The Three Trillion Dollar War

A new book, "The Three Trillion Dollar War", by Nobel prize-winning economist, Joseph E. Stiglitz, says that the war in Iraq will cost the U.S. about $12 BILLION per month and estimates that the total cost will reach about $2.7 TRILLION by the year 2017.

Marines Go On the Hunt

The Marine Corps hired some professional hunters to design a training course. The leadership recognized that two of the main skills in hunting are observation and deduction—being able to position yourself properly so that you are able to pick out your prey before it spots you. These skills are also very important to a Marine that is trying to fight against an irregular who tries to blend into a crowd.

Commandant Halts Purchases of Vests

On February 29th it was announced that, General James Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, had halted purchasing of the new Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) after numerous complaints from Marines in the field. The problem is with weight and practicality, not the safety of the vest.

Cool Running Suits

Later this year, the Marine Corps will begin distribution of a new lightweight, reflective, moisture-wicking, anti-microbial running suit. The Marines that have tested the new suit prefer it to the heavyweight cotton sweat suits. Marines will be given one suit initially, but will be responsible to purchase replacements from their own pocket. The cost of the suit will be around $112 retail.

New Maximum Limit for Leave Accrual

October 1, 2008 will bring a change to the maximum number of days of leave that a Marine can carry over. Marines will be able to have up to 75 days of leave instead of only 60. The change is necessary because Marines have a higher operational tempo and many were starting to lose days that they had earned.

Three Marine Officers Awarded Bronze Star

On Friday, February 29th, 2008, Lieutenant Colonel John Bolt, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Aivaz, and Lieutenant Colonel James Quinn were all awarded the Bronze Star for their actions while recruiting and training Iraqi security forces.