Free Republic

The Corps Report Ep. 27 — Typhoon Aid and the Corps Adopts a new Universal CoverUSMC Corps Report11/15/13 Click here for the video, which features a couple other stories. This week's episode of The Corps Report features Marines providing humanitarian relief in the Philippines, the Corps adopts a new universal service and dress cover, and a robotic pack-mule that lends a helping hoof.

The four Marines killed Wednesday while clearing unexploded ordnance at Camp Pendleton were bomb removal technicians. The four were killed around 11 a.m. during a routine sweep to make a range safer for future training exercises at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, said a Marine official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. There was no live firing on the range at the time.

4 Marines reported killed in "Range Maintenance Operation" at Camp Pendleton. Accident happened around 11AM Pacific.

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)TACLOBAN, Philippines (AP) - Typhoon-ravaged Philippine islands faced a daunting relief effort that had barely begun Monday, as bloated bodies lay uncollected and uncounted in the streets and survivors pleaded for food, water and medicine. Police guarded stores to prevent people from hauling off food, water and such non-essentials as TVs and treadmills, but there was often no one to carry away the dead - not even those seen along the main road from the airport to Tacloban, the worst-hit city along the country's remote eastern seaboard.....

For 238 years, The United States Marine Corps has proudly served our great Nation with unfailing valor – bolstered by the enduring fortitude of our fellow Marines, our families, and our friends. This is why each year on November 10th, Marines from all generations gather together, in groups large and small, to celebrate the birthday of our Corps and to reflect on the proud legacy and warrior ethos we share. This is what unites us as Marines. From our first battle at New Providence to today in Afghanistan, Marines have always shown that they were made of tougher stuff –...

238th Marine Corps birthday message:Enduring Fortitude, Unfailing Valor. [video] The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen James F. Amos, and the SgtMaj of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Micheal P. Barrett, speak to Marines and Sailors about the timeless Marine qualities of courage and perseverance by looking back on the landing on Tarawa in WWII, the Battle of Hue City during Vietnam, and crossing the berm into Iraq during the War on Terror. Marine determination, grit and valor make the Corps the ready force America relies on in times of crisis.

TAMPA — Ethan Arbelo will make it onto the “Wall of Fame” after all. The 12-year-old boy’s mom, Maria Maldonado, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has one kitchen wall covered with photos of friends and relatives who have served in the Marines — brothers Joe, Randy and Edward, cousin Ray, uncle James, Parris Island boot camp buddy Shannon, and Maldonado herself. “In my family, we pass on our love for the Marine Corps to the next generation,” Maldonado said. “He’s been groomed for it since birth. That’s been one of the big disappointments when he got sick — he said,...

... There are allegations that the Marines' top officer, Gen. James Amos, illegally interfered with the judicial proceedings in an effort to ensure harsher penalties. Amos spoke about the video and other incidents last year during a worldwide tour of Marine bases. And in a written statement after the video came to light, he said the Marine Corps would not rest until the allegations were resolved. He appointed a senior officer, Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, to investigate. Waldhauser said Amos told him he wanted those involved "crushed" and kicked out of the Marine Corps. ... A Marine lawyer, Maj. James...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRBwNgfVL58#t=80 This is the amazing story of the OEF enduring tribute for our 89 fallen heroes that traveled from sea to shining sea; Vermont to San Mateo and was finally unveiled in the 5th Marine Memorial Park at the journey's end. The OEF Monument, built by "Rock of Ages Corporation" in Graniteville, Vermont, was made possible by the generous outreach of so many "Friends of the Fifth," Adoptive Cities, and Marine Supporters. Please allow the time to watch this documentary. The 10 day journey of the OEF Monument to San Mateo, home of the 5th Marine Regiment, was delivered by...

There's a big story getting passed around in military circles and beyond from The New York Post that President Obama wants the Marines to start wearing 'girly' caps... As a Marine veteran who knows how these changes actually happen, I can tell you the story is 100% B.S. The bottom line: The President doesn't involve himself in what troops happen to be wearing... "The President in no way, shape, or form directed the Marine Corps to change our uniform cover," said Capt. Maureen Krebs, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps. "We're looking for a new cover for our female Marines...

Despite what you may have seen in other headlines, there will be no change to the male uniform cover. Straight from the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos: 1. The President in no way, shape or form directed the Marine Corps to change our uniform cover. 2. We are looking for a new cover for our female Marines for one overriding reason: the former manufacturer went out of business. 3. The Marine Corps has zero intention of changing the male cover.

The Marine Corps is contemplating a uniform change that would create a unisex service cap. The Marines are also exploring whether to have women use a slightly modified version of the hat used by male Marines instead of the distinctive “bucket cap” they now wear. If the unisex design is chosen it would be the first change to that part of the Marine uniform since 1922. A Marine official says that recently the Marine Corps Uniform Board, comprised of non-commissioned officers and officers, discussed a change in the headgear known as a “cover” as a means of streamlining uniform rules...

<p>A change to the Marine Corps’ uniform hats could take the hard-nosed Leathernecks from the Halls of Montezuma to the shops of Christopher Street.</p> <p>“We don’t even have enough funding to buy bullets, and the DoD is pushing to spend $8 million on covers that look like women’s hats!”</p>

A change to the Marine Corps’ uniform hats could take the hard-nosed Leathernecks from the Halls of Montezuma to the shops of Christopher Street. Thanks to a plan by President Obama to create a “unisex” look for the Corps, officials are on the verge of swapping out the Marines’ iconic caps with a new hat that some have derided as so “girly” that they would make the French blush.

Oct. 23, 2013, marks the 30th anniversary of the Beirut Bombing. 241 American and 58 French service members were killed when two trucks filled with explosives crashed into the two barracks buildings. One of the 300 service members who lived in the building shares the story of the attack, his survival and how he lives with the memories.

Col. Daren Margolin has been relieved as head of Security Battalion at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. (Marine Corps) The two-star head of Marine Corps Installations Command has relieved the commanding officer of Quantico’s Security Battalion following an incident involving a personal weapon, Marine Corps officials said. Col. Daren Margolin, a 24-year officer was removed from his post Oct. 18 by Maj. Gen. Juan Ayala due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command, said Capt. Maureen Krebs, a Marine Corps spokeswoman. Krebs said the decision stemmed from a single incident last week involving one of Margolin’s personal...

The Marines send a not so subtle message to the government.

Another open-air memorial in the Washington area is closed and barricaded off: the Iwo Jima Memorial, just across the bridge from D.C. in Rosslyn, Virginia. A source sends along this picture of the barricade set-up at the memorial, which is also called the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial: "I took the picture yesterday afternoon. Those barricades had been there at least a day. People can still walk into the Memorial area, but for many elderly and disabled vets, it is important they be driven and park right next to the statue," the person who took this picture emails. "There has...

CAMP PENDLETON — A large fire on Camp Pendleton Saturday afternoon prompted evacuations at the base hospital and some housing, and sent up an enormous plume of black smoke that could be seen halfway across the county. The blaze broke out about 12:45 p.m. near Lake O’Neil and caused minor damage to four buildings, base officials said. Thirty-two patients were transported to hospitals off base during the fire. No new patients were being accepted late in the afternoon because of a power outage, officials said. Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside took five intensive care and emergency room patients. Naval Medical...

A 26-year-old U.S. Marine veteran, who for the past 325 days has been running across America to raise awareness and support for veterans and their families, suffered a concussion along with a bloodied and bruised face after a stranger assaulted him in Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday. According to former Marine Sergeant Brendan O’Toole, the unprovoked attack on a downtown street was precipitated by nothing more than a “simple hello and how are you doing.”