Shawn Snow
Early Bird Editor
Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.
All Stories By Shawn
Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces
"This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan."
Marine Corps exercises and training thunder on despite COVID-19 concerns
“I Marine Expeditionary Force will continue mission-essential training and tasks as directed while taking every precaution to preserve and protect the force, our families and the neighboring communities who enable us to continue our mission of sustaining combat readiness and deployability."
Marine rotation to Australia ‘on hold’ over COVID-19 concerns
“Both Australia and the United States remain committed to the deployment but a decision of this magnitude will take time.”
Marine at Arizona base tested positive for COVID-19 as large-scale ‘mission-essential’ exercise continues
Yuma has roughly 104,000 residents with nearly 20 percent of the population over the age of 60 — a sizable population vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.
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."
Lance corporal awarded highest medal for non-combat bravery for rescuing a drowning elderly man
“I knew he needed help, and I just went,” Ballow said in the release. “If someone needs help and you’re there and you can help them, then do it.”
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.
