Update 2022: Royal Army’s 26th Royal Defence Regiment conducts live-fire during Dynamic Front 19JUL2022. U.S. Army video by Christoph Koppers:
U.S. Army photo by Specialist Dustin D. Biven, 07MAR2018.
Queen’s Royal Artillery, 176 Battery, NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, swarmed Grafenwoehr with their MLRS (Multi Launch Rocket System) during Dynamic Front 18.
USA photo by Specialist Dustin D. Biven, 07MAR2018.
USA video, by Sergeant First Class Jason Duhr, of British Royal Army MLRS in action:
USA photo by Specialist Dustin D. Biven, 07MAR2018.
The M270 MLRS was first deployed by the USA (U.S. Army) in 1983, and was used in Desert Storm.
MLRS on White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, 02JAN1983. Photo via USA.
U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Hayden Allega, 06MAR2018.
During Dynamic Front 18, Deutschland’s 2nd Platoon, 4th Battery, 131st Artillery Battalion conducted artillery fire with their Panzerhaubitze (armored howitzer) 2000, on the U.S. Army base known as Grafenwoehr.
USA photo by Markus Rauchenberger, 07MAR2018.
Video giving kit builders an up-close detailed look at Panzerhaubitze 2000 in Aktion:
USA photo by Markus Rauchenberger, 07MAR2018.
United Kingdom Royal Army photo by Warrant Officer Class 2 Tom Robinson, 06MAR2018.
U.S. Army (USA) video, Markus Rauchenberger, of Panzerhaubitze 2000 in Aktion, 07MAR2018:
United Kingdom Royal Army photo by Warrant Officer Class 2 Tom Robinson, 06MAR2018.
More USA video, by Staff Sergeant Michael Sword, of Panzerhaubitze 2000 in Aktion, 06MAR2018:
Video Panzerhaubitze 2000 auf der Lauer:
One more video, find out what they eat:
USA photo by Specialist Nathanael Mercado, Grafenwoehr Training Area, 15MAR2016.
USA photo by Private First Class Shardesia Washington, Hohenfels, 16JAN2015.
USA photo by Private First Class Shardesia Washington, Hohenfels, 16JAN2015.
“I had very little knowledge of a drone swarm, but the more research I did, the more I realized it’s out there. I also saw how it was being developed and the more research I did, I found it was being tested to be weaponized.”-Captain Craig Maybee, U.S. Army Intelligence
1,218 Intel drones being used all at once, during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea
U.S. Army Captain Craig Maybee says he was researching the possibility of using swarms of drones as a weapons system and discovered that it’s already being done. As a result of his discovery the 7th Army, in Deutschland, is the first to test the concept of drone swarms as weapons in their war game known as Dynamic Front 18.
Red Coat Royal Army MLRS artillery rocket system during Dynamic Front 18
Drone swarms can be controlled by one person, or computer. The use of drone swarms in Dynamic Front 18 is also meant to influence NATO members: “It’s the first time the headquarters experienced it, so it will be an experience on how to counteract a drone swarm.”-Lietenant Colonel Timothy Iddon, British empire Queen’s Royal Army
Video of U.S. 7th Army artillery fire during Dynamic Front 18:
Dynamic Front 18 involves a drone swarm that’s used like artillery: “We are launching the drone with artillery. So, the same artillery round that would drop on somebody has a drone it.”-Captain Craig Maybee, U.S. Army Intelligence
At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea, Intel used its Shooting Star drone technology to control a drone swarm to create choreographed images.
NATO-Allied Rapid Reaction Corps observes Dynamic Front 18
“Competing seemed like a great opportunity. For me, it wasn’t an imitation factor. I used to be a Marine and I remember every year my commander would send out an invite for individuals interested in the competition. When I saw the email for this year and saw the list of different knowledge responsibilities I went ahead and tried out.”-Technical Sergeant Jennifer Brown, Texas Air National Guard
Only eight Texas Air Guards-‘men’ were chosen for the 2018 Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition, one of them is a woman.
“The ruck has been the most challenging thus far. I don’t think I was as prepared for the last four miles of fatigue, but it’s something you have to learn and power through on your own. The obstacle course was the most fun. It was hard at points, but the competition is about challenging yourself. Getting over the fear factor.”-Technical Sergeant Jennifer Brown, more than fifteen years combined USMC and Texas Air National Guard
Official video explainer:
Another official video explainer:
The Texas Best Warrior Competition involves warfare simulations, written and physical exams, as well as things like a 19km (12 miles) march, followed by M4 (M16) and .50 caliber machine gun qualification. Personnel from the Texas Army National Guard, as well as personnel from Czech Republic and Republic of Chile, also participated.
“….I’ve seen lots of snowstorms, rainstorms, wind but I have never seen anything like this before. That kind of flooding, I didn’t think it was possible.”-Wayne Adams, rescued resident
According to local news reports more than 1-hundred people in the city of Quincy were rescued after becoming trapped in their homes by a nor’easter (north easter) storm.
Video of Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 125th Quartermaster Company assisting local emergency responders with flood rescue operations:
Possibly due to increasing radical weather patterns, the Arkansas National Guard’s 77th Combat Aviation Brigade decided it was time to train up local Boy Scouts in the art of survival:
During the last full week of February 2018, hundreds of National Guard personnel from Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, South Dakota, Utah and Washington deployed to Valdez, Alaska, in response to a major CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) event.
Two M1135 NBCRV—Strykers search for the fictional Russian satellite that has hit near Valdez. Colorado Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant John Rohrer, 22FEB2018.
Operation Arctic Eagle 2018 was underway, a ‘Russian’ satellite had crashed to Earth contaminating the impact area with radiation. National Guard units, along with various federal agencies, had six hours to complete their mission: “The Homeland Response Force is a regionally aligned Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, high-yield Explosive asset established in response to natural, man-made, or terrorist initiated CBRNE disasters.”-First Sergeant Fausto Crespo, Washington National Guard
There are ten Homeland Response Force units across the United States, working in conjunction with FEMA’s ten regions. Region Ten includes Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Washington.
Don’t worry Arctic Eagle 2018 was a training event……or was it? Mulder, Scully?
During the training event an actual CBRN event took place, forcing the 103rd Civil Support Team of the Alaska National Guard, and the 10th Homeland Response Team of the Washington National Guard, to respond, 23FEB2018:
Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2018: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.
While I don’t like most of the crazy stuff the folks at PETA do, they have compelling evidence that those ‘free range’ poultry products you buy at Walmart, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods are anything but:
Alabama: A female employee of Dothan’s Farm Service Agency charged with fraud, theft of government property, and using a false document, relating to crop insurance. Pike Road Butcher Block suddenly shutdown due to “small town politics”, the landlord is the town of Pike Road.
Alaska: Hook Line and Sinker-Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on a massive re-development project (gentrification) which left Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse with millions of dollars of debt.
California: In The Golden State that loves migrant workers “A Soledad farm labor contractor has been fined $168,082 in penalties for housing employees in unsanitary and dangerous conditions following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.”New York based Seneca Foods shutdown its factory in Modesto, 265 full-time jobs suddenly gone due to “competition from overseas”! DineEquity owned, Gelndale based, schizophrenic IHOP shutting down 40 restaurants in 2018, while at the same time claiming they will open even more restaurants. Cafe Napa Valley Traditions forced to shutdown after 24 years by a huge rent increase. San Francisco based coffee roaster Four Barrel began laying off employees due to crashing wholesale orders. K and R Farms shutting down operations in Salinas, 235 jobs gone by April! CKE Restaurant Holdings (aka Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Green Burrito and Red Burrito) eliminating 54 jobs in Anaheim, by mid-April. Freshly Picked issued a shutdown WARN for its Cypress location, 26 jobs gone in March. After 25 years non-profit animal rescue op Farm Sanctuary-Orland Shelter shutdown, the owners got the hell outta The Golden State and took the 250+ animals to a new 39 hectares (96 acres) ranch in New York. In San Luis Obispo, after three years popular Bowl’d shutting down because the owners say the profits just aren’t high enough to cover the rent. In Fresno, Parsley Garden Cafe suddenly shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease. Tyson Foods killing yet more jobs as it issues another WARN, this time 401 people in Otay Mesa out-o-work as the frozen food factory is shutdown! Oregon based New Seasons Market suddenly shutdown its six months old grocery store in Sunnyvale saying “This location proved to be a challenge for several reasons”, 101 jobs gone! Connecticut based food service company Centerplate issued a mass layoff WARN, 759 Levi’s Stadium jobs in Santa Clara gone by mid-April! TGI Friday’s issued a shutdown WARN for a restaurant in Brea, 57 jobs gone by mid-April. In Modesto, the 25 years old Hometown Buffet was suddenly shutdown by a greedy landlord who canceled the lease. After 60 years Menlo Park’s Oasis Beer Garden shutting down by March because of the greedy landlord: “After several months of effort, we were unable to negotiate a reasonable lease for our business, nor meet the requested terms of the building’s owner.”-facebook post
Colorado: In Fort Collins, employee owned New Belgium Brewing suddenly laid off 28 employees (25 in Colorado, three in North Carolina). It’s probably due to increasing competition as local news sources reported that in Denver alone four new breweries have opened in the past four months!
Connecticut: Iconic Woody’s hot dog joint shutdown after 41 years so the owners can take a vacation, before their next business venture.
Florida: Southeastern Grocers owned, BI-LO, Harveys, Winn-Dixie, and Fresco y Más threatening to shutdown 2-hundred grocery stores in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy, it could mean more than 18-thousand jobs lost! In Fort Pierce, Granny’s shutdown after 53 years, the worn-out owners saying “We are going to sit on the front porch and rest…..I think we deserve it.” Hard Rock Cafe issued a shutdown WARN for its HQ in Orlando, 184 jobs gone between April and July!
Georgia: Atlanta based Coca Cola eliminating even more jobs, this time an additional 350 corporate level jobs! At the same time Coca Cola administrators swear they are hiring. Kroger shutting down a 26 years old grocery store, on the south side of Savannah, more than 1-hundred jobs gone in March due to “declining sales and negative profit” (‘negative profit’ is Orwellian doublespeak for losses). Local news reports said customers were shocked as the store is “always packed”, but also admitted there were now a lot of competitors in the area.
Hawaii: The Shack suddenly shutdown its 26 years old Hawaii Kai location, the owners were not able to renew the lease.
Idaho: Blind Bat News reader reported that the Pita Pit, in Pocatello, shutdown without warning.
Illinois: In Chicago, after 41 years iconic Carson’s Prime Steaks Famous BBQ forced to shutdown by property developers. Also in Chicago, Marcello’s suddenly shutdown one of its three pizza joints, no official reason given but property redevelopment (gentrification) is suspected. In Downers Grove, after 15 years restaurant Carlucci suddenlyshutdown, the property was sold.In Belleville, IHOP shutting down its 45 years old restaurant, on Carlyle Avenue, because the local franchise owner is retiring and nobody wanted to take-over the franchise. In Crystal Lake, Joseph’s Marketplace shutdown after 12 years, no official explanation, but residents and even city leaders blame it on several new grocery stores that have opened since 2015: “I’m not sure we can support all these stores. Obviously, we can’t.”-Judi Spizzirri, customer
Iowa: Hy-Vee shutting down its grocery store in Waterloo, 282 jobs gone by the end of March because Hy-Vee built too many grocery stores in the region!
Louisiana: In New Orleans, Lakeview Harbor Restaurant forced to shutdown after 25 years because the landlord revoked the lease. Non-profit Hollygrove Market & Farm suddenly shutdown saying “We are reorganizing financially and will have another announcement about our permanent status as soon as possible.” It was later revealed they ran out of money. Internet based food delivery service Street Breads now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to debts that far outweigh its assets.
Massachusetts: InArlington, after a couple of decades Bagels By Us shutting down in March, the property is for sale.
Michigan: In Brighton, after 35 years iconic ice cream shop Yum Yum Tree suddenly shutdown, on facebook the owners promised a detailed explanation would be released. Angry customers said they should have given at least a month notice so they could fatten up on the unique ice cream treats. In Ostego, after 70 years Harding’s (Harding and Hill) shutdown, no reason given.
Minnesota: Colorado based Pilgrim’s Pride shutting down a former Gold’n Plump corporate office in Saint Cloud, 30 jobs gone due to Pilgrim’s Pride $350-million USD take-over of Gold’n Plump in 2016-17. In Saint Paul, after 20 years the Wild Onion shutting down in March, the owner blamed reduced revenues and increased costs such as minimum wage. In Duluth, after 14 years Johnson’s Bakery Lakeside shutting down by the end of April, due to not being able to renew the lease. In Minneapolis, after more than 60 years the last Vescio’s Italian Restaurant shutdown. At one time there were two Vescio’s. Bellisio Foods issued a WARN, 105 jobs in Austin gone by April!
Missouri: DineEquity owned, Kansas City based, Applebee’s added an additional 80 restaurants to its previously announced plan to shutdown 1-hundred restaurants in 2018, due to “lack of performance”. In Kansas City, after 54 years upscale Plaza III The Steakhouse shutting down in March, 30 jobs lost with no explanation by the owners. Pi Pizzeria suddenlyshutdown its Kirkwoood location due to gentrification (construction projects) destroying the employee parking lot: “…we’ve lost our employee parking lot due to a redevelopment, and that leaves us with fewer than 25 guest parking spots…”-facebook post
Montana: In Missoula, after 27 years Uptown Diner shutdown, crashing sales were blamed on the demise of the Macy’s store next door.
Nebraska: C & C Specialty Market shutting down its store in Beatrice, in April, so the owners can focus on their more profitable operations.
New Jersey: In Freehold, International Vitamin eliminating 160 jobs in May!
New Mexico: In Albuquerque, the once profitable Farmers Market chain is now dead. Local news media say at one time there were ten Farmers Markets in New Mexico: “We’ve always had competition, but in the last five to seven years, it was much harder.”-Jhett Browne, owner of the last Farmers Market
New York: In NYC, 21-Club revealed to state officials that they suddenly shutdown back in January, 156 jobs suddenly gone, blamed on Mother Earth (climate change-storm damage)! Also in NYC, Siggy’s Good Food suddenly shutdown, the owner saying “…it’s time to fly.”JJC Food suddenly shutdown its Hicksville grocery store, 38 jobs gone, blamed on Mother Earth (climate change-storm damage)! Williamsville based Tops Friendly Markets now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming increased competition. GLK Foods shutting down ops in Shortsville, 50 jobs gone in September due to consolidation. In Rochester, after almost 20 years restaurant 2-Vine shutdown due to the owner’s health problems. PepsiCo eliminating 2-hundred corporate level InfoTech and finance jobs in Westchester, as part of its global plan to kill jobs. Local news media revealed that PepsiCo (Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, Gatorade, Quaker) was getting $4-million USD in state taxpayer funded credits and another $7-million from sales-tax breaks in Westchester County!
North Carolina: Charlotte based Healthy Home Market grocery chain now chapter 7 bankrupt and being consumed by its creditors, its last two stores were shutdown in January, thousands of jobs lost! In Monroe, after 25 years Seacrest Feed & Seed shutting down by March, due to the greedy property owners. Logan’s Roadhouse suddenly shutdown due to a “corporate decision”.
North Dakota: In Bismarck, Dan’s Supermarket shutdown after 65 years, due to not being able to renew the lease.
Ohio:A fire in a barn on Country Lane Tree Farm killed dozens of goats and chickens.
Despite supplying restaurants with poultry for more than ten years, family run Quails R Us Plus facing foreclosure, several area chefs are holding a ‘rescue dinner’ to save the poultry farm.
South Carolina: Florida based Tijuana Flats shutting down its less than two years old restaurant on Percival Road, in Columbia, by March. Terrace Restaurants suddenly shutdown its Greenville location, after being open less than a year, due to lack of sales.
Tennessee: In Murfreesboro, after more than two years Sub Stop suddenly shutdown because the owners got an offer from a property developer they couldn’t refuse. After ten years in East Nashville, Pied Piper Eatery shutdown as a result of the owner’s death two years ago.
Texas: In Pflugerville, after one year Idle Vine Brewery shutting down by March. In Austin, after 45 years Buck Moore Feed & Supply shutdown. Bellisio Foods shutting down its factory in Austin. Kettle & Brine shutdown its brick-n-mortar store in Austin, will continue selling kitchen krap online. In San Angelo, after 30 years Chinese Kitchen shutdown, the overworked underpaid owner complained “It has been extremely hard to get workers for the restaurant……..working 14 hours for seven days a week is hard on my husband and me.” After seven years Grinners Daiquiri Bar shutdown due to not being a good ‘fit’ for San Angelo.
Virginia: After more than 35 years Frankie’s Place for Ribs shutdown without warning, die-hard fans were shocked, the owner blamed declining sales and increasing costs. In Richmond, after less than five years Kitchen on Cary suddenly shutdown. A poultry farm fire in Mount Vernonkilled an estimated 14-thousand chicks!
Washington: In Spokane, after 20 years Wolf Creek Lodge Steakhouse suddenly shutdown. Marine View Beverage shutting down operations across the state, 278 jobs gone by mid-April! Pacific Seafood issued a shutdown WARN, 69 Federal Way jobs gone by the end of April.
Washington DC:Le Mano Coffee Bar shutdown after almost five years, the owner wants more family time. After nine years award winning chocolate restaurant Co CoSala suddenly shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warns “…a relatively strong U.S. dollar is expected to dampen growth in U.S. agricultural exports, the United States remains competitive in global agricultural markets, in part due to efficiency and quality margins, and export values grow over the next ten years. Net farm income is expected to increase in 2018 followed by a drop…”
Wisconsin: After 110 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Silver Spring House Bar & Restaurant suddenly shutdown, the property is for sale, asking price $1.2-million USD. For the fifth year in a row income for Wisconsin farmers is expected to be down from the record high in 2013.
