Tag Archives: employment

U.S. Taxpayers fund Japanese military vehicles for Iraq, again!

Image February 13, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Once again, Toyota is involved with supplying vehicles for military forces, and this time they’re openly being paid for by U.S. taxpayers!

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Armando Vasquez.

On 26JAN2021, almost U.S.$1-million worth of militarized Toyota four-by-fours were given to Iraqi ‘security’ forces, paid for through the U.S. Al Asad Air Base Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund (CTEF) program.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Armando Vasquez.

The Toyotas were part of a total package of $6.6-million worth of vehicles, that included HMMWVs, “divested” to the Iraqi security forces!

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Armando Vasquez.

U.S. taxpayers have a long history of supplying Iraq with vehicles.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Roger Jackson.

Divestment of U.S. HMMWVs to Iraq, 29JUN2019.

U.S. Army photo by Master Sergeant Horace Murray.

A U.S. purchased Mercedes truck being staged for ‘divestment’ to Iraqi security forces at the Besmaya Range Complex, 20JAN2018.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Travis Jones.

U.S. supplies Iraqi security forces with Toyota 4X4s, at Camp Al Asad, 26DEC2017.

U.S. Army photo by Corporal Tracy McKithern.

U.S. funded vehicles divested to Iraqi security forces at the Besmaya Range Complex, 03AUG2017.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero.

This U.S. supplied Iraqi HMMWV was nicknamed Project One because it was the first to be overhauled by an Iraqi maintenance crew at Taji.

Photo by Specialist Sarah De Boise.

In April 2008, U.S. and Iraqi military leaders met in Mosul to discuss supplying Iraqi security forces with new vehicles. It was believed that by providing U.S. taxpayer funded vehicles to Iraq, that Iraq would be able to take care of its security concerns and the U.S. could draw-down its military forces.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Joshua R. Ford.

In September 2006, the U.S. military gave the Iraqi city of Bayji $670-thousand worth of sewage trucks, trash trucks and a 25-ton crane. None of them made in the U.S.

World War 3: RUSSIA BACKS UP BLIND-BAT-NEWS’ CLAIM AS TO WHERE ALL THOSE TOYOTAS ARE COMING FROM!

False Flag 2015: U.S. ALLY JAPAN SUPPLIES ISLAMIC STATE WITH CONVOYS OF NEW TOYOTAS! NISSAN & FORD AS WELL!

International

U.S. Taxpayers give German and Japanese vehicles to Georgian Border Police!

Image February 13, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Defense Threat Reduction Agency photo by Andrea Chaney.

On 27JAN2021, the U.S. Embassy in Georgia presented 15 vehicles, made by Suzuki and MAN, to the Georgian Border Police.

DTRA photo by Andrea Chaney.

The vehicles were funded through the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Proliferation Prevention Program (PPP).

Georgian Border Police photo.

For several years the United States, other NATO members as well as the European Union, have been spending their taxpayer’s money on building up Georgia’s border police.

29JUL2020: European Union peacekeepers deploy new observation vehicles to Georgia’s border with Russia.

27JUL2020: U.S. provides Georgian border guards with modern all-terrain vehicles.

19OCT2019: Georgia receives 15 brand new vehicles from NATO.

January 2019: U.S. multi-agency Super Surge

U.S.

Biden’s Borderland: Flip-Flopping President, Illegals, Drugs and Flowers?

Video February 11, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Welcome to borderland hell under the new U.S. President, incomplete list of links to main stream news reports from 04-11 February 2021:

New study says more than 14.4 million people are living in the United States illegally, and they have given birth to nearly 5 million children while in country!

Alaska:

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

U.S. Coast Guard captured illegally fished halibuts west of Cape Barnabas, 04FEB2021. The fish were turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

California: Border Patrol agents looking for undocumented immigrants rescue man who fell on Otay Mountain

San Francisco group claims to have given away millions in donated CoViD funding to illegals, yet reports say there are still thousands of illegals saying ‘show me the money’!

City council forces farmers to pay ‘pandemic hero pay’ to migrant workers!

Florida:

Photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jose Hernandez.

On 04FEB2021, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WMEC 909) off-loaded about 7-thousand-250 pounds (3289 kilos) of cocaine at Port Everglades.

Stop buying your damned Valentine’s Day flowers from other countries! U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Branch (did they intend the pun?) Chief Abel Serrano, Miami operations (90% of foreign grown flowers and 61% of foreign grown produce go through Miami), explains why:

Photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jose Hernandez.

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC-903) off-loaded about 11-thousand-8-hundred pounds (50712 kilos) of captured cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades, 08FEB2021.

U.S. Coast Guard photo.The U.S. Coast Guard, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, captured a boat with eight illegals from Cuba in it, off the Florida Keys, 08FEB2021.

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Illinois: University scholarships for illegal students underway!

Indiana: Family service group going to spend taxpayer CoViD funding on convincing immigrants to get vaccinated

Massachusetts: Pro-immigrant organization raises CoViD money for illegals!

New Hampshire: Surprise! New Hampshire Democrat joins other Democrats in opposing CoViD funding for illegals!

New Jersey: Half of illegal immigrants in Hudson County Jail refuse to get CoViD vaccination

New York: Political candidate for office of Mayor of NYC wants taxpayers to fork-out $25-million for food program for illegal immigrants!

Puerto Rico:

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

U.S. Coast Guard halts illegal ‘passenger for hire’ operation (too many people in the boat and no certificate of operation) near Rincon, 07FEB2021.

Texas: U.S. Border Patrol reunites i mmigrant baby, smuggled into the U.S., with parents

Citizen arrested for smuggling an illegal to San Antonio

Bandidos Gang Member From Texas Sentenced For Transporting Undocumented Immigrants

Authorities searching for tanker with possibly 80 migrants after desperate 9-1-1 call.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection photo.

On 08FEB2021, temporary cages, I mean processing centers, were completed in Donna, due to the permanent processing center in McAllen being renovated.

And in remote Carrizo Springs, a new children’s cage center, capable of holding 7-hundred children, is being built at Biden’s behest!

Washington: The leftist government of The Evergreen State will give $70-million in taxpayer CoViD funding to illegals!

Washington DC: ICE canceling operation targeting illegal immigrants with sex crime convictions!

Biden’s Homeland Security Department now wants illegals to get taxpayer funded CoViD vaccinations!

Biden flip-flops, will continue Trump policy of blocking illegals coming through U.S.-Mexico border!

U.S. border agents report rise in crossings by families and children as Biden White House now warns migrants not to come!

Biden’s Borderland: PRESIDENT FLIP-FLOPS AS PRO-ILLEGALS SAY NOT ENOUGH IS BEING DONE!

Drugs, the American wat, January 2019: Death Party

Business/Economics, Idaho, International

Global Sugar Crisis, better stock up now!

February 11, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Since the end of 2019, agricultural analysts have been warning of a global sugar shortage and thanks to a combination of pandemic, logistics, market and labor shenanigans, it is now upon us. Here’s a list of links to news reports and food industry analysis, as of 10FEB2021.

New medical study says sugar promotes cancer killing Gamma-Delta T-cells!

Sugar shortage results in massive growth of sugar free chocolate market!

Global organic coconut sugar market expect to be worth U.S.-$442.8-million by 2027.

Monk Fruit sugar market expects steady growth until 2026.

Pandemic to affect organic sugar markets until 2025?

Predictions for the future of the global sugar market.

Brown sugar market predictions until 2029.

Powdered sugar market predictions until 2026.

Is there demand for sugar made from Dates?

Myths about sugar health risks debunked

European Food Agency: Decades of logistical and government policy failures of European Union’s sugar industry, and now global shortages, results in a massive taxpayer funded study to solve the EU’s sugar supply chain problem.

AUSTRALIA: Aussie farmers told to focus on sugar production, to profit off the sugar shortage in Europe!

INDIA: Sugar farmers go on strike saying they haven’t been paid for their last sugar harvest!

Shipping container shortage and skyrocketing transportation costs halt sugar exports: “India has exported around 70,000 tonne [metric tons] so far. The container shortage, however, is affecting exports. Sri Lanka consumes around 60,000 tonne of sugar from India every month. But the freight costs have gone up from $250 per container to $1,000 between January 2020 and January 2021. Afghanistan consumes 60,000 tonne of sugar from India every month and freight costs for Afghanistan have gone up from $125 per container to $550 per container. There has been a sharp increase in freight rates and shipping is pretty tight at the moment.”-Rahil Shaikh, ‎MEIR Commodities India

INDONESIA: Government tries to expand sugar production by relaxing sugar licensing regulations, it fails due to lack of technologies and skyrocketing costs of operations.

KOREA: North Korea blames food shortages, including sugar, on the pandemic.

PAKISTAN: Government to attempt to import another 0.5m tonnes of sugar to overcome shortage.

PHILIPPINES: Long term sugar shortage expected.

THAILAND: Black Sugar (the result of farmers burning sugarcane fields, not to be confused with Japanese Kuru Sato) increases due to lack of migrant farm workers caused by pandemic restrictions!

UNITED STATES: Sugar Processors Raise Prices as U.S. Faces Possible Sugar Shortage.

Florida; NASA releases images of Florida’s burning sugarcane farms (black sugar)

Georgia; Coca-Cola reports largest drop in volume production since World War Two, blames it on the pandemic!

Idaho; I live in Southeastern Idaho and since last year soda-pops made with 100% sugar (instead of 100% high fructose corn syrup, which is what the overwhelming majority of sodas are made with) have been disappearing. In the past two weeks 100% sugar sodas have all but completely disappeared from local grocery store shelves (except for some very expensive gourmet sodas sold in individual bottles).

Amalgamated Sugar 2020 crop comes in at just over 40 tons per acre.

Idaho sugar beet growers report 29% increase in sugar beet revenues.

New York; Sugar High On Wall Street As White-Sugar Futures Climb On Container Shipping Worries.

Food Crisis: SOYLENT GREEN PET FOOD? OR, ARE PEOPLE BEING PREPPED TO EAT PET FOOD?

Operation CoViD-19: COVERT OP TO CONTROL THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY?

U.S. Food Crisis, February 2019: “LONG HOURS, EMPLOYEE TURNOVER, EQUIPMENT FAILURES, WAGE HIKES”

Technology

Vehicle I-D: F-15EX-citement!

Video February 10, 2021 Hutchins AAron

10 February 2021 (16:26-UTC-07 Tango 06) 22 Bahman 1399/27 Jumada t-Tania 1442/29 Wu-Yin 4718

After decades of wasting taxpayer’s money on ‘advanced’ aircraft projects that went nowhere, U.S. Air Force officials have finally pulled the heads outta the….clouds and approved the purchase of a much more practical fighter aircraft, or have they?

Boeing photo.

In July 2020 (under the administration of President Donald Trump), the United States Air Force (USAF) shelled-out $1.2-billion for eight F-15EX, much cheaper than the development nightmare known as the F-35, of between $77-million to $110-million purchase price per F-35, and that does not include the billions of dollars spent on the decades of development! Add to that the per flight operating costs of the F-35, which currently are $3-thousand dollars more than the old F-15C Eagle. Total lifetime cost of one F-35 is expected to be more than $1-trillion! To top it off, insult-to-injury, the S/VTOL concept of the F-35 was directly influenced by the Soviet/Russian Yakovlev 141! Unfortunately the F-15EX will not take the place of the F-35, but act as a complementary aircraft to the F-35.

and TAXPAYER PARIAH F-35 CALLS IDAHO HOME!

and don’t forget F-35 PARTS ARE MADE IN CHINA!)

Boeing photo.

On 02FEB2021, the USAF completed its first flight of the F-15EX, over Saint Louis, Missouri. The aircraft was piloted by Matt Giese, Boeing’s chief test pilot for the EX.

Official Boeing first flight video:

In August 2020, it was announced that Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing (FW) and 142nd FW would be the lucky units to get the new EX-citement Eagle. The 173rd will act as the ‘formal training unit’ for F-15EX conversion. Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Rice says conversion shouldn’t take too long because “The F-15EX is almost 90% compatible with the F-15C Model.”

One of the advanced features of the EX Eagle is the 20-thousand hours life-span of the airframe: “….a long time, about double the service the life of an F-15C. Not only is the airframe designed to last for a long time, the F-15EX also has an ‘Open Mission System’ which allows the computer and avionics software to be more adaptable and more easily updated in the future. This adaptability is key, as we know that technology is continuing to accelerate.”-Colonel Jeff Edwards, 173rd FW commander

Two F-15EX fighters will be sent to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, by the end of the first quarter of 2021, for testing. The USAF plans to eventually buy at least 144 F-15EX Eagles.

Official Boeing video explaining advance technologies on the Advanced F-15 test-bed:

Vehicle I-D: OREGON F-15C KOTKAT LENTÄÄ SUOMEN YLI

Let’s not forget the other taxpayer rip-off, the F-22 Raptor (which could’ve been avoided by simply upgrading the F-15):

ROBOT PAINTERS TO SAVE THE F-22 RAPTOR?

USAF ADMITS F-22 STEALTH JET IS A PAIN TO MAINTAIN, AND THAT’S JUST THE ‘SKIN’!

Technology

Vehicle I-D: AGMV

Video February 10, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Photo by Paolo Bovo.

04FEB2021, U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, learn how to operate their new Army Ground Mobility Vehicle (AGMV) at Dandolo Training Area, Italy.

Photo by Paolo Bovo.

Video interview by Davide Dalla Massara, AGMV (or GMV) driver training in Italy:

Photo by Paolo Bovo.

U.S. Army Ground Mobility Vehicle (AGMV, or GMV), originally known as Ultra Light Combat Vehicle.

Photo by Private Laurie Ellen Schubert.

Since 2014 the United States Army has been looking for a light-weight vehicle that could be transported by CH-47 or UH-60 helicopters, yet be big enough to carry a squad of airborne infantry and their gear.

Photo by Private Laurie Ellen Schubert.

In May 2018, General Dynamics got a $33.8-million contract to build the new AGMV. Since 2019, the 173rd Airborne Brigade has been training on their new AGMVs.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Sawyer.

August 2019, a CH-47 Chinook swallows an AGMV, Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Sawyer.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Austin Berner.

May 2019, Vojarna Josip Jovic Airbase, Croatia, the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division CH-47 in the foreground sling loads a HMMWV pickup truck while the Chinook behind it carries the new AGMV.

Sling-load video by Specialist Ethan Valetski:

Photo by Staff Sergeant Austin Berner.

U.S. paratroopers with the 54th Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, spread rain ponchos over their AGMV as it has started raining at Military Training Area Eugen Kvaternik, Croatia, May 2019.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Austin Berner.

Video interview, by Staff Sergeant Jacob Sawyer, explaining why the AGMV is needed:

Vehicle I-D: U.S. NAVY KEEPS OLD U.S. ARMY BOAT-TRUCK AFLOAT

Vehicle I-D: CHEVY MAKES HYDROGEN FUEL CELL ARMY TRUCK!

International, U.S.

Texas spread thin: تحالف مصر وتكساس Egypt and Texas form alliance!

Image February 8, 2021 Hutchins AAron

On 29JAN2021, it was announced that armored vehicles assigned to 3rd Squadron of the 278th Armored Cavalry (Cav-all-ry, not cal-va-ry) Regiment, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, are being shifted to Texas Army National Guard, to support The Lone Star State’s military alliances with Chile, Czech Republic, and now Egypt: “The Texas Military Department is proud to play a key role in the overall U.S.-Egypt relationship. From the Texas National Guard’s continued participation in Exercise Bright Star – a decades-running, multilateral defense exercise, to Texas National Guard units supporting the MFO’s [Multinational Force Observers] mission in Sinai, Texas is a key player in the military partnership between our two countries. The formal establishment of our partnership through the State Partnership Program codifies and makes official a relationship between our militaries that has been in the making for decades.”-Major General Tracy R. Norris, Adjutant General of the State of Texas

There is a town in Texas named Egypt, but in August 2020 the U.S. state of Texas and the government of the country of Egypt formed a military alliance.

In 1993 (end of the Cold War), Texas joined Nebraska in a military partnership with then newley created Czech Republic at the behest of the U.S. Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Herschel Talley.

During the January 2021 presidential inauguration SNAFU (Situation Normal, All Fucked Up) the Czech Republic’s embassy staff provided traditional Czech goulash and bread to five-hundred Texas and Nebraska National Guard personnel deployed to the failed ‘state’ of Washington DC.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Herschel Talley.

Then in 2008, the Texas Military Department (aka National Guard) formed an military alliance with Chile.

Photo by Charles E. Spirtos.

On 24AUG2020, Egypt officially became a new military partner at a signing ceremony at Camp Mabry, Texas (another signing ceremony took place in Cairo, Egypt, later in the year).

Photo by Staff Sergeant Eliverto Larios.

Earlier in the year, March 2020, Texas Army National Guard took over ‘peace-keeping’ ops from Guam Army National Guard in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

As part of the official alliance, Egyptian military and civil officials toured border operations along the Texas-Mexico border.

The border tour included a ride in an air-boat on the Rio Grande/Río Bravo del Norte.

In 2018, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) began hosting border patrol training for Egyptian border guards at its academy in New Mexico: “The [Egyptian] delegation was surprised that we were willing to share so much information about our training program.”-Doyle E. Amidon Junior, CBP’s attaché to Egypt

Photo by Master Sergeant Mindy Bloem.

The official information about the new ‘long-term partnership’ says Texas and Egypt will conduct operations involving C-130 transport aircraft, F-16 fighter aircraft, cyber defense, logistics, special forces, homeland security response preparedness, military support to civilian authorities, and humanitarian and disaster assistance response.

Photo by Sergeant First Class Nicholas Salcido.

In March 2015, officials with the Egyptian Military Nursing Training Academy came to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to seek advice from the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, as well as the Christian (Catholic) University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, in how to deal with the increasing medical problems of the Egyptian population.

The State Partnership Program boasts that 84 countries have signed alliances with various state National Guard organizations.

“We are going to have to stop being the policemen of the world.”-Donald Trump, August 2015 interview with Hugh Hewitt

Great Reneger: DEPLOYMENTS SO COMMON EVEN BEERS ARE NAMED AFTER THEM

Great Reneger: IDAHO MILITIA’s RECORD NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS IN ONE YEAR?

My immigrant Idaho: Do you know that Singapore has an air base in Southern Idaho?

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Kuwaiti C-17 الكويت

Image February 7, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.

On 22JAN2021, a Kuwaiti C-17 Globmaster-3 landed on Dover Air Force Base (AFB) in Delaware, United States.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Kuwaiti C-17 was visiting Dover AFB as part of a completion of a military sales deal. Dover AFB is directly involved in $3.5-billion worth of yearly U.S. military sales to other countries.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.

2021 is also the 30th Anniversary of the U.S. liberation of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.

The information released with the photos does not go into details about the U.S.-Kuwaiti military sales deal. However in December 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced a $4.2-billion sale of U.S. military equipment to Kuwait, which included AH-64 Apache gunships and parts for Patriot missiles.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail, 22JAN2021.

Snowblind: C-130 OHIO C-17 PENNSYLVANIA

Bare Metal: C-17 STRIPPED

2018: USAF WINS FEMALE RECRUITS WITH BABY C-17

C-17 NOSE ART

Vehicle I-D: C-17 DUMPS HMMWVS ON SOUTH CAROLINA, AWESOME VID!

Technology, U.S.

Total Force/Pivot to Asia: Operation Turning Point

Image February 7, 2021 Hutchins AAron

07 February 2021 (02:38-UTC-07 Tango 06) 19 Bahman 1399/24 Jumada t-Tania 1442/26 Wu-Yin 4718

Since the presidency of Barack Obama, the U.S. Department of Defense is steadily shifting focus towards the Asia/Pacific region. Sometimes known as Pivot to Asia, Pivot to Pacific, Total Force training for Near Peer Threats, maybe they should just bring back the phrase Cold War.

All photos by Petty Officer Second Class Michael Schutt.

It will be interesting to see how the new U.S. president, Joe ‘flip-flop’ Biden, handles the Department of Defense. This month, the U.S. Navy SeaBees (construction engineers) and U.S. Marine Corps engineers have begun training to quickly build Expeditionary Advanced Bases (EAB) and Advanced Naval Bases (ANB), in case a major war in the Pacific breaks out. (The U.S. Navy also just completed multinational Pacific region wargame Sea Dragon 2021)

On-loading of personnel and equipment, USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), 04FEB2021. The training is called Exercise Turning Point, and is held every year by the Pacific Naval Construction Force (PacNCF).

Photo by Petty Officer Second Class Michael Schutt.

USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) heads towards San Clemente Island from Port Hueneme, 04FEB2021.

Photo by Petty Officer Second Class Michael Schutt.

06FEB2021, an Assault Craft Unit ONE (ACU-1) landed on San Clemente.

Obama era Force Design 2030: U.S. Marines get rid of all their main battle tanks!

Vehicle I-D: The Real Avengers, with the return to ‘Cold War’ mentality, many ‘force-on-force’ weapon systems are making a come-back.

Pacific Partnership 2017: U.S. TAXPAYERS FUND POLICE TRAINING & CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN VIETNAM!

Great Reneger: TEXAS ARMOR DEPLOYS TO POLAND, PROOF WORLD WAR 3 IS NEAR?

World War 3: “NEAR PEER THREATS”, CODE FOR RUSSIA & CHINA AND THE COMING 3RD WORLD WAR?

World War 3: ICT is the USAF’s version of Total Force warfare

World War 3: “This is where armor fights!” Idaho Army National Guard returns to Total Force warfare

May 2015: According to the U.S. Naval War College “Starting in 2010, the U.S. and Vietnam accelerated this process effectively forming a partnership on several fronts. The Obama administration identified Vietnam as one of the new partners to cultivate as part of its ‘rebalancing’ of U.S. priorities toward the Asia-Pacific region, a move commonly referred to as the U.S.’s ‘pivot’ to the Pacific.”

October 2013: “Although Mr. Obama has cut military spending in various parts of the world, it has remained largely unchanged in Asia. By 2020 the Pentagon plans to deploy 60 percent of its warships in the Pacific and 40 percent in the Atlantic, compared with the current 50-50 split.”-New York Times

Vehicle I-D:

U.S. Navy’s 1967 purchase price.

RAT ROD 1967 BLH AUSTIN-WESTERN USN SEABEES ROAD GRADER $14,794

Kit Bashing, Technology

Vehicle I-D: More U.S. Army Fake-News tanks, Tiger Stripes anybody?

Video February 6, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Savannah Miller, 26JAN2021.

Fake-News Soviet 125mm antitank gun, Hohenfels, Germany, January 2021.

USA photo by Specialist Audrequez Evans, 26OCT2020.

October 2020, Hohenfels, Germany. M113 Fake-News T-72 used for crowd control training of Italian troops deploying to Kosovo.

USA photo by Joyce Costello, 26OCT2020.

USA photo by Specialist Audrequez Evans, 26OCT2020.

That’s correct, apparently the Kosovars are so unruly that you need tanks to suppress their protests!

USA photo by Corporal Tomarius Roberts, 04MAR2020.

Yep, another example of peace-keeping training using an M113 ‘T-72’ on ‘Kosovar’ demonstrators, Hohenfels, Germany, this time in March 2020.

USA photo by Corporal Tomarius Roberts, 04MAR2020.

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Megan Zander, 01FEB2020.

Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, February 2020. This M113 is supposed to be a ZSU-23-4.

USA photo by Specialist Nathan Franco, 14FEB2020.

‘T-72’ drives through a Bradley unit, Fort Irwin, California, February 2020.

USA photo by Private First Class James Newsome, 10FEB2020.

M113 Fake News BMP-2, Fort Irwin-National Training Center (NTC), California.

USA photo by Private Second Class Sayvon Johnson, 10FEB2020.

HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) based ‘BRDM’, Fort Irwin-National Training Center (NTC).

USA photo by Private Second Class Sayvon Johnson, 10FEB2020.

USA photo by Private First Class Austin Anyzeski, 26JUN2017.

Which one is the BMP-2, and which one is the T-72? Apparently, the only visual differences between the M113-T-72 and M113-BMP is the size of the gun tube, the front slope, and the BMP version has had the rear ramp removed and a long hull extension with clam-shell doors added-on. The T-72 retains the M113 ramp.

USA photo by Private First Class Austin Anyzeski, 02JUN2017.

This is supposed to be a 2K22 Tunguska (except that it has a ‘BMP’ hull), Fort Irwin, June 2017.

USA photo by Private First Class Austin Anyzeski, 02JUN2017.

Anybody know what this M113 is dressed-up to be?

USA photo by Staff Sergeant David Edge, 08JUN2018.

I think it’s supposed to be an MTLB?

USA photo by Sergeant Josiah Pugh, 10APR2016.

In 2016, the U.S. Army OpFor at Hoehenfels, Germany, used real T-72s from Slovenia.

Video from 2016, by Austin Anyzeski, of Black Horse Fake News tanks at Fort Irwin:

USA photo by Private First Class Austin Anyzeski, 04JUN2017.

This is one of the ‘125mm Soviet anti-tank gun’ that took-out my M981 FiST-V during Idaho Army National Guard’s Fort Irwin rotation in Summer 1998 (see more This is Where Armor Fights). It was hidden on one of the hills in the middle of The Valley of Death.

Before the 2000s, most of the OpFor tanks at Fort Irwin, California, were based on the M551 Sheridan airborne tank.

A M551 BMP-1.

M551 T-72.

A line of M551s in various disguises. In the front is a BMP-1, followed by a ZSU-23-4 and three 2S1 self propelled artillery guns.

HMMWV BRDM nuclear, chemical, biological marker vehicle.

An early attempt to make a M113 look like a BMP.

A real (former Iraqi) MTLB-u.

Here’s a look at some real Soviet vehicles at Fort Irwin, photos I took in 1984 (with a crappy fixed-focus 110-film camera) while on one of my California Army National Guard drill weekends: