Andy Slivka was just 19 when he was deployed to Afghanistan, leaving behind a close-knit family to serve with his fellow Marines in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province six years ago.

Then he met Zia, a 39-year-old Afghan man whose role would become far greater than an English interpreter for Slivka and his platoon.

“He acted as a father when my own father wasn’t there,” Slivka said, “And he risked everything he had in order to do it.”

From dangerous patrols in hostile and IED-riddled territory to dinner time in the mess tent, Zia was always with his American brothers in arms, said Slivka. Late night chats about love, life and loss were easy with the bilingual Afghan, he said..”

Forrás : http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/10/12/marine-fights-for-afghan-interpreter-to-gain-entry-into-us.html?ESRC=marine_161018.nl

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Marine Corps commandant told his forces on Okinawa they must adapt to face new adversaries as the United States shifts from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan to preparations for potential future foes like North Korea, China, Russia and Iran.

Last November, Gen. Robert Neller told Marines here it was up to the politicians in Washington to decide what would come after the defeat of the Islamic State. During a town hall Thursday at Camp Kinser, he remained cognizant of the extremist group but looked toward future and emerging threats.

“We have a very good Marine Corps, but we’ve been at war for 15 years,” Neller said. “In the future that I think we’re going face, fighting different types of adversaries means we have to change.”..”

Forrás . http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/10/13/neller-tells-okinawa-marines-they-must-adapt-new-adversaries.html?ESRC=marine_161018.nl

The Marine Corps may scrap its iconic recruiting slogan, “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”

The change is being considered ahead of a national advertising campaign slated to launch next year, according to reports in Marine Times.

‘The Few, The Proud’ does a great job distinguishing ourselves from the other branches and making us prestigious to recruits, but it doesn’t say anything about what we do or why we exist,” Lt. Col. John Caldwell, a spokesman for Marine Corps Recruiting Command told Marines Corps Times. “We believe the new campaign products require a unique tagline to achieve the effort’s objectives.”..”

Forrás : http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/10/13/marine-corps-may-scrap-iconic-the-few-proud-marines-slogan.html?ESRC=marine_161018.nl

Earlier this summer, at least one team of Raiders from Marine Corps ForcesSpecial Operations Command deployed to Iraq with a new drone that will give them a broader picture of what’s happening on the battlefield.

The RQ-21A Blackjack, which reached initial operational capability for theMarine Corps in January, is deployed with MARSOC as part of a wide-ranging experimental effort to get new equipment and technology into the hands of Marines more rapidly.

Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, said the drone’s deployment was one element of a strategy to incorporate MARSOC into these broader Marine Corps efforts…”

Forrás : http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/10/08/marine-special-operators-fly-new-surveillance-drone-in-iraq.html?ESRC=marine_161011.nl