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Rifleman · 08-21-2006, 20:46 PM

The 101st is very mobile tactically but not strategically. Because of all it's assigned helicopters it takes a lot of heavy transport to move accross the globe, and it has huge fuel requirments operationally. It's light at the infantry battalion level but not at division level.

There is (was?) a small unit of pathfinders and LRSU in the 101st on jump status. Most 101st troops are not parachute qualified. We could not drop them if we needed to.

The U.S. Army has six brigades (two battalion brigades) on jump status; four with the 82nd; the 173rd; and the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Divison. There is also the 75th Ranger Regiment, three battalions strong.

The 101st is about as Airborne as the 10th is Mountain. For all intents and purposes it's historical and nothing more.

In WWII the term Airborne meant parachute and glider troops. It has since become synonymous with parachute troops. The argument that Air Assault is the modern equivilent of glider troops is a shaky comparison at best. These days paratroopers ride in helicopters all the time and love it. In WWII some paratroopers were on record as saying they wouldn't ride in a glider.

Airborne is strategic. Air Assault is tactical.

08-21-2006, 20:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
Rifleman *Military Professional* Join Date: 06-29-06 Location: The edge of the gene pool with a jug of Clorox Posts: 215	The 101st is very mobile tactically but not strategically. Because of all it's assigned helicopters it takes a lot of heavy transport to move accross the globe, and it has huge fuel requirments operationally. It's light at the infantry battalion level but not at division level. There is (was?) a small unit of pathfinders and LRSU in the 101st on jump status. Most 101st troops are not parachute qualified. We could not drop them if we needed to. The U.S. Army has six brigades (two battalion brigades) on jump status; four with the 82nd; the 173rd; and the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Divison. There is also the 75th Ranger Regiment, three battalions strong. The 101st is about as Airborne as the 10th is Mountain. For all intents and purposes it's historical and nothing more. In WWII the term Airborne meant parachute and glider troops. It has since become synonymous with parachute troops. The argument that Air Assault is the modern equivilent of glider troops is a shaky comparison at best. These days paratroopers ride in helicopters all the time and love it. In WWII some paratroopers were on record as saying they wouldn't ride in a glider. Airborne is strategic. Air Assault is tactical. __________________ "Aim small, miss small." - Benjamin Martin in The Patriot Last edited by Rifleman : 08-21-2006 at 22:35 PM.