Preparing for Battle!!!

Agree on both counts.  the life downrange is VERY different from the life in garrison.  It's all about doing the job, getting shit done, and taking care of our own.  Everything else is low on the priority scale.

I couldn't have said it better, we all want to get home be it to our loved ones or for the taste of a beer, but like you said all the differences get ditched pretty quickly.

I was deployed when Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed (Finally!) and I saw guys who had personal issues with homosexuality throw all of that out the window when it came to taking care of the guy to your front, rear, right, and left.  Combat helps us put our issues aside so we can accomplish the mission and make it home together.

Are todays trainees prepared for tomorrows war with todays leaderhsip???

Nope just trying to understand a wide variety of opinions based on technology dependent military over actual honed skills. As a worst case analogy how can someone discuss physics without math... IS like a Soldier explaining Blue Force Tracker technology but cannot plot points on a map. The New Army is becoming so dependent on Technology that evolutionarily speaking we will get caught with our pants down when the tech fails or becomes unreliable/accessible. Can a new PVT understand what a shot group means and how it will affect their ability to perform under duress. Basic Combat Training does need to evolve at all times but are we headed in the right direction? Or are morale compasses being overtaught and Soldeir skills left behing in the backburner. I observe more EO/SHARP training than engaging enemy and combat training. I am pretty sure if we asked our adversaries please stop wait I have an EO training first before STAND TO that they would be more than happy to wait for a running CHALLENGE and PASSWORD. To boot the individuals who do give the military a black eye are less than .001% of what we have to offer but the necessity to influence training for a handful of undisciplined Leaders(Generals, Colonels, CSM's, NCO's) and Soldiers is just ridiculous. I will continue to place blinders on and focus on the Soldiers or Leaders I am responsible for and conduct training outside the requirement to ensure case of J. Lynch, NCO giving the bird, Soldier not saluting does not represent my Leader and Soldier development.