Surely one of your points above is that we can do *better* than back then (not knocking what we did back then, just acknowledging that our tech and tactics and training are better now).
Perhaps we limit recon and scouting in hot zones to Strykers...separating those tasks from general purpose errands and such for existing HMMVW's.
Perhaps we limit recon and scouting in hot zones to Strykers...separating those tasks from general purpose errands and such for existing HMMVW's.
Sounds good to me – and I think that is existing doctrine. The problem is that local commanders have to do their assigned tasking with available equipment.
One of the problems I have with the HMMVWs is with being closed in. Even with bullet resistant glass the trooper is still looking out a window and isolated from his environment. It is nice to have airconditioning in a hot area, but at what price? There is also the nearly unavoidable psychology of being in a “safe” vehicle and protected from harm. Just as people who drive on our Interstates here at home in a car with air bags all around, impact absorbing frames and bodies, built in roll bars and low deductible insurance are usually not as careful while driving because much the danger has been removed, the soldier in an uparmored vehicle will feel “safe” and not be as aware. And of course, the ability to bail quickly out when necessary has been subjugated to this “safety”.
I saw some of the same reaction in Viet Nam when we would transport combat arms troops on our boats. They were all a bit nervous because they could not dig a nice hole in a steel deck. They could not quickly move to a safer area when under fire. All they could do was stay where they were – on our boat – and take it.