The V-22 Guessing Game!

The location and date of the first V-22 deployment will be announced Friday by US Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway.

Let the speculation begin!

I can think of three most likely options for the location:

1. Iraq
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2. Amphibious Ready Group in the Persian Gulf
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3. Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

My money is on option number 3.

The potential propaganda coup of a V-22 shootdown in Iraq should rule out number 1. Lingering questions about the V-22's shipboard suitability may also rule out number 2. A marine corps battalion is on the ground in Djibouti, offering a relatively safe operating environment for the tiltrotor's introduction into service.