Forward deployment CEWI units without proper training was always a bone of contention with me. Lots of times in getting to our deployment locations our jammers and DF units would find themselves in front of the GSRs. Many times it was where we HAD to be in order to make the best use of our equipment. But we would never get the proper training, in my opinion, to not only defend ourselves but to provide proper support to the maneuver elements.
Oh, it WAS fun, don't get me wrong. Over several tours of duty at tactical units to include the 311th MI Bn at Ft Campbell and the 105th MI Bn at Ft Polk, field training, especially at NTC at Ft Irwin, was a blast. Our MI platoon would capture decent numbers of LRRPs just by virtue of our location. Thrown in a kill of an armored unit every now and then with some sort of ancient anti-tank/MILES unit and we did ok. We had to because for the most part the CEWI units were an appendage that the brigade commander usually didn't like to think about LET ALONE actually incorporate its use against the OPFOR. A few did, but they were few and far between.
Anyhow, doesn't look like much had changed all the way up to 2003.
You guys might find this interesting.
I didnt care for NTC all that much.
It was grueling and exhausting.
MI Ping.....
The extremely long AITs of 98Gs then adding Ranger/SF school would be a cripling delay of that talent to the field. Why not send some of the already security clearenced MI school drop outs to the combat schools instead of cook school, and integrate them into the MI platoons or squads for the tactical leadership and experience needed to benefit the success of the MI units? Having the smartest cooks in the Army is a waste of some very intelligent troops. I’ve seen really sharp guys that couldn’t pass BMC get sent to cook school just so they could cook near secure areas. Seems like a waste.
The lack of the allotment of state of the art gear to MI troops seems par for the course for the Army. Just WHO should get the inferior gear? NOT the leaders of any squad, at least. Perhaps the low men on the totem pole in each unit, platoon or squad?