http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=globalDefault
From those that where there.
As a recently returned National Guard light infantryman who served as part of the 1st Cav Division in AO Baghdad (specifically rusafa and sadr city, east side of the river), I will address some of the issues.
It is well too early, in government terms to create a memorial. Which would have a worse emotional effect, build a memorial with 3 or 4 thousand names, OR build one with about 1,500 and try to guess how big it has to be and then constantly chisel new names into it?
National Guard and Reservists, equipment/training: First, I was an infantryman. As such equipment was more of a priority for me than for a petroleum specialist who lived in the very safe confines of the airport. In that regard, my battalion had great personal equipment (M4’s, surefire flashlights, top-of-line night vision , etc). In fact, we generally had better personal equipment then the heavy infantryman from the active duty 1st Cav battalions (of course, they had Bradley’s to help them out, so it evens out). The training given to us was pretty shitty, though. Before we shipped over, we spent five months in Ft. Hood and one in Ft. Polk. Most of that time was spent ‘learning’ from reservists who had not only NOT been in theater, but weren’t even combat arms.
Additionally, in those six months, the average soldier shot a grand total of about 500 live rounds. The AVERAGE patrol officer in the local Portland area police forces is required to shoot 100 rounds each week, and the vast majority of them will never have a shooting event in their careers. The biggest livefire work we did was at the platoon level (about 35 people invovled) even though we were involved in a battalion (about 400 shooters) sized shooting battle within two weeks of showing up in Baghdad. One would think that DOD could cancel a few of its worthless fast mover mission of the city and use the maintance and fuel money to buy about 10 times the training ammo for the door-kickers.
Which moves me to the next point, we were not allowed to practice door breaching during training (a task that I, personally, was involved no less then once a week), because the unit in Ft. Hood in charge of our training could not replace the doors.
I have to go study for a test (at a University for which I must pay myself, because of the ‘beauty’ of the GI Bill). I will address the other issues as time permits. Just know that people who are planning the training don’t seem to have ever been in combat, and, because they are high level officers who ‘obviously’ know more then your average enlisted, they don’t listen to the people who have been in combat.
Oh, and for those of you who would like to know which of your favorite Politicians and Pundits served and which didnt.
No higher calling huh George?
beta,
Thanks for serving. As a former reservist, I found that very interesting.
Yeah Beta. Thanks for your service and your insights.
Good luck in school.
WMD
Yes, thanks for your honest input.
Thanks for your service to this country, Beta.
Sorry I have not continued further. I have been taking summer school (four week terms, lots of work). I am a bit fried, but will compose my thoughts and continue within a few days.