Author Lance Bacon

Lance Bacon

A Navy brat who spent eight years in the Marines (two years aboard the carrier Independence). Worked in journalism in Eastern North Carolina through the latter part of the 90s, then became editor of Air Force Times in 2000. Stayed there five years, then took a break to finish some school. Now back in the game with Navy Times.

Soldaten in Europa, um Ihre Füllung Schnitzel!

By Lance Bacon on January 26, 2011 Army, Iraq, West Point

That’s right – soldiers in Europe better get their fill of schnitzel and get ready to shape up. The man responsible for Physical Readiness Training and healthier eating habits in IMT chow halls is headed your way! In truth, the assignment of Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling as the next commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army is a win-win. Hertling is a go-getter who in the past year has revolutionized basic training, physical fitness and marksmanship. No doubt he is being groomed for a fourth star, but if you think this is simply a box-checking job, think again. The…

Utah looks to adopt 1911 as state gun

By Lance Bacon on January 26, 2011 Weapons

While some states restrict gun laws, Utah looks to become the first with an official state gun. And that is much cooler than having a state flower. The effort is to honor the memory of John M. Browning, the inventor of the M1911 pistol, according to this story. The bill passed the House Political Subdivisions Committee on a 9-2 vote. It will be debated by Utah’s House of Representatives this week. Republican Rep. Carl Wimmer reportedly told the committee the gun should be a state symbol to honor Browning, a Utah native. “He invented a firearm that has defended American…

Army Times Sr. Writer Lance M. Bacon puts lead on targets as he shoots the Colt CM901 7.62mm on full auto. The shoot was part of a range day that kicked off the 2011 Shot Show. We kicked off the 2011 Shot Show by sending hundreds of rounds down range. We’ll be sharing the nitty-gritty [...]

2011 Shot Show — A Clash of the Titans

By Lance Bacon on January 17, 2011 CM901, Outside the wire, Product Announcement, SCAR< carbine competition

Guns, guns, guns! (and other cool stuff, too)

By Lance Bacon on January 14, 2011 Gear, Outside the wire, Weapons

The Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference – commonly called SHOT Show – kicks off Monday in Las Vegas. It is the largest and most comprehensive shooting and hunting trade show. Last year, there were 1,633 vendors. This year is expected to be bigger and better – and Army Times will be there. Keep checking “Outside the Wire” and our Gear Scout blog for daily updates and info on the latest and greatest guns, gear and gadgets. Whether you are into firearms, ammo, archery, knives, apparel, optics or anything in between, we’ve got you covered!

Has anyone seen Dennis Groebe?

By Lance Bacon on January 13, 2011 Army, Veteran issues

While Outside the Wire can’t be the depository for the endless supply of “lost and found” trinkets, we have to give a shout out to Dave Karney. He found this lighter in the late ’60s at Fort Dix, and held on to it in the hopes of uniting it with its owner or the next of kin. Now that is how you look out for a brother soldier! If you can help Dave bring his 43-year search to an end, e-mail him at Fatheroffor@aol.com.

AWOL soldier avoids return to Afghanistan

By Lance Bacon on January 11, 2011 Afghanistan, Army, Iraq, Veteran issues

The Associated Press is reporting that an AWOL Fort Campbell soldier scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan has entered a mental health treatment program instead. Spc. Jeff Hanks went AWOL last year while on mid-tour leave from Afghanistan. He turned himself in on Veterans Day. Iraq Veterans Against the War took up his cause. In a press release, the group described Hanks as an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran “suffering from symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and likely Traumatic Brain Injury. He sought and was denied treatment on two military bases before refusing to redeploy and going Absent Without Official Leave…

Violence in Iraq continues to decline

By Lance Bacon on January 11, 2011 Iraq

Jim Michaels of USA TODAY is reporting that violent incidents in Iraq dropped from 11,203 in 2009 to 8,233 in 2010. U.S. military commanders there, who provided the statistics, said this demonstrates the ability of Iraq’s forces to maintain security in the country. This is the lowest level of violence since the widespread insurgency that followed the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. The peak of violence was 2007 when there were 67,727 incidents, according to the report. The statistics include attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces as well as bombs discovered before they were detonated.

Where will the next deployment take us?

By Lance Bacon on January 11, 2011 Afghanistan, Army, Congress, Iran, Pentagon, UAVs

Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, said last week that half of combat-ready troops will not be headed for Iraq or the ‘Stan, but instead will be ready to deploy wherever needed. That’s why you’re soon to get new ACUs and in-depth training in full spectrum operations. So, where might this push take you? China and North Korea are always a hot topic. Defense Secretary is in China right now, and this morning described North Korea as a “direct threat” due to “the combination of their continuing nuclear programs but also the progress that they’re making in the development…

Military construction dollars: A snapshot

By Lance Bacon on January 4, 2011 Afghanistan, Army, Congress

Army Times will publish a complete breakdown of the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act in the Jan. 17 edition, which hits newsstands Monday. In the meantime, here are some facts and figures from the stateside and Afghanistan military construction budgets we found interesting: Only five of the 165 stateside requests were shot down. They include a $30-million request for a Aviation Task Force Complex at Fort Wainwright, Ala., and a $19-million commissary for the garrison in Miami, Fla. It also was a bad year for museum operations support buildings, which got the thumbs-down for a combined $74.8 million requested for…

Sexual harassment, assault reports rise at service academies

By Lance Bacon on December 15, 2010 Army, Congress, Pentagon, West Point

The number of reported sexual harassment and assaults at the three service academies is up 61 percent from last year, according to this story. Pentagon officials say the rise could be due to an increase in education and training. There were 41 incidents reported for the 2009-2010 school year, up from 25 last year, according to this annual report required by Congress. In the year before the survey, 12.9 percent of women and 1.9 percent of men indicated experiencing unwanted sexual contact, and 56 percent of women and 12 percent of men indicated experiencing sexual harassment. According to the survey…

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