Jessica Lynch Was Not Prepared for Combat

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

[A Navy Vet]

"Are you one of those sailors that often digs Foxholes?"

LOL. Maybe with an acetylene torch.

[A Navy Vet]

Aren't you a little old to be joining up? But thanks, congrats, and good luck.

[bethelgrad]

I've said it before--and no offense to you old salty soldiers, but Moter-T Marines, Supply Marines, Marine Cooks, Payroll Marines, etc. etc. etc. are all basic rifelman first and would have used those infantry tactics to fight back.

[A Navy Vet]

Corpman attached to Marine unit?

[mystery-ak]

My young soldier son was taught all these skills in basic at Fort Jackson...in 2002...it's up to his CO and 1sgt to make sure he doesn't lose these skills. My hubby is a 1sgt and would be apalled to read this article...and he is in the Il Army National Guard(full timer), currently in Balad...he has trained his troops well.

[D. Brian Carter]

Almost, buddy. How have you been? Been a long time since I've talked to you! Hope all is well.

[johnb838]

I certainly hope theres a movie about what the 3rd ID and the 1st(?) Marines did in Iraq! And that it'a about the TROOPS not about David Bloom, or Ted Koppel, or Geraldo, or any of the other media dudes. They mostly did a good job, but it wasn't about them. Wasn't about them at all.

[Seamus Mc Gillicuddy]

MCT: Marine Combat Training for enlisted non-infantry Marines at Camp Geiger. Geiger is also where SOI is, but you probably knew that. 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.

[Servant of the Nine]

Why take another swing at Jessica Lynch?.....the headline could have easily had read just "Soldiers" not prepared .....

Because Jessica Lynch is the poster girl for "screwups as heroes" when it comes to everything, not just for the movie deals.

So9

[AbnSarge]

"BS....all soldiers go to basic where they learn these skills..."

Correct, all Soldiers go to basic, BUT - - -
Combat Arms soldiers go to fts Benning/Knox, etc where the environment and training is much more combat oriented than a support training base like Jackson, etc. It makes a world of difference.

That difference can get people killed as, contrary to what a lot of people think, the opposing force can not always be counted on to be stupid. When training with non-combat arms soldiers, I try to make them understand that a smart enemy does not want to take on my infantry company, but would probably be more successful slipping past and hitting the support structure. In other words, anyone on the battlefield is 5 seconds from being a rifleman.

They usually don't want to listen.

[WestPacSailor]

Corpman attached to Marine unit?

No, but we had corpsmen with us. (Best medical support you could ever ask for.) I was with a joint intelligence exploitation team OPCONed to the ground forces commander. I was not at the front with the grunts, but usually a few hours behind them and, on one occasion actually 15 minutes ahead of them, NOT BY CHOICE though.

I'm the last guy to volunteer to get shot at. I'm allergic to high velocity lead!

Saw some interesting things though. Was issued a pistol ("You won't need a rifle, you'll be in the rear") but quickly accuired a 'surplus' M-16 when I realized that the 'ping ping ping' noise on the outside of the vehicle was NOT rocks kicked up by the sand. (Important note: Incoming fire has the right of way)

[mac_truck]

When the order comes down to 'fix bayonets' and prepare to repel a charge I don't want some 5'2", 125lb, PC appointee in my foxhole with me. I want the 6'2", 250 lb., bad attitude havin' GED candidate next to me.

I'd settle for this young son right here. Have you heard his story?

[Tallguy]

Yeah, well nobody's perfect. Back in '96, 35 Marine 2nd Lt's got bounced for a Cheating Scandal involving the Land Navigation Test.

[WestPacSailor]

Have you heard his story?

No, I haven't. Who is he?

[jjm2111]

Do you get funny looks when people see U.S. Navy on your cammies?

[mystery-ak]

You are correct Sarge, and you sound like a good one...Im not too sure this unit was that lucky.....too many mistakes were made......one of his few phone calls home my hubby was asking me about this...I told him a lot of the weapons jammed, he couldn't believe it...those weapons were to be test fired and cleaned before leaving on the convoy...my hubby, Mike, a 1sgt has been in several convoys and not once has a weapon jammed even in a sand storm(although it's possible)..too many unanswered questions...I'll wait til Mike is home, he'll have the scoop on what really happened.

[WestPacSailor]

Do you get funny looks when people see U.S. Navy on your cammies?

Not often, most assume I'm a Doc or a Seabee.