CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines are fond of saying, “Welcome to the suck.” I’m beginning to understand why. Last night, a journalist with NATO TV, Military Times photographer Tom Brown and I caught our heavily anticipated flight to Marjah out of Camp Leatherneck, the Marine Corps’ major operating base in Afghanistan. We planned to land at Landing Zone Currier, which services 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, in northern Marjah. We hopped a CH-53 at Camp Bastion to leave Leatherneck around 7 p.m. under relatively clear skies, and began an easy-going flight. Throughout the flight, everything appeared to be fine to the…
Today, Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent is one of the Corps’ top dogs, but he wasn’t born a hard-charging Marine. His hometown news station recently profiled his humble youth as a Memphis, Tenn.-kid and his rise through the ranks from a recruit out of high school to the most senior enlisted Marine. Today, Kent oversees the well being of all enlisted Marines, but some things never change, he told WHBQ 13 Memphis. The Marine Corps may have given him a shorter haircut, a straighter back and steeled eyes, but he is still fears his disciplinarian mother who is 90 and…
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Just wanted to take a second to point out that the Military Times art department has put together a pretty sweet graphic to serve as Battle Rattle’s new logo. I’m a big fan, as you might expect. I’m heading down to the flightline at nearby Camp Bastion shortly to try and get down to Marjah once again. We’re flying space-available today, so keep your fingers crossed for us. There are about 15 things that could keep us grounded again, including if there are more pressing operational matters. In the meantime, consider following us on Facebook and/or Twitter,…
Dan Lamothe reflects on life at the Marine Corps’ biggest forward operating base in Afghanistan.
Reporter Dan Lamothe shares some initial thoughts from Afghanistan.
What does a reporter take to a war zone? Here’s some of the basics.
Marine Corps Times staff writer Dan Lamothe introduces the newspaper’s new blog.
