Shawn Snow
Early Bird Editor
Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.
All Stories By Shawn
Special operators will be countering violent extremists for the ‘long haul’
The commander of SOCOM said battling violent extremists groups will remain the number one priority for American commandos.
No Corps-wide suspension of fitness tests or relaxing of grooming standards yet, but this air wing is axing training over COVID-19
“The Marine Corps is not currently considering a service-wide policy to cancel or codify the postponement of annual training requirements."
Training in Iraq halted, smaller bases consolidating some coalition troops homeward bound over COVID-19 concerns
“The Coalition remains committed to the lasting defeat of ISIS through our partnership with the ISF, and as the situation permits, we will resume our support to Iraqi training."
Thousands of Marines are in Arizona for exercise despite DoD travel ban
Lt. Adara Story, a spokeswoman for Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, told Marine Corps Times in an emailed statement that the training had been deemed “mission essential training” by Gen. David Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps, “and will continue as planned.”
Quarantines in Afghanistan may slow down US withdrawal, meanwhile deployments there on pause
“We continue to execute the ordered draw down to 8600."
Marines headed to Australia will have to undergo quarantine for two weeks
According to Australia’s Department of Health, there are 565 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 6:30 am Thursday — that’s an increase of 111 cases over a 24-hour period.
Navy is relaxing grooming standards to limit exposure to COVID-19
Commanding officers “may allow for additional hair length and bulk on the sides, top and back of the head. At no time will relaxed grooming interfere with the proper wearing of Navy head gear proper use of protective personal equipment (helmets, masks, hoods, etc.).”
Health protection measures increase at American bases across Indo-Pacific and US to cope with coronavirus
Other installations across the U.S. have announced HPCON Bravo conditions to include: Fort Mead, Maryland; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Fort Gordon, Georgia; and the Marine Barracks in Washington D.C.
US hands over base to Iraqi forces in area known to be a hotbed for Iran-backed militia
“Who wants to bet that 6 months from now, #Iran-backed militias will be the “ISF” [Iraq security forces] in command of al-Qaim base?"
US re-positioning some troops from smaller bases in Iraq following deadly rocket attack
The coalition has come under criticism for not fielding counter rocket, artillery, and mortar, or C-RAM systems at Iraqi bases, especially Camp Taji, which has been the target of multiple rocket attacks.
