We have had an ongoing problem of misaligned force structures and bureaucratic mission creep.
During the height of the campaigning in Iraq, we had Army E-6 armor NCOs not being qualified on the M1-series tank--because we used armor troops to do dismounted patrols because we lacked enough infantry and military police. Shoot, we put artillerymen out on patrol too.
After 9-11, we needed more commando type units than the Army could provide. So SEALs have been used. But like the old First Special Service Force of World War II, they are overqualified for most of their work. Their peculiar skills of Naval Special Warfare (combat swimming, diving, boat infiltration, boarding party tactics, etc.) are not relevant in the Hindu Kush.
And, to be blunt, let's ask why so many Marines have been sent to Afghanistan. Are the Marines' skills in amphibious warfare relevant in a semi-arid land-locked country? Marine rifle battalions are definitely formidable units, but isn't every Marine rifle battalion in Helmand Province one less Marine rifle battalion that is available for maritime power projection? One must ponder how much of this practice is driven either by a lack of Army rifle battalions or the bureaucratic imperative for the Marines to get some action and demonstrate their relevance.
Now, before some of you Jarheads out there start flaming me, I am not questioning the fighting prowess of the Marines or SEALS. What I am questioning is the efficiency of continuing to depend upon troops who are not being used for their intended specialized purpose.
The flip-side of this is that the Marines are now trying to regain their amphib mojo to counter China, while the Army now is trying to regain their heavy-metal tradecraft to counter Russian tank divisions.
good post @ 49 with good points - there is little that is “conventional” about the sand box
Good post. Thoughtful questions.
I’m also interested in knowing if the NYT is misusing the term MEDIC for a Navy Corpsman.
Happened to my unit on our first deployment to Iraq. Took our tanks away gave us hummers and retrained us as motorized infantry.
It seems that, historically, the SEAL teams have had to put up with senior commanders who either resented the idea of special warfare being outside the purview of regular squid commanders, or their misguided concept of using SEAL teams as uber storm troopers. The Navy’s senior staff has long been unable to evolve and, as a result, the SEAL teams suffer their idiocy.