IMPROVED TRAINING to include improved tactics, lessons learned, etc.
We sure liked the fire support, but not humping that stuff. This is a issue of resource and preserving that resource. This gets into squad, platoon and company tactics. What weapons are used and when. How to preserve your resources while exhausting the enemies. All that adds up, whether you come home or not.
The military makes the choice what is best for the unit, if we make the choice it would probably be, what is best for me. Often this is the bases of disagreements because what is best for the unit may not be best for me.
Right there is the basis of the issue. Well put Hollis.
That's my point. We cannot say 5.56 is better than 7.62 is better then 6.8, until we look at the tactics of each situation...and to my understanding, there is no TYPICAL firefight. The emphais is supposed to be (rhetric) switching to Afghanistan, but does that mean we screw the guys in Iraq with Big Army wide changes? Or, visa-versa?
Consider this:
If most of the fight is suppression fire until a gunship arrives, then hell, just hump something light (.22 long rifle? (just kidding, but you get the idea)) that is good for MOSTLY suppression fire.
If the situation is for long distance rifle shots (with no backup on the way) then I would think you surely would want something to reach out and kill at range, or punch thru a barrier.
There may be no "typical" firefight, but we (and Big Army) DO have to look at the commonalities, and make huge sweeping training and equipment changes based on those "common/typical" tactics.
As Hollis said, it's a lot about compromise. Trying to cover every situation with one issued rifleman's piece of kit. And what I'm hearing is that what most of the trigger pullers want is (mostly) 5.56, with a 7.62 or two thrown in.
And, MORE IMPORTANT an increased emphasis on
training training training with whatever the tool, and I'm hearing it's the 5.56 that's wanted the MOST!!!
All that adds up, whether you come home or not.
Well put Hollis. Tactics, suppression fire, etc...
all have to be an improved part of an increased training agenda. As Pardus said, OFFICERS have to ensure that this takes place. And, THAT'S
not just a matter of increased range time...but discussions of improved tactics, lessons learned, etc. My gut still tells me that we're missing something important though...or we're still not on top of it. Something
still bothers me about what I'm hearing.
:2c:
