[maine-iac7]

You opine: “Airborne & Air Assault schools are FAR less physically demanding than they once were.”

Maybe the initial training is - but the subsequent and ongoing training - in Italy and Germany - isn’t - “have you heard of the 173rd”?

I wonder if you ever went through anything near the physical demand the soldiers went through - for 15 straight months high in the Hindu Kush

short clip - two hour climb straight up mountain to firebase - at minute marker:23 - you can see the valley far below - straight down. They had to make this climb, with packs, - most often under fire, constantly, on patrols to villages and valleys...and under fire - over 500 firefights - unheard of. “physically demanding”? (Puppy’s name “Airborne” - a touch of humanity.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6-3I9JHllc

Have you seen “Restrepo” or “Korengal”

Battle Co. 173rd AIRBORNE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_o9OhX_x3c

“Restrepo” named after the guy in opening in sunglasses - one of the first killed on that deployment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT_Auf_v9LQ

KORENGAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pn7OZuILL4

[huldah1776]

Thanks for these. bkmkd. I’ll have to prepare myself

[MSF BU]

You sound as though you think that this is something new. Mountain warfare? Have you ever read this book: http://www.amazon.com/This-Kind-War-Fiftieth-Anniversary/dp/1574883348 ? Once up on a time it was required reading for Army & Marine officers. In 1951 yes the enemy they fought was far tougher under far more demanding circumstances than in Afghanistan or Irag.

Have I ever heard of the 173d Airborne Brigade? Have you ever heard of the Punch Bowl or Porkchop Hill? The casualty figures say it all: over 33K US KIA. Were the Peoples Liberation Army as tough as the Taliban? Certainly not, they were far tougher & better equipped.