US Army dumbing down?

I had the impression they just needed bodies. No one really wants to go to Iraq, its not like we're fighting to prevent invasion of the states. That war is a huge liability to the US Army when it comes to recruiting.

The U.S. Army lowers recruitment standards … again. - By Fred Kaplan - Slate Magazine

 

As long as we have the uneducated masses that still believe that shootan guns is cool we will still have a military. Not to mock our brave men and women, some of them are the finest human biengs alive. Unfortunatly a high percentage of the military is still Naive young men who's knowledge of the middle east consists of the Iron Shiek v.s. Sargent Slaughter. I'd love to go on more of a rant but Shot at love w/ Tila Teguila is on. Im out.

 

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We got a short fall of troops here in the UK as people see no real reason to be out there and even troops are not renewing there contracts and leaving the army, many time I have heard them ring in on talk radio stations saying they love the army but our government has stabbed them in the back. Politicians are very good at starting wars but fail to take in to account how to end it. Are leaders today seem so weak when compared to the past.

Some one has to grab the nettle even if there hand bleeds and stand up and sort the mess out.

 

There are plenty of guys who want to go to Iraq or Afghanistan. Most of the guys that join to fight though are going into the Marines. The Army is getting more recruits on the "we'll pay for college" deal so you can get ready for what you will do after the military.

 

My question is: Is this even possible?

 

I know the Army (and other branches) will try hard to help get you Getto Education Diploma (aka GED) if you don't have one.

 

...and just what are the universally accepted educational requirements which must be achieved before becoming a cook, truck driver, warehouseman, mechanic, or one of the Mamas & Papas for that matter?
I know to pass the physical you have to be able to see lightning and hear thunder.
Did Napoleon have this press problem? Caesar? Lord Nelson? Alexander? Genghis Kahn?

 

No but their armies were full of rapists, murderers, theives, paedophiles and assorted other bastards, so maybe some standards are worth while.

 

More jobs for social workers, Psychiatrists, counselors, teachers, IQ testers, Ink Blots, anatomically correct dollies, all to be good enough to be cannon (arrow, spear, sword, club) fodder?
Do like they all did, lead into new areas with diplomats. If they come back dead (Gladiator), send in the animals.
Officers (should be), are Gentlemen, the rest can't be. Unless you have no intention of winning the battle. You're not playing checkers.

 

So are you advocating a return to the Oriental Hordes concept? If that's why having bothered the Cold War when you could just have bought the copyright for a low price?

Are you sure you just want a Cannon Fodder type army or a sophisticated and flexible force able to operate at all levels, with thinking officers and NCOs?

You know that's bullshit.

 

There is room for both, in the army and in the world.
If you've troops in the trenches, getting shelled, unable to move, surely dead if the enemy advances (or a soak-off attack), you'd want nothing but "Graduate Degree" students there?
The daze of super-tech war where you operate UAVs from your lazy-boy at home aren't quite here yet, with robots to cook food, clean out toilets, all vehicles drive/maintain/re-supply themselves.
Not the Hordes Concept, (although the "Human Wave","Banzai Charge", the ol "Over the Top Boys", "Charge of the Light Brigade", etc.)(has proven to be extremely popular throughout the ages), there will be jobs for any level in the service. Unless of course it become "Top-Heavy" either way.

 

You say that and yet the average infantryman is expected to use complex equipment (radios, vehicle maintainance, weapons systems), deal with difficult civilians in a relatiely sensative and fairly intelligent manner all whilst doing what is actually a fairly complex job in and of itself (at least in our army). Initiative is also essential, in an asymmetric conflict soldiers at all levels must be able to deal with a new and changing environment, adapt tactics, learn new ones and put them into operation. It is no longer a case of stand in a line and do what your officer or NCO's tell you, that is the very essence of 'mission command' so beloved by all the armed forces.

Finally, soldiers are not cannon fodder, the impression that they are is precisely the reason everyone seems to be having recruiting issues.

 

If you let your troops get stuck in a situation like this then you'll deserve everything you're gonna get!

 

You will need higher skills, social, mental, political for a "Police Force Army". This has arrived only recently.
The touchie-feelie, politically correct, sensitive, polite, and understanding Barbarian.
The kinder-Gentler "Hun".
The world is upside down, and in this day and age you will do more time for kicking a puppy (not that I ever would), than involuntary/vehicular manslaughter.
Being careful not to offend your enemy, or not knowing who or where they are....makes you a clay pigeon. (better than cannon fodder?)
You want to be Police....be Police,
You want to have warriors, make warriors,
You want to fight a War, don't do it with the Police.

from ZULU..."He's a Pealer 716, come to arrest the Zulu's."

 

I have a nephew who joined the Marines with promises of adventure and elitism. Now, he can't wait to get out. He is not the smartest tack on the wall and yet he says there are alot of dumb guys in the Marines. I about cracked up when he said that. Yet, it is true. Only the 'crazys' want to stay in. My nephew did go to Iraq when he was told that he would not at the recruitment center. He is getting out with no type of job trade or traininig. It is a mess. At least my son joined the Air Force which is a whole different story along with I believe the Navy. I just pray for a quick solution so we can bring these guys back.

 

I could not agree more, as a reserve officer who really wants nothing more in the world than to go away on a fighting tour (really, it is my ambition), we have reached a rediculous time in the history of our military when we rely so much on the intelligence of our soldiers and yet we are refuing to educate them. I know the US army is very different in terms of training/mission command yet the problem remains the same.

Just a shame your average civie is stupid too eh/

 

Who knows If our millitary Is going stupid but, all I know Is that were having a bunch of people who don't want to have anything to do with the army or In any case U.S. Army because that we are dumbing down or not.

 

This thread brings about an interesting point.

Mission command that has been named on a few occations can only be possible with 'bright' soldiers. But this has nowt with the ethic fabric of the soldiers. In fact history has taught us that the best soldiers were the worst and vice versa.

Now who in WW2 used mission command? Oh that was the Germans wasn't it? And what army pillaged/burned/raped Europe and the USSR. The very same German forces. The Thinking Soldier.

The PBI in the British army had the awful autocratic orderbased command that sometimes meant that the first enemy shells landed as the Brits were having their O-meetings. According to books such as 'raising Churchills army' the Army got the scraps that the RAF and RN didn't want. Still they behaved.

If you want to build a proper army to match the various duties that is expected today, you need high standards. Good selection of Officeres and OR, good training and a proper doctrine.

As our Cavalry Rupert say the AVERAGE soldier is expected to use a lot of complex kit, and to make some hard decisions. I read an article in our mag. (army) that the soldier today has about the same challenges as a company commander had in the 50-60ies.

The real twist in producing our new soldiers is that we have to teach them a lot of law, complex equipment and tactics. In many cases we teach them two sets of 'drills' one for war and the other for peacekeeping/policing duties.

In our effort to manage this the Norwegian army offer you education up to Uni level, and in return you have some duty years. I feel that this work very well. Pay is also an essential issue. One of my sergeants landed in Afganistan with the US Marines and he received £5200 a month for his duties as a sapper. He was securing the airfield in Kabul.

My peronal observations is that the lads who are coming into the Territiorials, now have a high level of competance and surprisingly many have experience from abroad.

Many speak of the German army in WW2 and write volumes of how good the officers were. Personally I am more impressed with their education of the common soldiery. But then again their indoctrination is not much to be impressed with.