We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:02:31 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...not from me, but from other people. Some critical observations on the current state of affairs in the Army, and especially in the Transformation arena. First up, Illusion of Change by Colonel(r) Douglas MacGregor (of Breaking the Phalanx fame), from his recent testimony before Congress. Colonel MacGregor's point is diluted a touch because he's selling his own product - but as I said, the internal debate rages, and COL. MacGregor's viewpoint has many champions inside, too. I don't wholly buy all of MacGregor's points - but what he says rings true in the main through the work I've been doing.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html Wed, 04 May 2005 09:13:53 -0600 Marine "Force Recon" are using a new Interim Fast Attack Vehicle (IFAV) based on the Mercedes G-class. I suspect this means they're using the old M151 (which is evidently the designation for the Chenowith) as little as possible, but I don't know how many IFAVs they have yet, or if any M151s are still in use.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24252 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24252 Wed, 04 May 2005 18:21:20 -0600 Fully funded graduate education programs have dropped from 7,400 after Vietnam to 396 this year, half of them preparing to join the Army's acquisition corps. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24244 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24244 Wed, 04 May 2005 13:42:29 -0600 In the first Gulf War there was quite a bit of use of the FAV, a Chenowth Sand Rail with a VW bus transmission. It's unarmored, but its a way to quickly get in and out of places with heavy firepower. Was it used at all this time around? I haven't seen anything about it, and the focus has been mostly on heavy armor. The only Light vehicles I see mentioned are the various types of HMMWV. Has the FAV been discontinued? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24239 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24239 Wed, 04 May 2005 12:41:12 -0600 Yeah, I didn't read the whole book from Bacevich. He was giving a speech to a group on CSPAN. It wasn't that everything he said was wrong, I just took issue with a few details. Such as his comment on America being newly enamored with it's fighting forces. I kept looking at history thinking that could not be true. WWII certainly glamorized and made more "noble" the American warrior. I also took issue with his "new policy" of using American forces. This was totally based on his comments on CSPAN. I didn't see it as a "new policy", just more in people's faces with global communication. It's been a long standing policy. I can't wait to hear what you have to say about his book. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24237 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24237 Wed, 04 May 2005 11:41:10 -0600 The Killebrew article was extremely well written, and right to the point. Wow. Maybe, with people like him writing like that, the Army will get a clue for the future. Or maybe not. Thanks! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24227 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/05/some_thoughts_on_things_militant.html#comment-24227 Wed, 04 May 2005 10:15:07 -0600