Asymmetric Military

I saw this story on CNN. I went through that. I'm glad I did: It's always interesting to be placed in a new situation, and basic training was definitely that for me. I feel that the Army taught me a lot. Not just about rifles and tactical movement, but about people. Stressful situations expose character, positive and negative, and the Army does cause that stress.

At the same time, the quicker ones figure out that the Army isn't like the first year of law school: They'll do everything possible to keep you there.

I look back at some of the things and laugh, or wince. The awe we felt at the sight of officers and drill sergeants; How much we cared about shining our boots and keeping quiet. Anyways, I'll write a little more about it later.

The beginning of my blog coincided with the purchase of a Springfield Arms 1911 Loaded, and that 1911 had the honor, therefore, of being the subject of my first post. Well, the 1911 is no more, traded in for a Ruger GP100 revolver with a four inch barrel. I liked the 1911 except for the fact that one batch of re-manufactured ammo gave it fits, but my wife had trouble with the slide so I sought-out an easier-to-use weapon. When I saw a used Lady Smith and Wesson 357 with a three inch barrel, I purchased it immediately. It was the perfect gun for my wife-medium sized and relatively easy to handle (the gun, not my wife). "This is so much easier. Why would anybody want the other kind?" she asked after comparing the two guns.

"Well," I began to explain and then I couldn't think of anything to say, "I don't know."

At first I thought about keeping the 1911 for myself, but I felt two guns were overkill at the time and I chose, instead, to give it to my father. Alas, my father also had trouble working the slide. I finally decided to sell the 1911 back to the store and purchase my dad a revolver, the GP100 you see below. My father was much happier and he too asked, "Why use an automatic?"

Here's the point of this story: I'm not a super-expert on guns, but I've come to the conclusion that in almost every instance, it's better to have a revolver than an automatic. Here's my take:

1. Revolvers are easier to use. An automatic pistol needs to be loaded and cocked before use. You just pick up a revolver and squeeze the trigger. To an experienced user, an automatic isn't a big deal, but as I pointed out above, for some, that one action causes great frustration.

2. Ammunition use and storage is easier with revolvers. If you keep the rounds in an automatic's clip for a great length of time, the clip's spring begins to deteriorate. The clip may also become damaged if you drop it or bang it against something hard. For a revolver, you just keep the rounds in the gun or on a speed loader and you're all set. In addition, it's much easier to slide the bullets into a revolver's wheel than into an automatic's clip.

3. Revolvers are easier to maintain. After practicing with an automatic I don't look forward to taking it apart, wiping it down, lubricating it, and then putting it back together. I'd rather spend that hour doing something else. In contrast, after using a revolver, you usually only have to clean the barrel and grease the moving parts.

4. Revolvers are more reliable. Revolvers have only one sensitive part, the wheel, and as long as that works, you're in good shape. An automatic, on the other hand, can malfunction with certain ammunition even if you do your best to maintain it.

So why do automatics exist? In combat situations, automatics are easier to reload and, because they're thinner, easier to conceal, but I don't anticipate reloading in a self-defense scenario, and I live in California where concealed weapons permits are nearly impossible to get.

Read more »

Army Sgt. Chad Mohr (left) watches rounds land on target as Army Spc. David Hooker fires the MK19 machine gun at a known insurgent position Oct. 24, 2007, during Operation Rock Avalanche. The "Dragon Platoon" soldiers of Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), were occupying a ridgeline between the Pech and Shuryak river valleys in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. U.S. Army photo.

Read more »

Marines and Iraqi Police host Youth Soccer Day

20 Aug 07
By Gunnery Sgt. Eric Johnson
2nd Marine Division

HADITHAH, Iraq -- The morning of July 4th started out like any other day inside the Hadithah Police Station. The Iraqi Police conducted morning police call, uniforms were set straight, and reports were prepared. The Marines of the Hadithah Police Transition Team (PiTT) gave guidance to their Iraqi counter-parts, making corrections wherever necessary. As the heat began filling the building, the anticipation for the day’s events grew.

Read more »

I had the great fortune of serving at Walter Reed for six months during my deployment. The staff I worked with was wonderful and to say the soldiers were inspiring would not even begin to describe the great respect I had for them (and not only the soldiers, but their families-especially the wives- who cared for the soldiers in what must have been the most painful experience in their lives). I didn't find the conditions to be as described, but I don't doubt such circumstances existed.

Now, I can't imagine staff purposely wanting to harm soldiers, but if somebody is not doing their job, they should be replaced with somebody who can which is, in fact, what happened. It's really as simple as that. This weekend, I'll try to write about some of my experiences there.

What a wonderful country we live in when powerful people have to answer to the people.

Story below

Read more »

IRAQI ARMY STOPS 27 TERRORIST CELL MEMBERS IN AS SADIYAH

Release Date: 3/11/2007

Release Number: 07-01-03P

Description: AS SADIYAH, Iraq – The 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi army, in partnership with a military transition team from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted operations against specific terrorist cells Thursday through Saturday in As Sadiyah, Iraq, in the interest of improving stability for the area’s residents.

During the operation, 16 anti-Iraqi forces were killed and 11 suspected terrorists were detained. The detainees will be processed for further questioning.

The IA exploited a cache consisting of a sniper rifle, a mortar sight, a hand grenade, five AK-47s and improvised explosive device-making materials.

“The Iraqi army continues to distinguish itself through vigilance and values. Their selfless service to the people of Diyala is providing confidence and security to the people while they improve their skills, knowledge and attributes as a professional organization,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala Province.

The soldiers also discovered and defused an IED which could have been used to target other innocent people or security forces.

After the operation, the IA provided medical care to citizens with minor medical issues, and passed out supplies to the local population.

The commander of the IA battalion also met with the As Sadiyah mayor and police chief in hopes of building a partnership to sustain the security and stability of the region.

“The ISF is improving everyday while securing the population and defeating a determined enemy,” Sutherland said.

Is this kind of stuff interesting to you guys?

AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR MARCH 7

Release Date: 3/8/2007

Release Number: 07-01-03P

Description:
SOUTHWEST ASIA — In Afghanistan yesterday, a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped Guided Bomb Unit-38s and GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions on enemy personnel and building near Garmsir, in support of Operation Achilles. The Joint Terminal Attack Controller and ground forces observed direct hits.
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided close air support for Coalition forces near Garmsir. The F-15Es fired cannon rounds on enemy forces in the open, dropped GBU-12s and GBU-38s on buildings known to contain ememy forces, and on buildings where insurgents hid after initial air strikes.
U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets dropped a GBU-12 on an enemy mortar position and another on a cave entrance where an enemy mortar spotter was located near Now Zad. A JTAC confirmed good hits on both targets.
Other U.S. Navy F/A-18s provided reconnaissance of a suspected mortar position near Sangin.
Near Asadabad, U.S. Navy F/A-18s conducted a show of force over a suspected Taliban compound and observed an area suspected of small arms fire. A JTAC confirmed good effects for the show of force.
U.S. Navy F/A-18s also observed and reported a group of compounds where enemies were suspected of firing rockets at Coalition forces near Garmir.
Other U.S. Navy F/A-18s provided a show of force over a compound for Coalition forces receiving mortar fire near Sangin. A JTAC reported the show of force was successful as enemy fire had ceased. The F/A-18s also provided overwatch for a Coalition convoy and reconnaissance for a roadway in the same area.
Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided three shows of force for a Coalition convoy attacked by multiple rocket propelled grenades at the gate of a forward operating base near Garmsir. The GR-7 pilots reported individuals observing the patrol from inside a compound.
Other Royal Air Force GR-7s released Enhanced Paveway II munitions, 540 pound bombs and a rocket on enemy individuals in the open and in buildings near Garmsir. The weapons directly hit the targets according to a JTAC.
In total, 57 close air support missions were flown in support of the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
Eight U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. U.S. Navy fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.
In Iraq, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided reconnaissance of suspicious individuals and provided a show of force over a large group of people near Balad. A JTAC reported the show of force was successful.
Other U.S. Air Force F-16s provided reconnaissance of a house in which anti-Iraqi insurgents involved in a previous engagement were hiding. The F-16 pilots watched the house until the arrival of Coalition forces.
U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs performed armed reconnaissance in support of counter-improvised explosive device mission near Iskandariyah.

In total, Coalition aircraft flew 46 close air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.
Additionally, 14 U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.
U.S. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. Nearly 165 airlift sorties were flown; nearly 500 tons of cargo were delivered, and approximately 2,770 passengers were transported.

Coalition C-130 crews from Canada, Japan and South Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On March 6, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force and French Air Force flew 39 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.6 million pounds of fuel which is the equivalent of 65 full Air Force Logistics Readiness fuel trucks.
“The Week in Air Power,” a weekly total of tanker, airlift and close air support information will be released every Sunday starting March 11.
-30-