Supporting the troops?
By progressivemass Posted in Archived — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-27-desert-training_x.htm...
I think this highlights the ridiculousness of crying "support the troops", while being firmly committed to keeping them in a war zone. Over 3,000 troops have died over these years. Supporting the troops? No.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties
I think this highlights the ridiculousness of crying "support the troops", while being firmly committed to keeping them in a war zone. Over 407,300 troops have died over these years. Supporting the troops? No.
See? I can do it too - and better. Thank goodness the opposition was made of sterner stuff during WWII (the conflict I used here), and thank goodness they actually cared about their country's success - which is more than I can say for you. And it's a questioning of your intelligence, judgment, and perspective; however, if you choose to take this as a questioning of your patriotism as well, then, well, don't let me stop you.
-Jeff]
...NTC is? (hint: it's the National Training Center, in Ft. Irwin, CA - the desert combat rotation discussed in the article you linked.
Do you know how big a deal it is for a unit not to make it there before doing a rotation overseas? Do you?
Not one at all. But of course, don't listen to me on that. And don't listen to streiff, either, should he weigh in. It's not like we'd know anyway - especially not as well as folks like you and like USA Today.
You are every bit as patriotic as Jack Murtha. See signature.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller
"I'm kind of old-fashioned. I like to engage my brain before my mouth." Donald Rumsfeld
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller
We in the biz pretty much collectively see these units as lucky for not having to endure another CTC rotation in a calendar that is too swift to see ourselves in action again. After having served two tours already in Iraqistan, I see our upcoming CTC rotation as a hindrance and just more time away from mama. Utility will be gained by the unexperienced but the vets are ready, time now. Training is good but there is only so much you can accomplish to replicate a COIN environment that one's experiences has not already covered. Its hard enough to fight an insurgency let alone replicate one at a combat training center.
Bottom line..the more experienced the unit (say 3ID) the less negative effect the lack of a CTC rotation will have.
Good? Bad? I'm the one with the gun... Army of Darkness
is noted.
The article said that five units would be heading to Iraq. The one based at Ft. Stewart is going over for its third tour. So it's safe to assume that at least one unit will have NCOs and officers with combat experience.
As one who did a tour in Vietnam many years ago, I can state that it was customary for new arrivals like me to undergo training at places like Long Binh and later at the Americal Division Combat Center at Chu Lai. This helped to acclimate soldiers to the climate, etc.
All in all, it was ten days or so before I was assigned to an infantry unit.
There's no reason to believe that these troops mentioned in the article will not receive similar acclimation and training once they arrive in Iraq.
They can get 7 to 15 days training in Kuwait before they make the big jump. CFLCC in Kuwait is flexible enough to tailor a program that a unit would like to see before they cross the border.
Most units also run there own acclimation training that is set up by the CSM and the unit NCOs for new arrivals once the unit is in country.
...we'd read dKos.
And you didn't even link to him. Low class, that.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.