Jessica Lynch Was Not Prepared for Combat

StrategyPage.com ^ | August 18, 2003 | Brant Guillory

[jjm2111]

Some REMFs are fighters. Wow.

[jjm2111]

I think many reservists don't mind getting called up but almost all hate the called up / stand down / called up /stand down / called up .... tempo that many units have to contend with.

[ought-six]

"Not in the Marine Corps."

That's true. Every Marine, no matter what his or her "specialty" is, is still a rifleman.

[SC DOC]

BS....all soldiers go to basic where they learn these skills...

Not so. I spent 9 years on active duty in the Medical Corps. I never went through basic and never touched a weapon.

[mystery-ak]

I was referring to most GI's..not those offered a commission to enlist.....did the Military pay for your schooling to become a doctor?

[Servant of the Nine]

A related article from before the war.

The only way to learn true gun safety is in a "Hot" camp and on a "Hot" range.
"Hot" meaning that every weapon is loaded all the time.
It is developing a complacent "it ain't loaded" attitude that causes accidental discharges. The military should always carry loaded weapons, wherever they are. It is the only way to instill proper discipline.

SO9

[SC DOC]

No, but it sure helped get rid of accumulated student loans.

[SC DOC]

Let me clarify that last post. The Army didn't pay off any of my loans, but the pay during internship and residency in the military was considerably more than most civilian hospitals, therefore allowing me to pay off my loans.

[mystery-ak]

I went to a civilian doctor years ago...he noticed my family was military....he proceeded to tell me how the US Army paid for his medical school..did his internship and residency in Hawaii..then asked me how my hubby could be in the military trained to kill people....I told him that* it looks like you got a lot from the Army and that you are an a$$hole*..and I walked out...true story....

btw...I found out later that this doctor was a Quaker...not that I cared.

[SC DOC]

I knew quite a few a$$hole doctors while I was in the Army. I have met even more since I became a civilian 20 some years ago.

[bethelgrad]

Yeah they did. I don't know how long before I went through that 03's had to got to MCT. But the USMC realized it was overkill and stopped sometime after I went through.

[Seamus Mc Gillicuddy]

I was at PI last year. Much has changed. A Lt. Col told me that the grenade range is no longer in use, and if I'm not mistaken BWT has been phased out. I think they teach all that stuff at MCT now. It's a shame. BWT was cool. Especially when you got pitted outside WPNS Co. in the sandy road by the porto-potties.

[bethelgrad]

BWT? is that battalion weapons training? i don't recall doing that. only mct, soi, and then the fleet (1/1 1st mar div) i was at pendleton (92-96).

[Criminal Number 18F]

You're right about the Bosnia/Kosovo thing. In fact, the Army has pushed off the deployment on Guuard infantry units.. not "career enhancing" for active officers, ya know.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[XJarhead]

I'm guessing here, but is BWT "Basic Warrior Training"? I remember when Al Gray implemented all that stuff in the late 80's. Very good stuff, though I thought the "warrior" tag was a bit goofy.

It was kind of funny when non-infantry types started having to do conditioning hikes. You saw some folks that hadn't humped a pack in years lugging it around like it weighed 200 pounds.

[bethelgrad]

I'm guessing here, but is BWT "Basic Warrior Training"?


that sounds about right. i don't recall it being called that though. i served while Mundy was Commandant. maybe he changed the name of it. was 2nd phase of boot camp BWT?

[Seamus Mc Gillicuddy]

After rifle range, when you get mess and maintenance duty, you pack up to go out for BWT. Basic Warrior training. I'm sure you guys did it. You had to stay in those cruddy white barracks down past the rifle range.

[BurbankKarl]

Purple Heart, baby!

[bethelgrad]

ok, you are talking about boot camp, as in 2nd phase. i went through summer of 1992, so my memories fading. also, i'm a hollywood marine. even so the training would have been identicle.