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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (9210)	11/7/2001 12:55:30 AM
From: Bilow	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Hi Hawkmoon; [Ooops, sorry off topic.] Re: "But I will state that sometimes the logistics folks fail to understand that every person they have running supplies is one soldier that's not up at the front. ... So while acknowledging the special roll of logistics in US military strategy, let's acknowledge that they should be over-emphasized to the point where the quality of troops on the front line are impaired." Even if the two sides had equal logistics, a US army of 100 would beat the daylights out of a conscript army of 100 because our front line soldiers are specifically selected and trained for that particular duty. In factory terms, it's nothing more than the traditional advantage of the division of labor. The Army goes to a lot of effort to only let people who are physically, psychologically and mentally suited be put on the front lines. The result is an extremely efficient force. Without Warning, Without Remorse ... Twenty-one reported for the first two weeks of marksmanship training in February. Eleven graduated and earned the right to return within the next year for two more weeks of field craft -- the skills in camouflage and stalking that are required to see and perhaps kill the enemy, then leave the area undetected. ... The motto chalked onto the blackboard as an introduction for the February class -- "Without Warning, Without Remorse" -- could also be the school cadre's motto. They offer students few second chances. You can't score 70 percent on your entry PT test? You're gone. You can't estimate the range to your targets? You're history. You can't hit 14 of 20 targets 300 to 600 meters away during day or night record fire? Good-bye. ... dtic.mil -- Carl P.S. Army manual on sniper training: adtdl.army.mil

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (9210)	11/7/2001 2:13:01 AM
From: jjkirk	Respond to of 281500

Hi Hawk, May I help with your thought, with which I agree? So while acknowledging the special roll of logistics in US military strategy, let's acknowledge that they should not be over-emphasized to the point where the quality of troops on the front line are impaired.?? Let us remember that "logistics" is not just a two-bit word for "suppliers", or that it is limited to the CommZ. Logisticians built the "requirements" that ultimately convinced congress to come up with the bucks 3-5 years ago, to place the demands on the economy to open, reopen, or maintain those ammunition plants, etc., to make the rounds that are going downrange as we speak... Re: Your proven comment: But I will state that sometimes the logistics folks fail to understand that every person they have running supplies is one soldier that's not up at the front. We are always trying to increase or, at least maintain, the "tooth to tail" ratio of fighters to supporters. That is the principle behind the historical Marine Corps ethos of "every Marine a rifleman." If there is such a thing as a rear area, it should be able to protect itself, not tie down an infantry outfit to do so. Sounds good on paper, but as you indicated in your comment that I hope I correctly restated above...logisticians (like everyone else), given the opportunity, will become the sine qua non, the main requirement, for success in battle. In the end, it is up to the logistician to keep up with and supply the attacking force, not the other way around...This lesson has to be taught daily...I liked how they answered the phone down at the 7th Motor Transport Battalion at Camp Pendleton 15 years' ago, "7th Motors, Sir. We may not be the "pride", but without us, the"pride" don't ride! jj