The US is about the only one who protects us though.

Is it possible to be pro-base but still hopeing they tighten down the regulations and a bit pissed off that this happens again....

Because that is how I feel, which kinda puts me on neither side. :/

I remember when in Korea an armored vehicle (It seriously bugs me how I can't find out WHAT kind of armored vehicle it is) ran over and killed two middle school girls.

Hoo boy, the protest and boycott over everything American, including Mc Donalds was crazy.

edited 25th May '16 5:14:50 PM by dRoy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangju_highway_incident

It's this one mate.

NHK has a radio update on the situation in Okinawa. It's still talking about Abe planning to meet with Obama over the incident and more calls from Okinawans to get the SOFA seriously either working to punish the guy or revise parts of it where it makes sense and use those changes to prosecute the culprit.

edited 25th May '16 6:35:17 PM by Ominae

China to send nuclear-armed submarines into Pacific amid tensions with US

I'm getting scared. I don't want a nuclear war.

stay calm, as long as the Yanks don't elect Trump it'll just be sabre rattling, China does not want to nuke its biggest customer for mass produced crap

China won't do anything, unless US nukes them first (their explicit nuclear policy), which is the issue here. They want credible deterrence, but know very well that they don't really have one. Works as a positive feedback loop.

edited 26th May '16 1:08:23 AM by TerminusEst

Geopolitics when it boils down to it is one giant dick measuring contest in one way or the other.

Obama made a speech in Japan about the recent murder in Okinawa via NHK news. He condemns it fully and anyone with the US military or a contractor who commits a crime in Japanese territory.

(Cross-posted from the sky-high aircraft and aviation thread)

Four pilots recovered after Navy jet crash off North Carolina coast

What the shit, when did this happen? That's like right next to my house.

First images emerge of U.S. Special Operations forces in the fight to retake Raqqa

Operator beard does not lie.

This made be a redundant question but why do make military life so difficult and regimented? Also, I know the military doesn't change your personality but there are some weird and even cultlike aspects of some branches such as the Marines when the actual training starts that I want to ask about.

So you do everything as is required of you in an expected manner, with no fuss. May not always be the most efficient way of doing things, but it brings results.

The more "warrior cult" mentality that seeps into some units, simply breeds unity. Self-reinforcing really.

edited 27th May '16 12:15:09 AM by TerminusEst

It's a matter of obeying lawful orders without question. A good example: sometimes people are sent off to die because it will pay off in the future. Or repair something under fire, or go into where there is explosions, radiation or a bunch of armed guys who are chanting "death to all!"

If you can't do simple things like be in bed on time, clean things. drill, do PT, why should leadership trust you with the hard things?

Many drills are about muscle memory, others are about drilling into your head the TTP's: techniques, tactics and procedures. Under stress you won't remember some thing you were supposed to read but skimmed through, but YOU WILL REMEMBER something your squad leader screamed at you until you get it right.

And real leaders came up from the ranks, they learned how to train, coach and mentor. There is a lot of one on one with leaders and subordinates, not just screaming.

Military life is different from civilian life and those who can't make that transition get sent home.

Gap: If you have questions about the Corps fire away.

This reminds me of the Guatemalan Kaibiles.

I really like the beret.

EDIT:

Apparently, the Russian MOD announced an "unprecedented" increase of military presence on the Kuril islands. For whatever reason.

edited 27th May '16 2:40:47 AM by TerminusEst

This is an odd turn. In WWII, we beat the Japanese, and 40+ years later we ended up buying all the stuff they make. The [North] Vietnamese beat us, and 40+ years later, they want to buy all the stuff we make.

What a time to be alive. We reverse-MACVSOG nao.

Getting into wars with people is just how we make friends with them. Just ask the British, French, and Germans.

Even if it takes us a bloody long time - and a lot of wars - to do that.

Random question.

Let's say someone invented strong composite metal that is also transparent. What would be possible military application?

all I can think of is stronger eye protector. XP

If I remember right aren't the properly heavy bulletproof glasses actually some kind of fancy transparent aluminum and not glass or plastic?

edited 27th May '16 1:55:23 PM by LeGarcon

Only in Star Trek, Garcon...

Think bullet-resistant windows, windshields, and canopies. Police riot shields are also made out of shatterproof transparent polycarbonate that can probably withstand a shotgun blast. And I recall an article about some local police department that issued clipboards made form the same material to their traffic cops. The idea being, if a routine traffic stop suddenly turns violent, the cop will already be holding a protective shield in front of his vital organs as he's writing out the ticket.

edited 27th May '16 2:05:08 PM by pwiegle