Armed with a Swiss Army Gun, each soldier could do the work of two
Air Force fills out Army ranks in Iraq
A row of rumbling flatbed trucks and Humvees outfitted with gun turrets lurches toward a mock village of cinderblock buildings where instructors posing as insurgents wait to test the trainees’ convoy protection skills.
The training range is Army, as is the duty itself — one of the most dangerous in Iraq these days. But the young men and women clad in camouflage and helmets training to run and protect convoys are not Army; they’re Air Force.
They are part of a small but steady stream of airmen being trained to do Army duty under the Army chain of command, a tangible sign the Pentagon was scouring the military to aid an Iraq force that was stretched long before President Bush ordered 21,500 additional U.S. troops there.
“What we’ve seen is the Department of Defense continues to find ways to meet the requirements imposed by the commander in chief,” said retired Brig. Gen. Kevin Ryan, a senior fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center in the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
This may not be the greatest idea. I seem to remember a lot of movies where whenever you put Army guys in a bar with Air Force guys you always got a brawl.
BTW, notice Brig. Gen. Ryan’s choice of words? “…imposed by the commander in chief.” Real enthusiasm there.
It isn’t just the Air Force.
http://tinyurl.com/yvqcu8
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Over here in the middle east, most people think the biggest difference between the US and al Qaeda is the way they deliver their bombs. Al Qadea like to do it up-close and-a-personal. The US prefers high-tech.
I, personally, think there is a huge intentional differences but it’s a hard point to argue with.
History will not treat this decade kindly…
I remember hearing a story about an Air Force recruiter who pointed to a cardboard stand-up of an Army solider, and saying “See that? That is a target.” Not so much anymore. Embrace the suck, Air Force and Navy. I’ve read a lot more stories about Air Force personnel providing base security, along with coordinating intel-ops, but convoy duty is a new one. With all the boasting the Air Force does, I doubt they’ll have any trouble. Besides:
“Staff Sgt. Stewart Jordan, a transport instructor for the course, said even the most reluctant airmen-turned-soldiers usually come around, ultimately finding the mission fulfilling.”
The Navy is currently being downsized, so it makes sense that some sailors will join up for army missions. The increased hazard pay is quite outstanding to boot. The Air Force has lost some primacy due to the rise of UAVs, and the Army operators who control them, so they gotta find something to do. I talked to a Army Major recently at a ROTC conference, and he said that many Air Force personnel are simply being rerouted to base duty in Afghanistan, to help plan covert-ops and the like.
Sometimes I am so proud of my country. The way we have allowed the mentally handicapped to serve in our nations highest political positions is really a credit to us all.
This is just silly. I saw the TV ad. If I join the AF all I have to do is sit in the back seat of a Thunderbird F16 and take pictures.
On the flip side of this the Navy seems to only show SEALs in their ads which is such a small percentage of sailors that it is hardly worth mentioning.
“The Air Force has lost some primacy due to the rise of UAVs, and the Army operators who control them, so they gotta find something to do.”
I guess it’s time for Zephram Cochran to make that warp speed capable ship and meet some Vulcans.
We still got a couple more decades before first contact, but the sooner the better. Especially if it unites humanity in ways never thought possible.
This whole mess is just as bad as having Capt. Janeway work for Capt. Kirk.
#7 and #8,
“Let’s rock’n’roll !!!”
– Zefram Cochrane, seconds before the Phoenix launches
“You’d better find a way to make it easy, soldier, or I’m going to start PUSHING BUTTONS!!!”
– Lily, holding a hand phaser on Picard.
All I’m saying is this. This situation is analogous to Worf switching from security to command. He is capable of doing both jobs, and so are Air Force/Army personnel. I take neither scenario as a sign of desperation.
My favorite quote from First Contact: “The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.”
wish i remembered a First Contact quote… best i can do is:
KAAAAAAHHHHHHNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
btw – that gun pic at the top of this thread appears to be VERY multi-purpose!
“I seem to remember a lot of movies”
This isn’t a movie. Maybe if you didn’t get your information and then base your opinions on things written by Hollywood writers, you’d have a broader understanding of the topic at hand?
Just a suggestion, of course, not an attack.
that gun pic at the top of this thread appears to be VERY multi-purpose!
I agree, it is a nice weapon for a key chain rifle. Look under the shooter’s right hand.