Zach Ota
@zachota.bsky.social
Personal Perspectives • Beholding the Pacific • Krulak Center • YCAPS • Allies & Partners • Amphibious Defense • Aloha
Heroes don’t only exist on the battlefield.
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IOC 'begs' Ukraine's Heraskevych to race without war dead helmet, he stays defiant reut.rs/4apcomn
IOC 'begs' Ukraine's Heraskevych to race without war dead helmet, he stays defiant
The International Olympic Committee pleaded on Wednesday with skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych to compete without his banned helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia's invasion and avoid potential disqualification.
reut.rs
February 12, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Heroes don’t only exist on the battlefield.
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Reposted by Zach Ota
China, right now, believes that the costs of attacking Taiwan are unacceptable, U.S. deployment or otherwise.
I think it's important that the doom and gloom about deterrence and the future of the free world not come from the free world. To believe that we are doomed is to doom ourselves.
I think it's important that the doom and gloom about deterrence and the future of the free world not come from the free world. To believe that we are doomed is to doom ourselves.
Does anyone seriously believe the US would defend Taiwan?
If China moves to attack, Trump will tell the truth about it, side with the smaller democracy over the larger authoritarian, strenuously object, send more arms, deploy US military assets, and risk/endure casualties?
Who’s confident in that?
If China moves to attack, Trump will tell the truth about it, side with the smaller democracy over the larger authoritarian, strenuously object, send more arms, deploy US military assets, and risk/endure casualties?
Who’s confident in that?
February 12, 2026 at 3:28 AM
China, right now, believes that the costs of attacking Taiwan are unacceptable, U.S. deployment or otherwise.
I think it's important that the doom and gloom about deterrence and the future of the free world not come from the free world. To believe that we are doomed is to doom ourselves.
I think it's important that the doom and gloom about deterrence and the future of the free world not come from the free world. To believe that we are doomed is to doom ourselves.
Reposted by Zach Ota
Getting fully torqued for the Pershing Lecture Series tonight with CGSC’s Dept of Military History and the @nationalwwimuseum.bsky.social.
While we wait, allow me to tell you what your favorite museum objects tell me about you (selected at random):
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While we wait, allow me to tell you what your favorite museum objects tell me about you (selected at random):
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February 11, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Getting fully torqued for the Pershing Lecture Series tonight with CGSC’s Dept of Military History and the @nationalwwimuseum.bsky.social.
While we wait, allow me to tell you what your favorite museum objects tell me about you (selected at random):
1/🧶
While we wait, allow me to tell you what your favorite museum objects tell me about you (selected at random):
1/🧶
Reposted by Zach Ota
“They don’t speak our language.” Well, nobody worried about that when Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry deployed to Korea in 1950. By war’s end, six men had been awarded DSC’s, 130 were awarded SS’s, and 3,800 were awarded PH’s. They remain one of the most heavily decorated NG units.
February 9, 2026 at 3:19 AM
“They don’t speak our language.” Well, nobody worried about that when Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry deployed to Korea in 1950. By war’s end, six men had been awarded DSC’s, 130 were awarded SS’s, and 3,800 were awarded PH’s. They remain one of the most heavily decorated NG units.
Reposted by Zach Ota
Defeat Fascism in Russia, Defeat Fascism at Home. Simple as. We can win.
Every dead fascist is a good fascist, dont let up.
February 9, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Defeat Fascism in Russia, Defeat Fascism at Home. Simple as. We can win.
Great win for Sam, the Seahawks, and San Clemente.
February 9, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Great win for Sam, the Seahawks, and San Clemente.
Reposted by Zach Ota
Great to be in San Clemente for the Super Bowl and hearing fans chant “Let’s go Sam!”
February 9, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Great to be in San Clemente for the Super Bowl and hearing fans chant “Let’s go Sam!”
My thoughts on this year’s Super Bowl commercials:
February 9, 2026 at 2:31 AM
My thoughts on this year’s Super Bowl commercials:
Baddy Gaga ™️
February 9, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Baddy Gaga ™️
New entry for the Marine Corps’ #HatDesign2030
February 9, 2026 at 1:48 AM
New entry for the Marine Corps’ #HatDesign2030
Reposted by Zach Ota
The vibe of the Halftime Show
February 9, 2026 at 1:40 AM
The vibe of the Halftime Show
Together we are America 🇺🇸
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Together we are America 🇺🇸
I understand 0% of the halftime show and enjoy it 100%
February 9, 2026 at 1:32 AM
I understand 0% of the halftime show and enjoy it 100%
In Super Bowls, as in war, defense is the stronger form of combat.
February 9, 2026 at 12:51 AM
In Super Bowls, as in war, defense is the stronger form of combat.
New nickname for Battery Gunny just dropped.
February 9, 2026 at 12:16 AM
New nickname for Battery Gunny just dropped.
Going all in for the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, primarily for Sam Darnold and San Clemente.
This town took great care of us during after our deployment to Afghanistan, and they did so for many Marines during 20 years of war.
Win or lose, this community deserves to celebrate their hometown hero.
This town took great care of us during after our deployment to Afghanistan, and they did so for many Marines during 20 years of war.
Win or lose, this community deserves to celebrate their hometown hero.
February 8, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Going all in for the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, primarily for Sam Darnold and San Clemente.
This town took great care of us during after our deployment to Afghanistan, and they did so for many Marines during 20 years of war.
Win or lose, this community deserves to celebrate their hometown hero.
This town took great care of us during after our deployment to Afghanistan, and they did so for many Marines during 20 years of war.
Win or lose, this community deserves to celebrate their hometown hero.
That Japanese-American soldier is Private Spencer Howe, and he is, most definitely, being all that he can be.
www.stripes.com/sports/olymp....
www.stripes.com/sports/olymp....
February 8, 2026 at 10:07 PM
That Japanese-American soldier is Private Spencer Howe, and he is, most definitely, being all that he can be.
www.stripes.com/sports/olymp....
www.stripes.com/sports/olymp....
Reposted by Zach Ota
This year, the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Pairs Team is represented by:
• A Japanese and Chinese Hawaiian
• A Michigan guy (You'll notice a trend here)
• A Hong Kong and Taiwanese Texan
• A Japanese American and Army soldier who is studying to become a chaplain!
That's what makes America great.
• A Japanese and Chinese Hawaiian
• A Michigan guy (You'll notice a trend here)
• A Hong Kong and Taiwanese Texan
• A Japanese American and Army soldier who is studying to become a chaplain!
That's what makes America great.
This Olympics, Team USA ice dance is represented by:
• A Chinese Hawaiian and her Michigan husband
• A Greek Cypriot and a Ukrainian Costco fan who just acquired citizenship
• A Canadian born with two dislocated hips and the son of two Soviet gold medalist skaters
That's what makes America great.
• A Chinese Hawaiian and her Michigan husband
• A Greek Cypriot and a Ukrainian Costco fan who just acquired citizenship
• A Canadian born with two dislocated hips and the son of two Soviet gold medalist skaters
That's what makes America great.
February 5, 2026 at 6:45 PM
This year, the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Pairs Team is represented by:
• A Japanese and Chinese Hawaiian
• A Michigan guy (You'll notice a trend here)
• A Hong Kong and Taiwanese Texan
• A Japanese American and Army soldier who is studying to become a chaplain!
That's what makes America great.
• A Japanese and Chinese Hawaiian
• A Michigan guy (You'll notice a trend here)
• A Hong Kong and Taiwanese Texan
• A Japanese American and Army soldier who is studying to become a chaplain!
That's what makes America great.
Every time I hear “quad toe” in an Olympics figure skating event:
February 8, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Every time I hear “quad toe” in an Olympics figure skating event:
Reposted by Zach Ota
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Apparently Liberty doesn’t care about your job skills.
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Apparently Liberty doesn’t care about your job skills.
February 2, 2026 at 1:57 PM
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Apparently Liberty doesn’t care about your job skills.
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Apparently Liberty doesn’t care about your job skills.
A reminder that hope can prevail, even in the darkest days.
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
💥🚁 Archive video from Russian Mi-8 helicopter, which was part of the squadron flying towards Gostomel on the first day of the invasion.
2nd part of the video is the moment when one of the helicopters was shot down. A few seconds earlier, another helicopter shot down.
2nd part of the video is the moment when one of the helicopters was shot down. A few seconds earlier, another helicopter shot down.
February 1, 2026 at 4:27 PM
A reminder that hope can prevail, even in the darkest days.
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
Reposted by Zach Ota
"It may take time to prove you're right, but you have to stick to it."
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
January 30, 2026 at 10:32 PM
"It may take time to prove you're right, but you have to stick to it."
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
“Urban warfare cannot be made clean, and civilian harm cannot be eliminated. But civilian protection ought to function as a real operational constraint. Other militaries learned — often painfully — that when uncertainty defaults to force, the long-term costs are severe.”
This is an important, credible, and damning article about the IDF in Gaza by Andy Milburn, a retired US Marine Raider colonel with combat experience from Fallujah and Mosul who maintained close contact with IDF officers during the war (while keeping a low public profile). Read the whole thing.
Gaza and the Conduct of Urban War: Civilian Harm, Risk, and Responsibility
Urban warfare is often invoked as an alibi: dense terrain, an embedded enemy, human shields, imperfect intelligence. These conditions are real but they do
warontherocks.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:30 AM
“Urban warfare cannot be made clean, and civilian harm cannot be eliminated. But civilian protection ought to function as a real operational constraint. Other militaries learned — often painfully — that when uncertainty defaults to force, the long-term costs are severe.”
Reposted by Zach Ota
Forty years ago today (Jan 28 2026), the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger 51L slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God. Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe.
January 28, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Forty years ago today (Jan 28 2026), the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger 51L slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God. Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe.