Posted on 05/01/2005 1:46:15 PM PDT by Ramonan
Yet, there are some places that even a high mobility, multi-purpose wheeled vehicle, better known as a Humvee, simply can’t go.
Current operations in Afghanistan have presented terrain impassable for conventional military vehicles. However, supplies and ammunition still must get to the front lines. To that end, several MSSG-13 Marines recently rehearsed an alternate means for transporting combat supplies, as they trained here during Revised Combined Arms Exercise (RCAX) working with mules.
The Marines learned to provide proper care for the animals and the appropriate ways to pack military gear. For some, the most important thing they learned was just how to “deal" with the stubborn animals.
“I’ve never really worked with animals,” said Cpl. Mack T. Jones, . “I learned what a mule is.”
Many of the Marines who worked with the donkey/horse crossbreed come from a variety of backgrounds. Most, like Jones, were raised nowhere near a farm, That said, the Marines interested shared a common goal - familiarization.
“The only people who came through this course are those who are interested,” said Sgt. Robert L. Scott, instructor, Animal Packing Course.
Lance Cpl. Matthew Furlow, driver, MSSG-13 Motor Transport Detachment, said he was happy to be around animals again. He grew up on a farm and felt that his experience with horses helped him to work with the mules.
“They’re easy to control, unless they get spooked,” he said. “They just get real nosey with anything they think they can eat.”
Jones had a different opinion.
“They are really stubborn. You’ve got to push them and let them know you are in control,” he said. “They’re pretty good animals though.”
(Excerpt) Read more at marines.mil ...
The Army put mules to good use in the mountainous regions of Italy during WW II.
A colleague who goy basic infantry training on an officer candidate school at Quantico in 1957 got regular training on how to pack mules.
Maybe Democrats could be useful after all.
General Wingate and his Chindits did use mules in the Burma theater.
There. I feel better now.
Goats and Mules make perfect pack animals; strong, sturdy, healthy, easily cared for. Mules are used consistently in the hilly terrain regions to lay cable such as fibre obtic where regular ditch witch stuff can't go.
How can the author ignore the history of mules in warfare? Mules have been used for HUNDREDS of years, particularly by the Army in mountain campaigns.
A democrat is an a$$, a mule is a much better sort of animal. With a sure foot a mule willingly carries the load, I don't know many democrats I can say the same about.
Lo, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil because I'm the baddest mother in the valley.
Don't fret. The Army still has courses teaching the use of Mules. More specific, both 7th Special Forces Group and 10th Special Forces Group has schools in the proper use of a packing mule.
http://www.militaryhorse.org
A good place to look at some history.
"The Army put mules to good use in the mountainous regions of Italy during WW II"
With Gen. Stillwell in Burma also.
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