A U.S. Marine fires an M777-A2 Howitzer in the early morning in Syria, June 3, 2017. US Marine Corps
Senators pressed the nation’s top commander in the Middle East on what’s next for the United States by keeping its forces in Syria after the ISIS forces in the region are in decline. Read More
The following is the Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) 2017 annual report. It was released in late January 2018. Read More
USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2017.
The following is part of a series. Please also see Top Stories 2017: Navy Acquisition, International Acquisition, Marine Corps Operations, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Acquisition, International Operations and New Administration.
In 2017, the Navy and Marine Corps were active in nearly every corner of the globe. Some forces conducted land-attack and air warfare not seen by U.S. forces in years, while others provided desperately needed humanitarian aid.
U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and French Navy sailors offload from a French landing catamaran at Arta Beach, Djibouti, while conduction amphibious training during Alligator Dagger. US Marine Corps photo.
About 1,000 sailors and Marines from the United States and France trained together in the annual Alligator Dagger amphibious exercise, in the first time France has been brought into the unilateral exercise off the coast of Djibouti.
Lt. Cmdr. Kelly Larson, left, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Edward Lopez test a Togolese villager for malaria during an Africa Partnership Station 2012 in Togo. US Air Force Photo
Recent attacks by sub-Sahara-based terrorist organizations brought into focus the U.S. military’s operations, but less noticed is the Navy’s increasing fight to help save lives in the region.
The following is the Oct. 27, 2017 Congressional Research Service report, Niger: Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2017 Attack on U.S. Soldiers. Read More
AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Huey helicopters assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced) land on the flight deck of the expeditionary mobile base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) in support of Alligator Dagger 2017. Alligator Dagger is a dedicated, unilateral combat rehearsal led by Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Combined Navy and Marine Corps units of the America Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Units are to practice, rehearse and exercise integrated capabilities that are available to U.S. Central Command, both afloat and ashore. US Navy photo.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy and Marine Corps are committed to using alternative platforms to move Marines around at sea, but there are still decisions yet to be made about how to maximize these ships’ effectiveness and minimize risk while operating independently or as part of a strike group. Read More
U.S. Navy Fleet Surgical Team – 3 (FST-3) and USS Essex (LHD 2) medical department personnel triage a simulated casualty as part of a casualty evacuation drill between the Essex and the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during Exercise Dawn Blitz, Oct. 22, 2017. Navy Medicine, in concert with Exercise Dawn Blitz, is experimenting with placing Role 2 capabilities across the amphibious force. US Marine Corps photo.
The Navy is experimenting with operating a specialized medical team on a smaller amphibious ship to provide more front-line trauma care at sea, filling a capability gap that arises when deployed ships are operating apart from their larger strike groups. Read More
Undated Photo of US Air Force CV-22. US Air Force Photo
This post will be updated as new information becomes available.
A V-22 has gone down in Syria, injuring two service member sometime on Thursday, a defense official confirmed to USNI News on Friday. Read More
The following is the Marine Corps Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment concept that released last week by the service. Read More
