Thread: A French Infantryman's View of American Soldiers

We are a well-conditioned force-in every aspect. There's stress to the system and soldiers from sustained combat but attention to detail appears meticulous and our troops have not yet lost an edge that's been, to date, decisive big and small.

Our education system, IMHO, is the difference. We've an incredibly adaptive military these days and the inculcation of a "learning culture" has never been more evident.

They call COIN a "PhD." level of combat. Judging by the intellectual engagement I've seen from our mid-career officers-many of whom have now faced COUNTLESS overseas tours-we've never had a more curious professional soldier taking advantage of a superb institutional education base AND contributing back to it. Consider for a moment that a soldier or officer could have just retired with twenty years and seen combat and security tours in Panama, Desert Storm, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere during that tour. That doesn't include an always-interesting DMZ in S. Korea.

Money helps but our officers and N.C.O.s have never so taken advantage of the available resources nor in such creative ways. It's a very bright military that generally doesn't exhibit signs among it's mid management that money is being wasted.

My thoughts.

Originally Posted by S-2

We are a well-conditioned force-in every aspect. There's stress to the system and soldiers from sustained combat but attention to detail appears meticulous and our troops have not yet lost an edge that's been, to date, decisive big and small.

Our education system, IMHO, is the difference. We've an incredibly adaptive military these days and the inculcation of a "learning culture" has never been more evident.

They call COIN a "PhD." level of combat. Judging by the intellectual engagement I've seen from our mid-career officers-many of whom have now faced COUNTLESS overseas tours-we've never had a more curious professional soldier taking advantage of a superb institutional education base AND contributing back to it. Consider for a moment that a soldier or officer could have just retired with twenty years and seen combat and security tours in Panama, Desert Storm, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere during that tour. That doesn't include an always-interesting DMZ in S. Korea.

Money helps but our officers and N.C.O.s have never so taken advantage of the available resources nor in such creative ways. It's a very bright military that generally doesn't exhibit signs among it's mid management that money is being wasted.

My thoughts.

Good post Dude.

S-2,

curse those OPRs for not allowing you guys to sleep on the job, eh?

Originally Posted by S-2

We are a well-conditioned force-in every aspect. There's stress to the system and soldiers from sustained combat but attention to detail appears meticulous and our troops have not yet lost an edge that's been, to date, decisive big and small.

Our education system, IMHO, is the difference. We've an incredibly adaptive military these days and the inculcation of a "learning culture" has never been more evident.

They call COIN a "PhD." level of combat. Judging by the intellectual engagement I've seen from our mid-career officers-many of whom have now faced COUNTLESS overseas tours-we've never had a more curious professional soldier taking advantage of a superb institutional education base AND contributing back to it. Consider for a moment that a soldier or officer could have just retired with twenty years and seen combat and security tours in Panama, Desert Storm, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere during that tour. That doesn't include an always-interesting DMZ in S. Korea.

Money helps but our officers and N.C.O.s have never so taken advantage of the available resources nor in such creative ways. It's a very bright military that generally doesn't exhibit signs among it's mid management that money is being wasted.

My thoughts.

Impressive in every sense. The reply, plus the breath and the depth of US military capability.

Mid-management or NCO level is the sharp point of the sword. If you have mid-management right, very hard to beat. But it seems even the grunts (non-management) are also superior.

No wonder, our army's aspirational goal is interoperability with professional military (in our case the US and Australia). We are a army at peace since 1965. So basically little or no combat experience.

The last time the SAF shot anyone was in 1991. When our SOF went into action for a hostage rescue against 4 aircraft hijackers from Pakistan. All hostages were rescued unharmed. In fact, many of our elite are often US trained.

Our navy's been leaning from the USN and playing our little role as 'scene of action' commander at the Iraqi oil terminals via the deployment of our Endurance class vessels. I know it is not much, but we are learning.

I have always wondered what is a 'scene of action' commander?

"curse those OPRs for not allowing you guys to sleep on the job, eh?"

Too true, stud, but employment isn't as tough as once. Good time professionally to be on active duty if job security is important. The bullets hurt like hell though.

Oh! Curse those mods for not merging this thread with mine. Go back a few posts to "Whaaa".

I hate untidiness.

S-2,

Oh! Curse those mods for not merging this thread with mine. Go back a few posts to "Whaaa".

I hate untidiness.

for the sake of preventing a US army officer from sounding any more jane austen-ish (or, god forbid, french ), i shall do as you wish.

Blessings, sire.

Originally Posted by sunnyamy

GN, impressive answer. I like.

So the US army is the best equipped learning army that is getting smarter with each engagement. Since, the US is a superpower, it gets more than its fair share of fights. So both smart and rich, plus huge muscles.

Calm down lady , go take a cold shower

Originally Posted by sunnyamy

cold shower just completed

Good for you , now put all thoughts of muscle bound soldiers with rippling 6 packs and great big ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;Wallets ,



out of your head

Originally Posted by S-2

Where've you guys been?

I posted this article WEEKS ago here.

The mods need to merge this thread and you guys need to review the board a tad more closely.

You're slow to the draw.

You tell em Steve

Having exercised with the Brits 1RTR in france , a place called , i think , De La Courtine , we were leagured up one night , a fire was blazing , the grogg was flowing and the laughter was good , when in from the dark walked a troop of French soldiers , also exercising in the same area ,, the leader of the troop was , (i swear to this day he eclipsed the moon, ) the biggest man i have ever laid eyes upon , a good job our officer spoke french as i think he would have killed us all

He was a giant of a man and all of us immediately became sober and never uttered a word , after he gone his merry way a sigh of relief was heard , but we never got pissed that night ,, he was bloody awesome .