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Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan. (August 23, 2022): In this photo by Staff Sergeant Jessika Braden, the U.S. Air Force 354th Air Expeditionary Wing and the U.S.M.C. Aircraft Group 12 demonstrate their capabilities during a readiness exercise here this week. The demonstration included five Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets, eight F-35B Lightning II’s, a KC120J Super Hercules, ten Air Force Raptors and ten F-35A Lightning II’s showcasing their high level of readiness to respond to any crisis that threatens a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan. (August 23, 2022): At the end of World War II, the defeated Japanese nation adopted a “pacifist” constitution forbidding the raising of large armies so that future generations would not succumb to the militarism that had destroyed their country. Ever since, there has been a strong public sentiment in Japan against any military expenditures above what is absolutely necessary for home defense. Founded in 1954, the Japanese Self Defense Force even refuses to call its troops “military” due to such sensitivities.
What is surprising, therefore, is that the Japanese Defense Force is currently ranked fifth globally in overall military power after the United States, China, Russia, and India. Japan has a defense budget ranked sixth in the world according to Global Firepower.com, a site that publishes yearly military assessments of some 142 nations. Today, Japan is probably the world’s most underestimated military power whose forces, in several categories, rival that of Britain and France. In recent years, Japan has acquired the best equipment and weapons it can buy, and its military buildup seems far from abating.
As a result, the Japanese Defense Force has grown to be a major player in joint exercises with U.S., Australia, Canada, Britain and France and other European and Southeast Asian nations.
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U.S. July 2022 — SOT spreads a wide variety of goods far and wide within the military community both at home and abroad. Your SOT team was recently privileged to deliver two pallets of goods to the military community in Montana—$34,000 of Honey Stinger Performance Chews that support higher intensity, longer duration workouts with convenient chews that contain caffeine and electrolytes to power through. This yellow ribbon troop support boosts the morale of the military community worldwide! Thank you Honey Stinger, another great American company!
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Colorado Springs, CO. (August 8, 2022): In this photo by Trevor Cokley, U.S. Air Force Academy cadets form a congratulatory line during Acceptance Day ceremonies at Stillman Field. Here cadets receive their fourth-class shoulder boards recognizing their completion of basic training and signifying their acceptance into the Cadet Wing or freshman class at the Air Force Academy. This is only the first step in a four-year college journey followed by at least five years of active-duty service as an officer in America’s armed forces.
Colorado Springs, CO. (August 8, 2022): There are few accomplishments in life that match graduating from basic military training, and it shows on the faces of sheer joy as these young cadets begin their journey in the Air Force.
Acceptance Day for Air Force Academy recruits comes after 6 weeks of grueling basic training, where their physical and mental courage was tested, and where they learned to perform as a team.
The Air Force became a separate service in 1947 and the Academy was established in 1954 with a class of 306 men training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. Women were finally allowed into the Academy by President Gerald Ford in 1975 and the Air Force graduated its first officers class including women in July 1980. Interestingly, one of the graduates from this very class became the Academy’s first female superintendent, Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson.
Read more: YOU’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN… CADETS CLIMB THEIR FIRST MOUNTAIN
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Washington, D.C. (August 12, 2022): In this photo by Sgt. Karis Mattingly, U.S. Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley is promoted by his family during a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. General Langley, who began his career as an artillery officer in 1985, is the now one of only three four-star Generals in the United State Marine Corps.
Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. (August 12, 2022): We often write about military “brats” (an affectionate term) and the unique struggles they face growing up. Sometimes, one of these folks really reaches the pinnacle.
This week, the U.S. Marine Corps promoted Michael E. Langley, whose father served in the Air Force, to the rank of four-star General elevating him to the top of America’s military leadership. One of only three U.S.M.C. officers to hold the rank, General Langley will be in a unique position to advise the Corps on policy going forward. A seasoned field officer, General Langley has held command at all levels, from platoon leader to division commander, and he served in both Japan and Afghanistan over his storied career.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, home to the sprawling Barksdale Air Force Base, General Langley’s father urged him to “aim high” which he did, in the Marines. A graduate of the University of Texas, General Langley was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1985 and began his service in the field of artillery. General Langley is a graduate of the Marines Amphibious Warfare School and holds advanced degrees from both the Army and Navy War Colleges.
We at Support Our Troops and patriotic Americans everywhere salute you, General Langley, and we remain Semper Fi.
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San Diego, CA. (August 14, 2022): In this photo by Specialist 3rd Class Melvin Fatimehin, a sailor hugs a family member after completing a seven-month deployment aboard the Harpers Ferry-Class Dock Landing Ship USS Pearl Harbor. Based at Naval Base San Diego, the Pearl Harbor just returned from operations in the Indo-Pacific region in support of America’s 3rd, 5th, and 7th Fleets. With a crew of 24 officers and 328 enlisted, the Pearl Harbor’s mission is to transport and launch amphibious craft and their crews to conduct assault landings.
San Diego, CA. (August 14, 2022): Homecomings are some of the most memorable moments for our active duty servicemembers and their families. While always a joyous occasion, coming home can be source of hidden stress after many months of separation.
For military families, the toll of repeated deployments is often invisible but very real, especially to the children. When a spouse is deployed, the rest of the family must take on duties and responsibilities, from mowing the lawn to buying groceries, far above their pay grade. After a couple of months, a certain sense of rugged independence takes hold as they learn to conquer adult tasks on their own.
Read more: HAPPY HOMECOMINGS, HIDDEN PAIN ADJUSTING TO “NORMAL” TAKES EFFORT
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Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. (August 12, 2022). In this photo by Corporal Andrew Jones, Japanese working dogs wait their turn to perform a search at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Their K-9 handlers are from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force who depend on German Shepherds for perimeter defense and bomb/drug detections.
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. (August 12, 2022): We are familiar with the veritable German Shepherd as an essential part of police and military operations for centuries. Shepherds are the most popular choice due to their intelligence, loyalty, agility, and ability to remain calm in hostile environments. Horses, donkeys, mules, and camels have all served as pack animals transporting men and medical supplies to the front. Even birds got into the act with carrier pigeons delivering messages and the unfortunate canary used to detect poisonous gas.
Throughout history, man has attempted to use animals in some surprisingly strange ways.
Author Graham Land in his recent article, 10 Animals Used For Military Purposes, describes some of the odd ways military planners hoped to use our animal friends.
The Elephant Mountain Division
Eat your heart out 10th Mountain Division! Perhaps the most famous non-human weapon of war is the giant and durable elephant. In 218 B.C., Hannibal famously led 400 elephants and an army of over 100,000 men across the Alps to defeat a much superior Italian army. Having never seen elephants before, the Roman Calvary panicked resulting in a surprise victory for Hannibal and forever installed the noble elephant as a “heavy weight” on the battlefield.
Read more: BELIEVE IT OR NOT… STRANGE PLANS FOR MILITARY ANIMALS
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