Soldiers from the 574th Quartermaster Support Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, participated in a platoon defense training exercise here, June 22-24.

The 574th QMSC was tasked with defending a specified area against enemy threats.
The training exercise required the Soldiers to occupy fighting positions and fend off numerous enemy targets, including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and ground targets during several waves of attacks.

After refining requirements during a two-year technology development phase for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Army developers are poised to conduct full and open competitions geared towards recapping Humvees and producing JLTVs, as part of a synergized Light Tactical Vehicles strategy.

The Army-led program is planning to accelerate the developmental timeline of the next phase of the JLTV program, said Col. David Bassett, project manager, tactical vehicles.

In the hot, humid afternoon hours of Sept. 1, with the sun beaming through the sky, Humvees with mounted M240B machine guns and M249 squad automatic weapons were positioned to fire rounds on Range 7 in the Central Training Area.

The Marines of Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, were on Range 7 for live-fire training with weapons systems valuable to the Marine Corps’ light-infantry fighting methods.

No one has matched the United States' time, resources and commitment to accounting for its missing military members and honoring its prisoners of war, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Sept. 16.

During a Pentagon ceremony to honor National Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day, the defense secretary talked about the nation's commitment to accounting for its missing patriots and honoring prisoners of war.

Guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) returned to her homeport of San Diego, Calif., Sept. 16, after six months in Central and South America for the Southern Seas 2011 deployment.

Thach Sailors participated in three major multinational exercises, made port visits to seven countries and worked first-hand with international sailors and communities throughout the deployment.

A select few Marines were invited to Himeko-Jima, also known as Target Island, by Explosives Ordnance Disposal technicians Sept. 7 to see what the EOD field does on a regular basis.

The Marines selected were chosen due to their performance and leadership abilities.

EOD showed Marines how bombs are built, deployed and the explosions they produce.

Light infantry troops are like little birds. They get up into the highest mountains, and they say, "Feed me, feed me," according to one sustainment officer in the 82nd Airborne Division involved in supply-by-air training here Sept. 6-11.

"As a logistician, how do you get the stuff that they need to them when they are in the most inaccessible spot, where there are frequently no roads?" asked Lt. Col. Paul Narowski, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team's 307th Brigade Support Battalion.

"You've got to learn to use the third dimension," he said.

KADENA AIR BASE OKINAWA, Japan — Navy personnel of Strike Fighter Squadron 94 completed their portion of exercise Habu Fire II here Sept. 9.

Habu Fire II was a joint-training exercise where squadrons worked together to perform and improve efficiency in air-to-air operations. Participating squadrons included VFA-94, Marine All- Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 and 18th Fighter Wing.

The month-long training exercise allowed the squadron to learn a different way of completing their mission.

The MV-22 Osprey is one of the newest machines in the American arsenal and is still in the process of establishing its value. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 self-deployed to the small Central American country of Belize to take part in training exercises the week of Sept. 10 demonstrating the Osprey’s enhanced utility over conventional helicopters.