Journal anzha's Journal: Thoughts on War & the "Transformation" of the US military 2
Back in the summer of 1998, I was working for a small grubby defense contractor. I was really just starting my career after having helped to start a recently imploded internet company. I was speaking with one of the analysts there. He's a good friend to this day. He's a former captian of armor. He'd been one of the very few treadheads to go on to get a Ranger patch.
The discussion we had was an interesting one. We was deeply worried about the direction the military was taking with its 'transformative' technologies. He wasn't so worried about the ability to fight stand-up fights with tanks and armor with the new tech coming down. He was far more worried about urban fighting. He strongly felt that the US Army wasn't taking it as seriously as it should or was getting the wrong answers when it did. He noted that with more and more of humanity living in these huge cities, we were going to have to figure out how to fight there.
Flash forward to the present.
Some of the more interesting things to come out of iraq have been how the US Army soldiers have been fighting the insurgents and how they fought the Iraqi army.
Something that seems to be said time and again is that heavy armor is important: M-1s often came forward to provide cover, and fire support, for troops that were pinned down. If you look at the 'transformation' plan, heavy armor is going bye-bye to be replaced with Strykers now and the vaporware Future Combat Systems. 20 tons yet has the protection of an M-1. *nervous look*
Also something that's come out on the TOE side of things is that we need MORE riflemen. They have been pressing artillerymen, air defense guys, etc. into the infantry role. They don't train for this! That's why if you've been following the casaulty reports the noninfantry make up a disproporationate amount of the dead and wounded. Additionally, the numbers of infantry slotted to be committed to combat is too low in the 'transformation'. A brigade is expected to take on the responsibilities of a division. Even with the XM-8 coming online and the very nice armor (that's saved my bro's life more than once) the infantryman hasn't had a massive upgrade in almost 50 years in capability. Asking them to do more with less is insane. Perhaps the Landwarrior stuff will work and help. Based on the cock-up that the XM-29 turned into (great basic idea (every infantryman a grenadier, every squad with the firepower of a heavy weapons squad), really poorly implemented) I'm not holding my breath...
Finally, one of the things I've noted is that perhaps we're fighting wars the wrong way. Right now, we try to fight as quick and bloodless a battle as possible. Fight very short and quick. Take out the leadership. Destroy the warfighting capability. Minimize casualties on both sides. Sounds great, right? Ummm...except that it leaves a lot people left over that haven't felt like they've been beaten. There might be some shock, but the awe definitely isn't there. This provides for a great pool of insurgents...oh my! Sound familiar? Perhaps we ought to take the time to attrite their forces, consolidate the positions, and blow the hell out of a lot of schiesse. You have to attack the will to fight as much as the capability.
Or so I think. Then again, I'm not a soldier. I may not have a clue about what I am talking about.
10 Division Matrix (Score:2)
Re:10 Division Matrix (Score:2)
ObAOL: Me too!
I completely agree here too. The soldiers are being asked to put their lives on the line. The least we can do is pay them enough that they can live.