Army Revising Ambush-Training Regimen
Fort A.P. Hill, Va., opened its new convoy live-fire range Thursday designed to teach soldiers how to react to ambushes that have become commonplace in Iraq.
The 6.3 kilometer course includes several challenging scenarios that require units to engage pop-up targets with live ammunition. There also are situations that expose soldiers to simulated improvised explosive devices and rocket propelled grenades.“We are training for today’s attacks,†said Lt. Col. Earl Kennedy, chief instructor of U.S. Army Transportation School at Fort Eustis, Va.
Excellent news. This supplements training all soldiers receive in basic training and training being done in theater. While this sounds rather obvious in hindsight–especially for people whose understanding of the military shaped by the entertainment industry, where every cook is also a Navy SEAL–soldiers in the transportation business were never prepared for this type of scenario. Traditionally, their work was behind friendly lines. Unfortunately, in modern war, there’s no longer such a line.
Good idea all-around. This is merely the first step of such training. When a unit gets their warning order, additional training is then given. This additional training adds a much more serious ingrediant: civilians that may or may not help the mission. Finally, you have a extended war game that brings it all together.
Re: Iraq Humvees
Dear Warrior Leaders of the Free,
please don’t think it too bold of me
to point out here and clearly state
they’re armored like a paper plate.
Funny,
A interesting thing happened in the Iraq war: those who were considered combat support ended up on the front lines. The Humvee was not intended for front-line combat but the armoed Humvee is better then a ‘paper plate.’ It is sad it took so long to bring them to the troops but it isn’t some Bush conspicacy no matter what the previous commentor thinks.
Heck, I went to combat with a regular Humvee during the first Gulf War. Only the MPs had the Kevlar hardtop version until very recently. But, no, it wasn’t designed as an urban assault vehicle–it least not in standard configuration.
Hello?
The Humvee was designed to replace what?
Anyone?
Anyone?
A Friggin’ Jeep!
Not a tank, not an APC, a JEEP!
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