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Post by miker on Jun 26, 2023 11:11:04 GMT
As the title says. What did they do from January to May when they departed?
Concentrated the Regiment. Received additional troops who were pretty much wasted. Perhaps received some horses.
How much time did they really have to train?
Particularly in small posts, there was a lot of housekeeping to accomplish.
When the 1st Infantry Division was alerted we had several tasks and little collective training was conducted. Here is some of what we did:
Painted our tanks sand. Received new equipment and trained in its use. Ensured all soldiers were Qualified on their personal weapons. Received necessary shots and preventative care. Selected leaders conducted reconnaissance. Participated in Command Post Exercises with III Corps in anticipation of its deployment. Supported the reception and deployment of ARNG and USAR units. Prepared our equipment for shipment loaded it on trains and ships. Prepared plans and orders. Ensured vehicles were prepared for combat.
Once we got in theater: Received our equipment. Received some M1A1s and trained in their use. Received the 3rd Brigade of the 2AD.
When we deployed to our assembly area there was extensive rehearsals and training. Screened our sector of the border. Conducted artillery raids Refined plans and orders.
By the way, this was all done In the Balmy Fort Riley Weather and we had installation support to take care of house keeping tasks.
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Post by quincannon on Jun 26, 2023 16:12:08 GMT
Pretty standard fare for a unit deploying for combat. It is applicable to 1776, 1876, 1991 or 2023. Nothing much has changed.
Take note of "little collective training". When you are in the process of preparation for deployment there is little time for collective training (squad level and above). You are just too damned busy. But also take note of weapons qualification, a means of sharpening the individual saber. Also take note of the preparation of the individual soldier. This is the time to make sure your soldiers are fit and ready for combat physically, which in turn gives them a mental boost, letting them know you care about them and their welfare.
When finally in the field and in their assembly areas (Powder River Depot folks) look at what Mike narrates here. Security, and training, training, training, and for the most part collective training, matching theory and doctrine to the terrain, and conditions under which you will fight.
Wondering why I fault Reno and Custer? That's why. None of this was done, and for every man that died or was injured you can look to this as the root cause. Take care of your troops by caring, preparation, and first class training, and they will WILLINGLY do anything ask of them.
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Post by miker on Jun 26, 2023 17:24:56 GMT
A tidbit from after Desert Storm. After a lengthy leave I was transferred to the Division's 2nd Brigade as the S-4. We immediately picked up or training for a National Training Center that we did not attend due to Desert storm. The brigade conducted intensive training for orders preparation (Every Thursday we practices the brigade order process with the goal of completing an order in 2 hours or less, conducted a simulation exercise every month, administered battalion testing from November to 12 December, and again in January, and went to the NTC in February, following which we went to South Carolina to train the 218th Infantry Brigade (Mech) for 6 weeks.
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Post by miker on Jul 30, 2023 14:57:40 GMT
On Marksmanship Training. Thus far in reading my new book Phil Sheridan and His Army I cam across this (about the only one thus far) concerning marksmanship training. D espite the press of daily affairs, Sheridan took an interest in all aspects of the military service. As an avid marksman he took particular interst in the movement to impose a well-regulated system of target practice on the Army. In 1871, as a results of the efforts of William C. Church, editor of the Army Navy Journal, and Captain George W Wingate of the New York National Guard, the National Rifle Association was formed. Through the sponsorship of rifle matches, like those held at the Creedmore Rifle Range on Long Island and editorials in the Army and Navy Journal, Church and the NRA won the regular Army over to their philosophy. In 1879, the army adopted a regulated system of target practice, with each soldier allowed twenty rounds of ammunition per month for that purpose and prizes given for the best shooting scores. Various army teams participated in the Creedmoor matches, the Division of the Missouri team winning in 1880, and Sheridan served as an early president of the NRA. In 1885 Sheridan introduced company skirmish line firing practice at dummy targets of men. This enabled company commanders to perfect the fire discipline of their men in a combat situation. (pages 160-161)If you recall, elsewhere I stated that in the run up to the LBH, they Army allotted 15 rounds per year and Reno first ordered 1 hour target practice (I think daily) but then reduced it to 30 minutes. So, 3 years after the LBH, the Army developed some more professional systems for sustaining marksmanship and 9 years later established what today in Armor, Cavalry, and Mechanized Infantry units today called "Table 10" in which a company runs a course designed to evaluate the companies mastery of fire. When I was a platoon leader, the end table was "Table 8" which was used to qualify the tank crew's proficiency. At some point, I believe about 1980-84, "Table 9" was added as a platoon battle run, and by the time I commanded my third company in 1984-1986, we ran "Table 10". Very embarrassingly in that same time period, no tank in my company qualified on its table 8 run, but all three of my platoons qualified on Table 9 twice and my company team (which is how we usually fought with two tank and one mechanized infantry platoons) also qualified twice. Lest you think I was totally inept, in the time period from about 1983 - 1987, less than 30-50 tank crews qualified on Table 9. In my first gunnery in 1984-1987, only one tank in another company qualified, the second three, and in the third (by which time my company had been replaced), the whole battalion qualified. That paragraph was followed by: The logic of target practice was clear to Sheridan, but he was not so easily won over to the erits of that long-standard weapon of war the bayonet. He considered "all bayonets humbug" and felt the army could do away with the weapon altogether since "one side or the other runs before the bayonet can be used." He expressed special concern tat the bayonet was too useful as a digging toll and that the "men are liable to commence covering themselves too soon, if the tools are convenient." His advice was ignored. (page 161).So, at the LBH there were only three spades available for entrenchment and as the cavalry did not carry bayonets, they had to dig with their fingers, cups, knives and spoons, pieces of wood, etc. Bayonets might have been useful for the cavalry for when the Indians closed to hand to hand distance as would have had shovels. After the LBH everyone apparently eventually got entrenching tools. Also interestingly enough, my tank company, which only had about 5 - 8 M-16s, had a bayonet for each man. I caused a certain amount of consternation when I issued bayonets to my soldiers when we went to the field, but no one ever got into a knife fight, and it made some things easier for me. Edit: Another perhaps interesting tidbit: Unlike the other companies, I also issued my flak vests to my soldiers and we wore them, even inside the tank. This stemmed from my B Troop commander making us wear them; I think because he felt that flak vests saved (or lack of them did not save) his soldiers lives. The 1st and 3rd platoon leaders protested because it made "the soldier's 'tired'" and "destroyed their stealth" so the CO said, "Fine. We will wear them for PT." and we did. I didn't order them to wear them the first time we went to the field, but most of them did, so I just reinforced the trend so everyone war them. In desert storm, I wore my flak jacket all the time (even though it was (1) hot and (2) we were far to the rear). Once we opened our Chemical Suits, I wore them all the time, including when I went to sleep. My gas mask was my pillow. I wore my running shoes to bed so I could just put my feet in the chemical boots rather than taking the time to put on my boots. (Actually, I always wore my running shoes, having learned from two commanders who went to the French Commando School that they were made to do it because it was better than running around in the dark barefoot if you get surprised when you are asleep.)
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Post by Elwood on Jul 30, 2023 21:04:27 GMT
15 rounds for practice?! A year?! Incredible. Army just cheap? Or other factors too?
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Post by miker on Jul 30, 2023 21:22:56 GMT
Congress was parsimonious, the country did not (and to some extent still) like a large standing army, and Congress then, as I think it is today, is feckless and more concerned with re-election, putting money in their pocket, and pontificating rather than fulfilling their oath to the Constitution and the United States of America.
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Post by quincannon on Jul 30, 2023 23:46:06 GMT
Parsimonious pontificators, feckless, non-fulfillment of their Constitutional Oath, cheap shit mother forkers who hold up the nominations of an ever growing number of officers thereby presenting a danger to national security, because the Defense Department won't go along with the wishes of some right wing crazy notreallychristian nationalists, who are themselves so goddamned dumb they put their finger up their asses then in their mouths to see what shit tastes like, because Trump told them eating shit was good for their health, makes them more virile, stops forward progress, and makes book burning sound enlightened.
Really was dangerous for me to get a new computer wasn't it?
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Post by miker on Jul 31, 2023 0:06:23 GMT
YIKES!
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Post by Elwood on Jul 31, 2023 4:30:01 GMT
Really was dangerous for me to get a new computer wasn't it? Dangerous. And interesting.
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Post by quincannon on Jul 31, 2023 14:50:03 GMT
Mister E, there is nothing more vile in this world of ours than ignorance which in turn fosters, aids, and abets stupidity.
One stunning example is the recent defense of human bondage as being nothing more than a job training program. I for one as an independent member of the electorate rather resent some two bit ass hole politician thinking I am so stupid as to believe that sort of complete rubbish. Problem is that the politician himself has either one of two strikes against him. Either he himself believes what he says, which disqualifies him from even washing jock straps in a prison laundry, or that he does not believe it and says it only to corral the most stupid of his would be constituents, making him the worst sort of hypocrite. Either way he is without doubt a moron of the first water. The unfortunate part is that our friend Mike must live for a couple of more years with this moron running his state's government. Send Mike a sympathy card.
Another example is that piece of shit football coach that masquerades as a United State Senator, from the miasmic swamp of Alabama. He is presently holding up over two hundred (and climbing higher) nominations for either higher military rank or office because of his own stupidity. His complaint, the Department of Defense providing for active duty women's health care (including lawful abortions) when the location where these women are stationed the state law restricts such care. Were I, while still on active duty at Camp Swampy Mississippi taken ill, and the local health facilities (either civilian or military) unable to provide treatment for me the military is obliged by law and regulations to pay for my transportation to some place that could provide that care, for instance Johns Hopkins or the Mayo Clinic. Now if you do not like that law or those regulations work to change those laws and regulations, not throw a hissy fit and degrade military readiness.
How, you may ask does what Tommy the Shit Eater is presently doing harm readiness. The Marines for one do not have a Commandant. That officer was chosen as the person the President believes is best qualified to lead the Corps, and provide the President the best advice on deployment of the Corps. We will shortly not have a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the same rational applies. Other members of the JCS are due for replacement shortly as well. This does not even address the hundreds that are having promotions delayed, and having officers acting in their nominated capacity for them. The thing that will kill any military unit, even the finest of the finest is an uncertain future. Little Tommy Shit Head is directly responsible for this sorry state of affairs. When I was selected for Lieutenant Colonel I waited six months for Senate confirmation, and that was considered normal. This is anything but normal, and the worst part it is done out of malice.
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Post by Elwood on Aug 1, 2023 2:41:12 GMT
Tuberville, yes. Someone made the comment, somewhere, that just a few years ago, the military was a sacred cow, so to speak, to be protected by the republicans. Guess times have changed. How far is this nut willing to take it?
And the 15 rounds for practice is still shocking.
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Post by quincannon on Aug 1, 2023 3:36:19 GMT
Shocking indeed. The more you practice the less you bleed.
Shocking indeed. The rules of the Senate (not the Constitution) allow any Senator to put a stop to anything he/she wishes to stop. Shocking perhaps for me to say this, but I think it is a good rule for the most part. There are occasions where someone feels they must stand on principle and were it not for that Senate rule such stands would not be possible. "Mister Smith Goes to Washington" is a similar example that most of us are familiar with. The rule though was instituted on the belief that it would be applied by men of good will, and while the action taken may very well be a political statement, the Senator exercising his/her prerogative would not in so doing cause the second and third order effects of causing harm to the nation. Turberville is causing harm to the nation.
REGARDLESS, we must never lose faith in our institutions. As hard as that may be, the alternative is anarchy.
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Post by Elwood on Aug 3, 2023 13:17:10 GMT
we must never lose faith in our institutions. As hard as that may be, the alternative is anarchy. Indeed. The wheels of justice turn slowly, but it appears they are turning.
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Post by yanmacca on Aug 3, 2023 13:58:50 GMT
By the news we hear in England, politics in the USA seem in chaos at the moment. I have never seen the like before, Putin and Xi Jinping plus the laeders of Iran and the little fat guy in North Korea must be loving it.
Ian
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Post by Elwood on Aug 3, 2023 14:40:14 GMT
Putin and Xi Jinping plus the leaders of Iran and the little fat guy in North Korea must be loving it. Ian Quite true.
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