A few distinctions between Vietnam and OIF and OEF:
- They don’t do R&R anymore.
- Rotations are 15 months, not 12.
- Many troops have done more than 3 tours. Some have done 9 or more.
- The geography is much larger requiring many small, dispersed units to be scattered about in forward areas.
- There is even less of ‘the rear’ than in Vietnam. OIF and OEF are soley insurgencies.
- Rules of engagement are disparaging and demoralizing -as evidenced by this story. Air and arty are frequently denied. At one time OEF troops needed permission to return fire.
- Material support and resupply is often strained in OEF.
- Many units, such as Scouts, do not rotate with operations but stay at front line posts throughout their tour.
Lastly, no to disparage your service but an artillery firebase is not really comparable to an infantry FOB. Artilleryman typically do not operate outside the base or engage the enemy repeatedly in small arms firefights.