USMC. F-35B Lightning II fighter jets during winter exercises in Norway,NATO - YouTube

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 (VFMA-542) Tigers deployed to Norway from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,North Carolina with their F-35B Lightning IIB Joint Strike Fighters to participate in NATO Exercise Arctic Response.The drills are held every two years to provide military competency in challenging Arctic conditions.They foster interoperability between the USMC and Allied nations.F/A-18 Hornet legacy aircraft were also deployed.

US Army, NATO. US Airborne and British Army soldiers land in Latvia.Multinational Airborne Force Crisis Response

US Navy Sailor Lost Overboard During Baltic Operations

The US Navy has announced that Seaman Recruit David L. Spearman,19,was lost overboard from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missie destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) on 1 August 2022 in the Baltic Sea near Helsinki,Finland.During watch that afternoon,a lookout saw a person in the water.Man overboard procedures were initiated.The ensuing search involved both the German and Swedish Navies,as well as the Arleigh Burke's crew and the US Air Force.The search was called off on 2 August.* Seaman Recruit Spearman was from Etowah,Henderson County in Western North Carolina.He had completed training at Surface Warfare Engineering School Command in Great Lakes,Illinois in April.According to his commanding officer,Commander Pete Flynn,David made an oversized,positive impact on the warship.CDR Flynn also thanked all those involved in the extensive,day and night search and rescue efforts.Spearman,called "Dee" by his family,had a family history of naval service.* The Arleigh Burke is one of four destroyers forward-deployed to Rota,Spain.They are to be joined by two more destroyers as ordered by US President Joeseph R. Biden,bringing the total to six,in light of Russia's unwarranted aggression against Ukraine,which has necessitated an increased NATO presence along the Alliance's Eastern Flank.The augmented destroyer presence,long sought by U.S. European Command,will facilitate better sensing,command and control,and ballistic missile defence capability.* For if we live,we live to the Lord;and if we die,we die to the Lord.Therefore,whether we live or die,we are the Lord's.(Romans 14:8)

'It's Excited Nervousness': First Wave of US Troops Heads to Europe as Russia Eyes Ukraine | Military.com

'It's Excited Nervousness': First Wave of US Troops Heads to Europe as Russia Eyes Ukraine | Military.com: The first wave of some 2,000 U.S. troops to beef up NATO's warfighting capacity in eastern Europe deployed from Fort Bragg.

Special Report:More US Marines Headed for Iraq - Updated

On Saturday,19 March,US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Louis F. Cardin,27,of Temecula,California,was killed in a rocket attack by ISIL militants on his small outpost near Makhmur,Iraq,south of the ISIL stronghold of Mosul.Several other Marines were wounded in the barrage.In response,the US is sending an additional detachment from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit,Camp Lejeune,North Carolina.This is being done following consultations with the Iraqi government.The size of the detachment is undisclosed.*
Mosul is a city of a million people and its recapture is a major goal of Operation Inherent Resolve,the multinational anti-ISIL effort to which both the US and Iraq belong,along with many other NATO and Middle Eastern allies.*
SSGT Cardin was a member of the 2nd Battalion,6th Marine Regiment,26th MEU.He was providing force protection fire support at a recently established coalition fire base near Makhmur in Northern Iraq.His is the second combat death in OIR,and reminds us of the risks our men and women in uniform face every day.Our thoughts and prayers are with the service members involved,their families and their coalition teammates who will continue the fight against ISIL with resolve and determination,Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement on 19 March.*
Update:According to US officials,the fire base is called Fire Base Bell.It has about 200 Marines and an artillery battery.The artillery is to protect US and allied forces who are based nearby on a train,advise and assist mission;but also to help the Iraqi Security Forces in orchestrating their buildup to the Battle of Mosul.The plan is that,eventually,the US Army will assume control of Fire Base Bell,as the Battle of Mosul draws nearer.*
Thursday,the Marines of Fire Base Bell helped the ISF launch their Mosul campaign by firing illumination rounds so the ISF could see the ISIL militants;then the Marines opened up with artillery shells to assist the ISF in recapturing several villages near Makhtour from the Islamist extremists,which was indeed accomplished.

Honors:Afghan War Toll

As of Sunday,634 U.S. personnel had died serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.One of them was a Department of Defense civilian.Among the military deaths recently were two Marines.Lance Cpl.Alberto Francesconi of the Bronx,New York was killed in action on 1 January in Helmand Province.He was 21.On 11 January,Lance Cpl.Daniel R. Bennett of Clifton,Virginia also died in Helmand Province,but of non-combat causes at age 23.Both Marines were members of 3rd Battalion,8th Marine Regiment,2nd Marine Division,2nd Marine Expeditionary Force,out of Camp Lejeune,North Carolina.Besides Afghanistan itself,Operation Enduring Freedom is supported from Ethiopia,Jordan,Yemen and at least 12 other countries,where some of the deaths have occurred.

Marine Air Group 14

This air group is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,North Carolina.They fly AV-8B Harrier II jump jets,the TAV-8B trainer,the EA-6B Prowler reconnaisance aircraft,and the KC130J Hercules tanker/transport.Squadrons of MAG 14 include the Dragons,Bulldogs,Ace of Spades,Flying Tigers,Hawks,Banshees,Death Jesters,Moondogs,Seahawks,and Otis.

Veterans Day Honors

Aviation Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Daniel R. Verbeke of Exton,Pennsylvania died on 14 July of wounds received in December 2005 while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.A crewmember of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt(CVN 71),Petty Officer Verbeke was 25 at the time of his ultimate sacrifice.Exactly one month later,another Daniel,Private First Class Daniel A.C. McGuire, was killed in action on 14 August in Anbar Province,Iraq.Pfc.McGuire,of Mashpee,Massachusetts,was a member of 3rd Battalion,6th Marine Regiment,2nd Marine Division,2nd Marine Expeditionary Force,based at Camp Lejeune,North Carolina.He was 19 years old when he died for his friends.