Training issues (1 Viewer)

[damian]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7207465.stm
I found this post very interesting.
Damian

 

[Currahee Chris]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7207465.stm
I found this post very interesting.
Damian

Any particular reason why??

 

[Harrytheheid]

Any particular reason why??

- Nice One.

 

[Currahee Chris]

- Nice One.

Didn't mean to be a smart aleck- just wondered what in particular in the article was interesting. It sounds to me like they are expanding SERE training, which, I don't care what ANYONE say, the SERE training the Rangers and SF guys go through is WAAAYYYY more challenging than what the Air Force is doing to these guys- it's isn't to slight the AF's efforts, it's just the vast differences in training doctrine- one comes to light quite quickly- the Rangers and SF forces don't have females in their units so they can be "tortured" in far different manners than it sounds like these airmen are going through.

 

[damian]

I just hadn't thought about how important this sort of thing is. I suppose if you join the special forces then it is fairly routine but if you are a navigaotor or a pilot who has to spend a whole lot of time learning how to fly a chopper or something this may be not very high on your list of priorities.
Regards
Damian

 

[damian]

In the Selous Scouts apparently one of the tasks was to eat a rancid baboon carcass. The idea is that if you eat rancid meat you get sick, but if you boil it it kills all the bacteria and it is safe to eat, if somewhat unpleasant. But if you haven't been exposed to it in training you won't do it in the bush. So I suppose eating slugs and the like is not so bad.
Regards
Damian

 

[Currahee Chris]

I just hadn't thought about how important this sort of thing is. I suppose if you join the special forces then it is fairly routine but if you are a navigaotor or a pilot who has to spend a whole lot of time learning how to fly a chopper or something this may be not very high on your list of priorities.
Regards
Damian

Good point- I know the US Army Chopper pilots go through some very rigorous training to help acclimate themselves if they should ever "fall behind the lines"- this training is world class and extremely physically and mentally challenging- as difficult as Ranger or SF training- just not nearly as long. Out of all the training the Army offers,I think it is perhaps the most useful and practical. Could you imagine being a downed pilot and injured and trying to survive on your own without this training?? I think Chief Durant (Super 64 Pilot- Black Hawk Down) discusses his training in the earlier parts of his book "In the company of heroes" (something like that).

This is a prime example of some of the other benefits (if you will) of the GWOT. Training doctrine is changing to meet the needs of the lessons that have been hard learned by the troops on the ground.

I should catch up with my one cousin who is an E6 in the USAF- he has done a couple 3-6 month rotations over to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Djibouti- wonder if he is doing any of this stuff

 

[Currahee Chris]

In the Selous Scouts apparently one of the tasks was to eat a rancid baboon carcass. The idea is that if you eat rancid meat you get sick, but if you boil it it kills all the bacteria and it is safe to eat, if somewhat unpleasant. But if you haven't been exposed to it in training you won't do it in the bush. So I suppose eating slugs and the like is not so bad.
Regards
Damian

Ummmm Yummy!!!

I know they do all that sort of stuff even in some of the more hardcore infantry units in the US Army (though not quite to that degree)- the idea is to train up the troops to improvise or really "think outside the box". Heck, I am sure I ate some pretty rancid stuff in Korea after gulping down some soju I know one of the SF tasks that the medics would have to perform was to go out in the woods- at night of course, and locate a goat or sheep that had been stabbed and keep it sustained througout the evening till morning- sounds like something right up your alley Damian I think that training exercise long since has bit the dust.

Regarding training- I highly recommend the book called "On Killing" by Lt Colonel Dave Grossman. That book, as dark and terrifying as it is, really highlights the psychology of training the soldiers mind to kill.

Some of the more interesting training stats I have come across- 15% of US Marines fired their weapons during some of the initial invasions of the Pacific- why so low- they were trained to shoot at "Standing, paper targets"- the Japanese were constantly moving- so, the miltary developed the "pop-up" target which trained the soldier to shoot at movement rather than a fixed soldier or position. The result- the Marines kicked butt ever since!!

I also admire I guess is the word you could use for it, the Wehrmacht's training regimen in the 30's- obviously, they couldn't use real tanks and do manuevers but the wooden sillhouettes were really cutting edge and led to the development of some of the most squared away junior tank officers in the world. Looking back at that, I balk when I hear discussions about how expensive training is- the Nazis proved that was complete rubbish- the only expense decision makers should be focused on when deciding to train the soldier is "if this soldier DOESN'T have this training, how will he or she perform when needed". It's really an area where those with an active inagination can excel.