FRIDAY FOTO (September 4, 2015)

Capturing the Action.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony R. Martinez

Canadian Master Corporal Kevin Mcmillan, assigned to Canadian Forces Combat Camera, documents combat troops training during Fleet Combat Camera Pacific’s Summer Quick Shot 2015 (video here).

McMillan is assigned to Canadian Forces Combat Camera.

Quick Shot is a semi-annual exercise that improves combat camera photographers’ abilities to operate in a tactical environment. In other words they learn to shoot guns and well as imagery for when they are on assignmnt with front line troops

The combined U.S.-Canadian joint field training exercise took place last month (August) in the Angeles National Forest near Azusa, California.

To see more photos of this exercise, click here and here.

FRIDAY FOTO (July 12, 2013)

A Different Kind of Fire Support

 (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Foss)

 

Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division  show an Afghan soldier how to operate a 60mm mortar system during training in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, July 7, 2013. Afghan soldiers from the 6th Khandak, 3rd Brigade, 203rd Corps Afghan National Army recently added 60mm mortar systems to their armament inventory. The U.S. troops are from the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. Click on the photo to enlarge the image.

Editor’s Note: The 60mm mortar can be dangerous if not properly operated. In March seven Marines were killed during a training exercise when a 60mm round exploded.

To see how the trainees did, click here for a photo slideshow.

FRIDAY FOTO (May 17, 2013)

The Big Lonely

Copyright French Ministry of Defence

The commanders of the Joint Tactical Group and the Régiment de marche du Tchad (a unit of the French 2nd Armored Brigade) observe maneuvering ground troops from a sand dune near Qatar’s Al Qalayel military camp during Exercise Gulf Falcon 2013.

(Click on the photo to see a larger image)

For three weeks, nearly 3,000 French and Qatari military participated in the bilateral exercise. The effort is planned and conducted under  cooperation agreements between the two countries that were reached in 1994.

The French military see the exercise as an opportunity to toughen the men and materials of the Army, Air Force and Navy to harsh desert conditions.

To learn more about the exercise and see more photos, click here. Be advised the site in in French.

FRIDAY FOTO (May 10, 2013)

Tag, You’re It

USMC photo by Cpl. William J. Jackson

Marines of the 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment fire an M777 A2 howitzer during a series of exercises at Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 26, 2013.