Jessica Lynch Was Not Prepared for Combat

StrategyPage.com ^ | August 18, 2003 | Brant Guillory

[templar]

I've thought from the beginning that one of the women in Jessica's group was reading the map. :)

Men read maps. Woemen ask directions.

[tet68]

They can't help not being Marines.

[Britton J Wingfield]

most assume I'm a Doc or a Seabee.

You should feel flattered :)

[Seamus Mc Gillicuddy]

I say the 5.56 round is not nearly as effective as what you used to shoot. I think I saw some show a couple of months back about upgrading the M-16 to 7.62.

[12B]

It is ultimately the responsibility of the Armor/Infantry/Artillery branched officers at the top to make sure these support soldiers are given the resources and more imporantly the TIME to train as warriors.

Well said A.S. Plus the article neglects to mention that combat arms units don't last very long in combat without its support pukes. A lot of battles have been won by scrawny guys who couldn't do 50 push-ups but who happened to be brilliant logisticians. It's always been that way.

[WestPacSailor]

Sounds like some interesting work for a sailor

Most definately. However, I think I'll stick to my nice cushy desk job for the forseeable future. I've gained a new appreciation for showers, hot meals, and NOT GETTING SHOT AT!

[ProtectorOfTwo]

Patton?

[WestPacSailor]

I say the 5.56 round is not nearly as effective as what you used to shoot

All other things being equal the 7.62 has more energy at greater range than a 5.56. However, few soldiers (or Marines, for that matter) ever engage a target at 500 yds. I saw lots of people shooting at other people from across the street or, at most, across a few blocks. I watched many a grunt clearing a bldg. and I'm sure he was glad to be carrying a shorter, lighter 16 than the heavy 14.

[XJarhead]

As an officer, after commissioning at OCS, you go to TBS, where even if you aren't going to be a grunt officer, you qualify on the range, learn call for fire..that was a lot of fun, and weapons indoc. on m-240 golf, m 249 Saw, m 203, and other sorts of goodies....too many to mention. I remember some of the flight contract LT's bitching about stuff that they never thought they'd use in the fleet, but I feel it's crucial for any officer to learn those essentials.

I was an instructor there in the mid-late 80's (even taught the call for fire course), and I recall a visit by some fairly senior Army officers. They almost drooled at the thought of being able to send all their newly commissioned Lt.'s to something like TBS, but didn't have it in their manpower allocation.

TBS was/is great, and one of the things that helps keep the edge for Marines. It sucked to be there as a student, but it had the effect of impressing upon every Marine officer that the rifleman comes first. Even the lawyers went through it, and got an appreciation for what the ground pounders do. Digging the damn holes, cleaning weapons, planning patrols, using supporting arms, etc.

Another huge plus was that TBS grads who went to non-combat units usually were more skilled in weapons and tactics than their troops, and gave them a bit more credibility than some yahoo who only had 8 or 9 weeks of OCS.

[AnAmericanMother]

Even the lawyers went through it . . .

LOL! During Gulf War I we had a USMC reservist (JAG) in our law firm. He was practically in tears because he hadn't been called up. We were kidding him, "Hey, Brian, whatchya gonna do, throw briefs at them?" and he would snarl, "Every Marine is a rifleman first!"

He eventually did get called up and sat around stateside drafting wills and filing Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act petitions . . .

[XJarhead]

During Gulf War I we had a USMC reservist (JAG) in our law firm. He was practically in tears because he hadn't been called up. We were kidding him, "Hey, Brian, whatchya gonna do, throw briefs at them?" and he would snarl, "Every Marine is a rifleman first!

Heh. By 1991, I was a reservist in law school, but got called up and sent over with a reserve artillery unit and deployed with First Marine Division. When my unit got activated, we had over 100% turnout. Three guys who had left the unit months before called up to ask if they could join up, and they went with us. That's just one reason why I love Marines.

[flyer182]

It was actually 3 that were dismissed.

[Michael121]

Depends all upon the leadership.

Patton knew it, Generals lead but the soldier is the one who wins the battles.

Learn your weapon, take it apart blindfolded. Learn how to clean it, fire it. The M-16 aint what it was. 3 round burst is meant to control fire, the SOLDIER should be trained to control fire not made to by the weapon. (I WANT FULL AUTO)
M-16 is accurate at 1200 yeards /400 meters. It is a good weapon but not powerful enough in trees and bushes. Need the M-14 or M-60 for that.

Learn to READ A MAP. I knew too many officers who could not. Learn a compass well it could save your butt. Learn your pace per yard/meter can also save your butt. If given the chance learn other weapons as well. Ya never know.

The ARMY is only as good as the soldier and the soldier only as good as his leaders, a bad leader makes bad troops. Hint to your leaders that readiness training is needed, any slack time available should be spent training. Unit tactics, while some may bitch, with the WAR on Terror ya never know when you will be "moved into a forward area" the soldier should be ready, only the dead are not.

[misterrob]

Read her book and you will understand my point. She cites numerous issues of sexual harrassment being filed by female soldiers against male superiors even though they are treated just like the men, training regiments are altered to be more sensitive and the media's criticism of the military and how it affects training and soldier's preparedness.

Very much a non feminist's perspective.

[jjm2111]

"The ARMY is only as good as the soldier and the soldier only as good as his leaders, a bad leader makes bad troops. Hint to your leaders that readiness training is needed, any slack time available should be spent training. Unit tactics, while some may bitch, with the WAR on Terror ya never know when you will be "moved into a forward area" the soldier should be ready, only the dead are not."

Well said. We just got a new CO in my unit and I know we're going to be doing some more training. :) We're more of a rear area unit, but we're just the kind of unit that if recalled might see action in an asymetric conflict.

[gcruse]

What a nasty article.

[Hot Tabasco]

Budetary = Budjetary

= budgetary

Still an apprentice "spell checker" eh? Keep the faith grasshopper......LOL!

[jwalsh07]

We have a professional Army.

I've been in the Army and in Combat Support Units.

My opinion, every soldier in Comabt Support, has a primary MOS of 11B and a secondary MOS of whatever.

And then train that way.

[DMZFrank]

When I was a grunt in a Mechanized infantry in Vietnam even the REMF's trained for combat duty, particularly those units that participated in road convoys and movements. They regularly conducted anti-ambush and immediate action drills, requesting artillery support and calls for fire, and map reading. They hardend 2 1/2 ton and 5 ton trucks with extra .50 cal. M2 MG's, and m60's; with sandbags in the bed and floor. The Mp's escorting convoys were well versed in anti-ambush drills and maneuver. It seems the Army always has to relearn past lessons dearly learned.