ZOT! Army is Broken

Military Opinion ^ | October 13, 2005 | Joe Galloway

[mzbzybee]

That is what I was trying to say. Thanks for doing it better.

[ark_girl]

To your point, my brother had a buddy who graduated high school with a MISERABLE gpa (like a 1.7 or something) then spent a few years in the Marines. Somehow, he managed to get into the University of Arkansas and dude graduated something like Suma Cum Laude and went on to med school at a pretty prestigious college.

Clearly the guy just needed some time to grow up and possibly just a good swift kick in the backside. That's the most extreme story I've heard, but you hear other stories where people weren't stupid (as far as IQ), in high school they just weren't motivated. The military gave them a chance to pull themselves together.

[section9]

Okay, NORMALLY I would dismiss this as bullcrap. However, please recall that Joe Galloway was the ONLY correspondent (if this is the Joe Galloway I'm thinking of) to have been with 4/7 Cavalry at the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley in November of 1965 when Hal Moore led that unit to victory against several battalions of North Vietnamese Regular Infantry.

Now I disagree with his assessment. The soldier bloggers do not reflect a broken army nor a broken spirit, especially in light of the fantastic reenlistment numbers.

However, do not immediately shoot the messenger. He has bona fides going back to the Valley of the Drang.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[mzbzybee]

P.S. Not only that, but they added some special forces training into the basic training. My son will be training for 14 weeks total.

[joe fonebone]

When I enlisted, they were taking ANYBODY. The new lower standards are still higher than they were in the late 70's. I still say this guy is a jackass, and there is nothing wrong with the army. Again I point out he has offered no solutions to his imaginary problem. People who find fault, but cannot offer solutions are part of the problem.

[2nsdammit]

"The Army" today is not broken.

We are struggling with a variety of issues, recruiting being one, that much is true. But we are still quite capable of inflicting massive destruction upon our enemies when called upon to do so by our lawful, civilian command authority...! ;)

I am a bit disappointed in Galloway, too, but not really surprised. It's just one more example of the general malaise that is affecting the chronic nay-sayers in our press and the left side of the aisle. They can't seem to come to grips with the idea that the Iraqis are making progress toward freedom; it drives them all to distraction to think that President Bush may have accomplished something good and lasting......

[Arioch7]

Yeah. The reservists are getting better training now.

Before this administration, sometimes people didn't even go to Boot Camp in the Army Reserve.

Now, they all go.

The Light Infantry(National Guard.) units I recently observed training were top notch.

The Army is no where near broken. It is finally on the right track after the near decade of Clinton.

I don't know what the hell that guy is talking about and I don't see why the poster you are addressing would agree with him.

Arioch7

[ryan71]

I couldn't be more proud of our US Army.

Perhaps recruitment is down. Not everybody is cutout to go to Iraq. That's fine.

For those battle hardened brave men in war or who have served in war and reenlist, I salute you. You are America's best.

Our armed forces have never been better equipped, trained, motivated, and experienced.

No paper tigers here!

[tiki]

They raised their standards and are now returning to an earlier standard, drop outs were regularly welcomed in the army in the past.

[BlueStateDepression]

"I can show you other op-eds, even reporting that proves such."


Op Eds......prove.....
Hmmmmm.

[OESY]

The Brothers Galloway, Joe and George, have been splashing around in the shallow end of the gene pool.

[WOSG]

"You could have a very strong well financed, well equipped and well staffed military if we weren't at war. I wartime, the military must perform, and that puts pressure on its resources."

I'm going to buy a Mercedes, and never take it out for a spin.
I'll just polish it and admire its never-used leather seating and fine never-worn engine. Who know what parts might break if it acutally gets *mileage*?

[vbmoneyspender]

I was reading on this that they are also using more trainers. You would know better, but I've read that the recruits are now getting much more individual training than before. Apparently, this individual training has resulted in the military being able to retain a much higher level of recruits.

Finally, here is an article from strategypage.com that reports that the the Marines have been raising combat training standards, as have the Army and even the Air Force - Marines Raise Combat Training Standards

[armymarinemom]

Joe Galloway hasn't said anything positive since he returned from Iraq during the U.S. Presidential election year. You could tell by a change in his reporting that he was supporting either Kerry or Clark. You can't help but wonder if he had some doors slammed in his face after going the antiwar route. He writing has become increasing bitter and seems to completely overlook damage done by previous administrations.

I spent an afternoon watching him interview troops returning from Iraq one day. You can tell that he really does love the average Joe. I'm sure that his negative reporting is coming from the heart but I wish that he would use his head more and stop sounding so darned bitter.

[BlueStateDepression]

Polish it and admire it for years and years. Then when you DO need to take it out for a spin, you turn the key and all you get is the CLICK CLICK CLICK of a selenoid without enough juice to turn the starter.

Well said!

[mzbzybee]

Yes, that is true. I have heard and read that they have actually raised the training standards. Like I said they may have lowered the entrance standards, but once you get in, you better be able to perform. Once you get your foot in the door, you have to hold your own water so to speak.

[LachlanMinnesota]

The only criteria that we should use is whether the job is bing done appropriately, and whether we are prepared for any reasonable contingency for the future conflicts. However, if the military is perceived to be unbeatable, it reduces the possibility that it will need to be used. Therefore, the perception that Mr. Galloway has, while he expresses it, increases the perception of weakness and therefore increases the need to use it in the future against others who believe that it is not up to the task.

[BushisTheMan]

Any relation to George Galloway?

[BushisTheMan]

Education does not equal patriotism. You had a point and everyone is disagreeing with it. What's wrong with that?

[WOSG]

Gore and Kerry were in Vietnam too.