Lessons Learned: A Company Commander's Thoughts on Iraq

Armor Magazine (article sent via email) | February 2004 | Captain John B. Nails

[FreedomPoster]

God bless our soldiers.

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[FreedomPoster]

Ping. This was sent to me by a retired O-6 family friend, who got it from his son, who is "on deck" in Germany right now.

[chainsaw]

Canvas doors offer no protection

They do offer protection from motorcyclist coming alongside a moving Humvee and tossing a grenade into the vehicle. From reports I've heard this happens quite frequently.

[ladyinred]

For your reading pleasure.

[FreedomPoster]

Treadhead ping.

Archy, you make the call on your other lists, but knew this one was appropriate, so I went ahead and pinged it.

[Amelia]

Good article.

BTTT

[An Old Man]

Thanks for the ping.

Semper Fi

[FreedomFarmer]

Excellent cycle debriefing report.

[dr_who_2]

They earn their pay every second.

[M 91 u2 K]

How will this impact community relations?
That should be the last of our concerns. The first concern should be killing the enemy at all costs. Until the enemy is dead we can have no community relations with the Iraqi people.

[JasonC]

Extraordinary article, thanks for posting it. Gives a very clear sense of things...

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Outstanding find. Thanks.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Ya gotta read this.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[Steel Wolf]

I think you're be better off focusing on the small arms, RPG and IED threat. People getting that close to your vehicle should be monitored by the gunner and the TC. I sit sideways in my TC seat, (snaplinked in when we're on the highway moving fast,) whenever we're rolling through urban areas. Having no canvas door gives you a better field of fire, lets you un-ass the vehicle pronto, and gives all passersby the impression that you're ready to hop out and engage them if they so much as glare at you wrong. (It also helps to have a .50 cal gunner with an acute case of claustrophobia; people understand that even humvees have 'personal space' when a ninety pound machine gun points at them).

Sometimes the best defensive posture is an aggressive and alert one. If you go out like you're looking for trouble, they'll wait for the next convoy. The guys who need to worry are the ones that look scared (or inattentive) while they're on the road. Roll out every time like you're itching for contact, and all but the most serious nutcases should leave you alone.

[Travis McGee]

Good article.

[Travis McGee]

Sometimes the best defensive posture is an aggressive and alert one. If you go out like you're looking for trouble, they'll wait for the next convoy. The guys who need to worry are the ones that look scared (or inattentive) while they're on the road. Roll out every time like you're itching for contact, and all but the most serious nutcases should leave you alone.Advice I try to adhere to every day in civilian life.

[R. Scott]

A very smart company commander - but I’ll bet it really pissed off a lot of pencil pushing desk jockeys.
Ignore your MTO&E??!!
GASP!!!

[FreedomPoster]

I didn't have to do much finding, it just showed up in my email in-box. ;-)

I see you got a new tagline out of the deal. I liked that, too.