Posted on 05/10/2017 4:05:22 PM PDT by huldah1776
The United States military may be about to undergo a radical change. The Marine Corps Times is reporting that theres an initiative in the works that might see Marines branch out, away from the traditional model that trained every member of the Corps on the basics of physical combat. Some of the new Marines may even skip basic training.
The idea gained momentum almost a year ago, when Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter suggested a military build up required soldiers with computer skills, and that these new recruits might be able to move into units with credit for their civilian expertise and experience acknowledged in the form of advanced rank.
The concept seemed ridiculous to many Marines who begin their military careers with rigorous physical training and a battery of drills designed to increase their proficiency with small arms.
(Excerpt) Read more at americaflashnews.com ...
I was close:
The 28th Infantry Division Band distinguished itself during WWII. During the Battle of the Bulge, the divisional command post at Wiltz, Luxembourg, came under severe attack. Members of the 28th Infantry Division Band took up arms and fought as part of holding line around Wiltz to stop the German advance. The band put away their instruments, dug foxholes and picked up carbines. A clarinetist, Private First Class Collins, manned a bazooka and then drove a truck loaded with the band’s music. He was going to save the music, but 10 miles out of Bastogne the convoy was ambushed and all the music burned. Only 16 of the band’s 60 men survived the fighting in the Ardennes.
The 28th Infantry Division Band was not the only band involved in the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne helped hold on to Bastogne preventing it from falling to the Germans. The 82nd Airborne Division Band was caught in the battle after being sent to the Ardennes for R & R. The 82nd front line was stretched thin. The 82nd Airborne Band joined the depleted front line to hold off the German spearhead. The band helped hold off two German Infantry Divisions and a Panzer Division.
Yes, it was the 28th Inf Div band...and not a Marine among them. ;) There is a nice museum in the castle at Wiltz where the Div HQ folks fought a desperate and successful delaying action.
Oh, the Marines would NEVER lower their standards that far.
I'm seeing more .22s than I'd like at local Appleseed shoots, so I haul my target Garand and a spare along to help offset that a bit and give those who've never fired one before an introduction.
In your [and my old] state of GA, there are still spots on the line for the June 3-4 Project Appleseed event at Red Hill Range in Martin, Georgia. Hit the GA state Appleseed Project Facewbook page for details.
Or come to the NRA National Long Range High Power shoot at Camp Atterbury in Indiana in August, catch me on Range 3, and find out what you can do on a one-mile range. There are still some places where the Black Rifles are not yet state-of-the-art.
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