Has it ever been different? I'm not saying that is the way things should be, but it is the way things always have been. I'm sure Hackworth isn't advocating putting Colonels and Generals on the frontlines. Can you imagine some 50+ year old man trying to keep up with a bunch of 20 year old special forces troops doing what they do best. Personally, the last place I want a commanding officer is anywhere near me in the heat of battle.
With regard to bayonets, I would be interested to know the recency of experience of anyone who still advocates a bayonet charge as a productive, useful tactic. For years our combat pilots were taught to ingress into a target area at low altitude. After all, that was the way we'd always done it. Nevermind the fact that we had developed technology that allowed even more precise bombing from higher altitudes outside the ranges of enemy air defenses. After we lost some great aircraft and even better pilots flying the old low altitude tactics in the Gulf War, we learned our lessons and shifted tactics to match the technology available. We've been kicking butt ever since, and haven't lost a man to enemy fire. It's not as dramatic as the old way, but it is a heck of a lot more effective. What's more important?
As I indicated, I wouldn't be the one to be asking this; hence the flagging of sneaky and ImpBill. I would note that I suggested the charge today is using special forces jargon. When our men were let off the copters, they were there to take out the enemy.....and there were some bad problems, it seems--and we lost men and we had a lot injured.
As an American, and a female, I'm glad the Colonel is speaking out for the men and appears to put a priority on their lives over the peacocks and their ticket punching antics...I can understand what Hack is saying, while these peacocks tend to spout whatever is the PC BS in current vogue or whatever serves the Admin.
Chalk it up to my using feminine rationalization or whatever.... :)