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
1414 Views
...did you read the article? They aren't in the military any more. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 05:31:02 AM
422 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
921 Views
No, in or out it's a no-go
- 21/04/2010 05:48:25 AM
920 Views
There needs to be a rule that stops soldiers from wearing uniforms in bars
- 21/04/2010 06:55:37 AM
846 Views
Grabbing a beer with the guys after work is a pretty normal thing
- 21/04/2010 07:45:16 AM
864 Views
I've seen it.
- 21/04/2010 12:52:59 PM
845 Views
Not a very fair way to look at it
- 21/04/2010 02:10:47 PM
889 Views
perhaps not on its own
- 21/04/2010 07:06:09 PM
821 Views
Sadly that's not that uncommon
- 21/04/2010 07:27:45 PM
930 Views
to be honest, I've probably met plenty of wonderful military people in the bars
- 21/04/2010 07:41:30 PM
911 Views
every think the problem might be the uptight college kids? *NM*
- 22/04/2010 05:10:08 PM
369 Views
Excepting possibly finals period, I'm pretty sure "uptight college kid" is an oxymoron. *NM*
- 22/04/2010 07:07:58 PM
376 Views
uptight college kids don't go drink in Aggieville.
- 22/04/2010 07:17:17 PM
1076 Views
The navy and Marine do have rules against it at least for working uniforms
- 21/04/2010 04:06:10 PM
885 Views
Like Buzz Aldrin wearing his on Dancing with the Stars. Ugh. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 02:37:59 PM
394 Views
well that was an air force uniform so it really doesn't count as military
- 21/04/2010 04:00:27 PM
1034 Views
- 21/04/2010 04:00:27 PM
1034 Views
I'll remind you of that next time you want air support ;-)
- 21/04/2010 06:00:32 PM
906 Views
I am a Marine we have our own air support
- 21/04/2010 06:15:01 PM
814 Views
- 21/04/2010 06:15:01 PM
814 Views
Yeah - some of it pretty good too but still all small stuff
- 21/04/2010 07:26:12 PM
854 Views
The F/A18 does OK
- 21/04/2010 10:11:13 PM
782 Views
It's all right, but not the best choice
- 22/04/2010 04:30:07 PM
848 Views
Hm. That seems to violate some significant 1st Amendment rights.
- 21/04/2010 07:00:59 PM
854 Views
you forget that the military sign away their rights. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 07:06:52 PM
404 Views
That's why I specified dishonorably discharged. They're no longer in the military.
- 21/04/2010 08:43:22 PM
867 Views
*shrug* sorry, I'm a bit cynical over how much the military EVER lets go.
- 21/04/2010 10:13:51 PM
830 Views
Re: I'm in favor of repealing DADT, but this made me briefly reconsider
- 21/04/2010 05:36:48 AM
859 Views
Not in uniform.
- 21/04/2010 05:38:50 AM
985 Views
oh puhlease
- 21/04/2010 05:43:15 AM
911 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
883 Views
and another thing
- 21/04/2010 05:38:53 AM
895 Views
I'm on their side, BUT
- 21/04/2010 05:44:00 AM
859 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
1062 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
824 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
833 Views
A soldier protesting a military doctrine has the right.
- 21/04/2010 02:28:40 PM
939 Views
they don't have the right to use the uniform to make that free expression *NM*
- 21/04/2010 02:39:45 PM
364 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
333 Views
The uniform isn't just handed to you after Basic with no strings attached.
- 21/04/2010 03:04:32 PM
954 Views
The funny thing about it is
- 21/04/2010 03:35:51 PM
959 Views
Re: The funny thing about it is
- 21/04/2010 10:12:57 PM
825 Views
Actually -the question isn't right
- 22/04/2010 04:38:03 PM
735 Views
I think your attitude is likely to be common among active duty and vets alike.
- 21/04/2010 02:44:29 PM
853 Views
Actually, darlin', we don't have to convince them.
- 21/04/2010 03:34:49 PM
846 Views
very true
- 21/04/2010 03:51:49 PM
890 Views
But these men didn't disrespect anything.
- 21/04/2010 04:09:20 PM
916 Views
the problem is uniforms are about more than everyone dressing the same
- 21/04/2010 05:55:31 PM
900 Views
The statistics show that nearly 70% of Americans think gay men and women should serve openly.
- 21/04/2010 04:14:33 PM
812 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
845 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
869 Views
That dude is all talk about everything.
- 21/04/2010 04:27:07 PM
972 Views
Well he wasn't all talk about Health care
- 22/04/2010 04:44:39 PM
941 Views
Yes, the main thing he has followed through on is the most disastrous.
- 22/04/2010 04:59:45 PM
716 Views
Civil disobedience against immoral government action often involves breaking the rules. *NM*
- 21/04/2010 03:37:36 PM
402 Views
Wow,
- 21/04/2010 04:04:42 PM
843 Views
I'm sure female protesters made a lot of people reconsider the suffrage movement.
- 21/04/2010 04:09:37 PM
992 Views
The bravey of those men is exactly what that 'clothing' stands for.
- 21/04/2010 04:20:19 PM
926 Views