 05:31:02 AM
371 Views
Really? A few months ago Lt. Choi was still in the military, I didn't realize he'd been discharged
- 21/04/2010 05:37:47 AM
768 Views
No, in or out it's a no-go
- 21/04/2010 05:48:25 AM
767 Views
There needs to be a rule that stops soldiers from wearing uniforms in bars
- 21/04/2010 06:55:37 AM
705 Views
Grabbing a beer with the guys after work is a pretty normal thing
- 21/04/2010 07:45:16 AM
735 Views
I've seen it.
- 21/04/2010 12:52:59 PM
708 Views
Not a very fair way to look at it
- 21/04/2010 02:10:47 PM
748 Views
perhaps not on its own
- 21/04/2010 07:06:09 PM
674 Views
Sadly that's not that uncommon
- 21/04/2010 07:27:45 PM
780 Views
to be honest, I've probably met plenty of wonderful military people in the bars
- 21/04/2010 07:41:30 PM
738 Views
every think the problem might be the uptight college kids? *NM*
- 22/04/2010 05:10:08 PM
315 Views
Excepting possibly finals period, I'm pretty sure "uptight college kid" is an oxymoron. *NM*
- 22/04/2010 07:07:58 PM
323 Views
uptight college kids don't go drink in Aggieville.
- 22/04/2010 07:17:17 PM
936 Views
The navy and Marine do have rules against it at least for working uniforms
- 21/04/2010 04:06:10 PM
744 Views
Like Buzz Aldrin wearing his on Dancing with the Stars. Ugh. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 02:37:59 PM
341 Views
well that was an air force uniform so it really doesn't count as military
- 21/04/2010 04:00:27 PM
900 Views
- 21/04/2010 04:00:27 PM
900 Views
I'll remind you of that next time you want air support ;-)
- 21/04/2010 06:00:32 PM
764 Views
I am a Marine we have our own air support
- 21/04/2010 06:15:01 PM
680 Views
- 21/04/2010 06:15:01 PM
680 Views
Yeah - some of it pretty good too but still all small stuff
- 21/04/2010 07:26:12 PM
719 Views
The F/A18 does OK
- 21/04/2010 10:11:13 PM
650 Views
It's all right, but not the best choice
- 22/04/2010 04:30:07 PM
719 Views
Hm. That seems to violate some significant 1st Amendment rights.
- 21/04/2010 07:00:59 PM
688 Views
you forget that the military sign away their rights. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 07:06:52 PM
345 Views
That's why I specified dishonorably discharged. They're no longer in the military.
- 21/04/2010 08:43:22 PM
728 Views
*shrug* sorry, I'm a bit cynical over how much the military EVER lets go.
- 21/04/2010 10:13:51 PM
694 Views
Re: I'm in favor of repealing DADT, but this made me briefly reconsider
- 21/04/2010 05:36:48 AM
709 Views
Not in uniform.
- 21/04/2010 05:38:50 AM
829 Views
oh puhlease
- 21/04/2010 05:43:15 AM
774 Views
It's not a just a piece of clothing, but I guess we'll agree to disagree on that.
- 21/04/2010 05:45:52 AM
750 Views
and another thing
- 21/04/2010 05:38:53 AM
739 Views
I'm on their side, BUT
- 21/04/2010 05:44:00 AM
719 Views
Well... it's a military policy. If they were protesting animal cruelty while wearing it, I'd agree
- 21/04/2010 06:53:36 AM
920 Views
What beetnemesis said. They're not talking about rights for all gays, but rights for gay soldiers.
- 21/04/2010 09:54:09 AM
690 Views
It's peaceful and non-violent. I see nothing wrong with them making their point in this in addition
- 21/04/2010 02:12:54 PM
684 Views
A soldier protesting a military doctrine has the right.
- 21/04/2010 02:28:40 PM
792 Views
they don't have the right to use the uniform to make that free expression *NM*
- 21/04/2010 02:39:45 PM
310 Views
Take it up with congress, the regulations are clear, no such right exists, it is expressly banned *NM*
- 21/04/2010 02:46:14 PM
282 Views
The uniform isn't just handed to you after Basic with no strings attached.
- 21/04/2010 03:04:32 PM
777 Views
The funny thing about it is
- 21/04/2010 03:35:51 PM
824 Views
Re: The funny thing about it is
- 21/04/2010 10:12:57 PM
693 Views
Actually -the question isn't right
- 22/04/2010 04:38:03 PM
592 Views
I think your attitude is likely to be common among active duty and vets alike.
- 21/04/2010 02:44:29 PM
710 Views
Actually, darlin', we don't have to convince them.
- 21/04/2010 03:34:49 PM
699 Views
very true
- 21/04/2010 03:51:49 PM
732 Views
But these men didn't disrespect anything.
- 21/04/2010 04:09:20 PM
773 Views
the problem is uniforms are about more than everyone dressing the same
- 21/04/2010 05:55:31 PM
789 Views
The statistics show that nearly 70% of Americans think gay men and women should serve openly.
- 21/04/2010 04:14:33 PM
670 Views
And going back to the Truman example, he doesn't even have to show Truman's courage.
- 21/04/2010 04:17:02 PM
707 Views
Re: And going back to the Truman example, he doesn't even have to show Truman's courage.
- 21/04/2010 04:25:46 PM
726 Views
That dude is all talk about everything.
- 21/04/2010 04:27:07 PM
827 Views
Well he wasn't all talk about Health care
- 22/04/2010 04:44:39 PM
782 Views
Yes, the main thing he has followed through on is the most disastrous.
- 22/04/2010 04:59:45 PM
588 Views
Civil disobedience against immoral government action often involves breaking the rules. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 03:37:36 PM
339 Views
Wow,
- 21/04/2010 04:04:42 PM
706 Views
I'm sure female protesters made a lot of people reconsider the suffrage movement.
- 21/04/2010 04:09:37 PM
863 Views
The bravey of those men is exactly what that 'clothing' stands for.
- 21/04/2010 04:20:19 PM
785 Views