Neller directs all aviation units to take 24-hour operational pause

Following numerous mishaps, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller has directed all aviation units to conduct a 24-hour operational pause sometime in the next two weeks.

"This operational reset will occur within the next two weeks and will be taken at the discretion of commanders, based on their unit's operational commitments, to focus on the fundamentals of safe flight operations, standardization, and combat readiness," according to an Aug. 11 statement. "The intent is for flying squadrons to review selected incidents which occurred enterprise-wide and study historical examples of completed investigations in order to bring awareness and best practices to the fleet."

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said in an Aug. 11 statement the decision to ground all aircraft is another example the U.S. military is in crisis.

"As threats continue to grow, Congress must act as soon as possible to provide our military with all of the resources they need to repair what can be fixed and replace what cannot be repaired. It would be immoral to continue to use military funding as political leverage in the face of such striking evidence that our military is in a crisis that is partly of our own making," he said.