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Role of Navy in Iraq: IA
- Thread starter Afterburner76
- Start date
That is strange.
I've read your poll and your comments and am one of those who did not vote. I can only speak for my reason not to vote. As I posted earlier, you're not considering the roles and missions of Naval Forces that DO involve being somewhere than deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. Since you don't seem to want to consider the big picture related to roles and missions of the Navy and the fact that your chain of command has opted to man IA billets to meet the needs of the COCOM who happens to be a Navy admiral and pin the "blame" on the current administration. The administration is not changing the fundamental heritage of the Navy as you claim. This is a joint fight and the Navy brings a lot to it other than maintaining freedom of the seas. I think your poll is ill advised, but it's yours so be it. You asked for comments so now you have mine.
Respectfully disagree with you on this one. What's a COD pilot doing kicking down doors with an anti-IED Army team? Explain how that is using our "skills" to help the Army and the Marines?
I voted ... not that it makes any difference 
... and the poll is meaningless, as you WILL do what your handlers/leaders/detailers say .... but, were I in a position to choose orders TODAY ... I would NOT choose IA.
Why?? Because I prefer to be a member of a team, specifically a Navy squadron.
If I wanted to be an "IA" ... I would have become a Forest Ranger.
... and the poll is meaningless, as you WILL do what your handlers/leaders/detailers say .... but, were I in a position to choose orders TODAY ... I would NOT choose IA.Why?? Because I prefer to be a member of a team, specifically a Navy squadron.
If I wanted to be an "IA" ... I would have become a Forest Ranger.
In WW2 the fighting was fierce and costly, but at least it was over fairly quickly. Battle, rest, wait for next battle. Rarely was the frontline static (except for Italy) and units could often be rotated to the rear. And, at least there was a clearly definable frontline. Nobody in WW2 had as much danger time as our guys currently face. Iraq has already lasted longer than WW2, and while the casualties don't compare, I believe the stress in this war is much worse. Many units are on their third deployment. This war is often compared to Vietnam. At least in Vietnam you knew after your one year you would never have to go back.
IAs are too much of a matter of convenience for the joint chiefs. Bottom line, our leadership has got us in a conflict in which they (the civilian leadership) do not have the will to win. They wanted to fight a war on the cheap, and as soon as the bill got higher than expected they made up the difference with those already serving. The Army and Marines are hurting for folks, the navy is downsizing, send sailors.
I don't think sending a Navy O-4 with millions invested in training to fill a job that could be done by a corporal is smart resource management.
IAs are too much of a matter of convenience for the joint chiefs. Bottom line, our leadership has got us in a conflict in which they (the civilian leadership) do not have the will to win. They wanted to fight a war on the cheap, and as soon as the bill got higher than expected they made up the difference with those already serving. The Army and Marines are hurting for folks, the navy is downsizing, send sailors.
I don't think sending a Navy O-4 with millions invested in training to fill a job that could be done by a corporal is smart resource management.
No shit???
I'm speaking about the grunts. I know in the Navy you went where the squadron went, regardless of how often you saw combat.
My squadron has filled about 10 IAs. 2 of those ten I still haven't spoken with, but the rest, except for one, have stated that they were doing ridiculously tedious staff work. It was not literally a corporal's billet. They came back with the opinion that other services expect less of someone in the same paygrade than we in the navy, and especially aviation, do. I don't have any personal experience with this.
Right. Convenience ...
So do the "right" thing ... bring back the draft, if you are going to use and abuse people, anyway ....
But then ... that would require a measure of political courage and the conviction on the part of politicians and the population that our actions are right and just .... but that courage and conviction should be easy to muster, yes ???
Just my $20 ....
Chief, I don't think Bunk was knocking enlisted or NCOs. I think he thought the guy was a wanna-be or officer candidate with no military experience.
That’s exactly what IAs are, a draft within the Navy….. At least they’re moving more towards six months tours, that’s certainly a step in the right direction. Retention will suffer......... but with the DH selection rates where they are why would the Navy care? . :icon_wink
goosegagnon2
Member
Can anyone provide any evidence that a Navy officer in Iraq or Afghanistan is kicking doors down? and to add that without proper training?
So I guess that Sailors or Airmen who are a mechanics aren't qualified to goto Iraq because they are in a different service which has a different mission?
Yet they would be in a logistical unit that provides the same type of support to the Army or Marines...as they would in the Navy?
...and they have the same or similar MOS as their Army or Marine counter-parts?
So I guess that Sailors or Airmen who are a mechanics aren't qualified to goto Iraq because they are in a different service which has a different mission?
Yet they would be in a logistical unit that provides the same type of support to the Army or Marines...as they would in the Navy?
...and they have the same or similar MOS as their Army or Marine counter-parts?