...and I can tell you from firsthand experiences that counter-insurgency doctrine and lessons learned are now better integrated into our training and culture.

But yes, grunts will be grunts.

respectfully,
butler

More of a final cut than a first draft.

Taking the characters and dialogue at face value, two things jumped at me visually.

Notice the many kids holding cast-off water empties. That utilitarian object, the ability to transport semi-potable water, is probably a new prize possession for a rural urchin big or lucky enough to grab it up. Well worth mimicking barbarian ridicule to get.

Getting a steady shot of an explosion, with a man framed in foreground, probably means those shown were predictable controlled events; with the camera operator in cahoots.

So, referencing Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which group of youths is living closer to the edge, as depicted?

Grunts will be Grunts, but having been on active duty in the Marines as a grunt I know how the chain of command responds to these situations. The best scenario for the company or battalion leadership is if they figure out it is on the internet then they can preempt any wrath by explaining to higher what steps they are taking. If a general officer in the chain of command hears of this from someone outside the command that general will be even more enraged. Either way there will be some sort of disciplinary action for these young men. In the end disciplinary action makes sense. Militaries have used it for years because it is the one thing that gets the message across to the rank and file and ensures adherence to orders. I am not sure what the current policy is for posting video on the web (I am confident these guys violated it), but it may be reexamined and made more strict than what it currently is.

Obviously dated from a previous tour by some unit out of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7)? Afterall, what can someone expect from a battalion whose motto says: "Ready for All, Yielding to None?"

Looking at today's grunt in theater, I'm always struck by the contrast in that lack of sunken in eyes - hollow face look, the Vietnam era Marine Grunt took on after awhile!

We're probably looking a future elected members to congress.

reminded me of a friend who worked on a PRT last year. He was always asking me to send him pens to give away. The kids loved them especially if they had Disney or other cartoon characters on them.

A few years back, there was a video similar to this where Soldiers were teaching Iraqi kids to chant "fuck Iraq".

Add this to the infamous picture (photoshopped many times so I can't tell if it's real) with a service man, two Iraqi kids and a cardboard sign which usually says something like "Welcome to Mexico" or something like that.

This is looks like it's from 2/3's 2004 deployment to Afghanistan. The Interceptor flaks they're wearing haven't been used by infantry units since 2007, when there were no Marines in Afghanistan. It also doesn't look like they're in Helmand. 2/3 was deployed in what is now RC East in 2004, back in the days before FM 3-23/MCWP 3-33.5 when this sort of think wouldn't have gotten the whole chain of command up to the battalion commander fired. The average infantry Marine today understands that this sort of behavior, particularly when broadcast on youtube, increases the danger to every Marine in Afghanistan as well as the chance that the mission will fail. Give us some credit, Tom Ricks, we have learned a little bit. Also, to the guy talking about 2/7: first off, it's not 2/7, second don't talk about them unless you know what they went through. They were the only Marine unit in the country with no Marine air, no Marine logistics system spread out in platoon firmbases over an entire province. It's amazing they had as few guys killed as they did.

The only value this has is as a training tool to prevent other Marines and soldiers from being such idiots. This is the proverbial “ten percent.”

It’s sad that someone referring to himself as “SGT_USMC” was dumb enough to post it. If he was a Sergeant, and he thought that this was appropriate to post, I hope he decided to exit the Corps. If he’s still in, I hope he’s not leading Marines in a combat zone.

It doesn’t matter when FM 3-23/MCWP 3-33.5 was published. There are ways decent human beings (i.e., Marines) ought to treat others (especially kids) and you shouldn’t have to read counterinsurgency doctrine to know what’s right and what’s not. And most Marines and soldiers haven’t read it and won’t read it.

I’ll take a strategic Corporal over a “SGT_USMC” that doesn’t get it, any day.

Semper Fi

Here I've been thinking that it was the same young turk that stole Manneken Pis on the eve of Waterloo, threatening Belgian participation in that uncertain thing.

They're our young men, right or wrong, and it's bound to be a mix of both. Who was it that said "I can't conceive of a crime that I couldn't commit.' Not that making loud noises to keep scary things at bay is a crime.

Please, Tyrtalos, it's WW, not WS. A nom de plume. Not a nom de guerre. No war wound here.

Putting all the sillyness aside: what do USMC weapon handling procedures say about laying your SAW on the ground and then picking it up while dragging the muzzle through the dirt? The Marine at 04:42 seems to be doing just that. Although it's hard to make out whether or not he's put on a muzzle cover. Nevertheless.