“The man who served as sergeant major of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, at the beginning of the war in Iraq, has been charged with sexual abuse, molestation of a child and sexual conduct with a minor in Yuma, Ariz.

John Joseph Sixta, 54, was arrested July 1 and remains in custody in Yuma, officials said. Sixta is facing similar charges in Riverside, Calif., the Yuma Sun reported.

Sixta was portrayed as an over-the-top stickler for grooming standards in the HBO miniseries “Generation Kill,” insisting that Marines tuck in their shirts and shave their mustaches…”

Forrás : http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/07/23/generation-kill-nco-charged-sexual-abuse-minor.html?ESRC=marine.nl

“MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. – For many potential recruits, enlisting in the Marine Corps is as easy as talking to a recruiter. But for some, it takes some willpower.

Marine Corps Pvt. Alexander D. Klopfenstein, Platoon 1025, Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, had to put in some grueling work before he could even consider enlisting.

Klopfenstein was born in Bakersfield, California, but he moved around a lot during his high school years. Eventually, the family decided to settle down back in Bakersfield, where he became a member of the Bakersfield High School’s swim team until graduating in 2012…”

Forrás : http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/07/22/marine-completes-90-pound-weight-loss.html?ESRC=marine.nl

“Eight military service members from the 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment received Purple Heart medals Wednesday at Camp Lejeune for their actions during their recent deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Receiving the Purple Heart were Sgt. Kyle M. Edwards, wounded Feb. 13, 2014 in Afghanistan; Sgt. Chad C. Skaggs, wounded Oct. 24, 2013 in Afghanistan; Cpl. Ian T. Gorman, wounded Dec. 11, 2013 in Afghanistan; Eric W. Stump, wounded Nov. 6, 2013 in Afghanistan; Lance Cpl. Austin J. Dishman, wounded Dec. 20, 2013 in Afghanistan; Lance Cpl. Alexander C. Edwards, wounded Oct. 31, 2013 in Afghanistan; Pfc. Kristoffer D. Paro, wounded Oct. 29, 2013 in Afghanistan; and Hospitalman Jacob M. Schlauder, wounded Jan. 25, 2014 in Afghanistan…”

Forrás : http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/07/24/8-awarded-purple-heart-for-action-in-afghanistan.html?ESRC=marine.nl

“CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marine Corps officers have launched a formal investigation into whether a Lebanese-American Marine deserted his unit in Iraq or months later after returning to the United States, a military spokesman said Thursday.

Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun was being investigated for alleged desertion, destruction of government property and larceny, said Lt. Col. Cliff W. Gilmore, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune. Hassoun faced those charges a decade ago after disappearing from his unit in Iraq with a 9 mm service pistol and a Humvee.

Hassoun is being held in Camp Lejeune’s brig pending the investigation and decisions about whether he will face charges, Gilmore said. A decision on whether to charge Hassoun could come from Maj. Gen. William Beydler, the 2nd MEF’s commander, before or after an Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury…”

Forrás : http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/07/25/marines-investigate-corporal-who-vanished-in-iraq.html?ESRC=marine.nl

By Matthew Cox Friday, July 25th, 2014 3:35 pm
Posted in International, Land, Naval, Sequestration

“The U.S. Marine Corps needs 38 amphibious assault ships for conducting crisis-response missions around the world but the sea service will likely have to settle for 33.

U.S. Navy officials have decided to cut five of these versatile ships to deal with the deep cuts to defense spending brought on by sequestration.

The 38-ship requirement comes out of a 2009 report the chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps submitted to Congress. It stated the Corps needs 38 ships to support two Marine Expeditionary Brigades conducting forced-entry operations…”

Forrás : http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/07/25/marines-to-get-fewer-assault-ships/