Should we train foreign militaries?

2019-12-08T01:37:15-05:00

With the recent events at NAS Pensacola, should the United States be training foreign militaries? I realize that everyone the US trains is considered our allies, but so is Saudi Arabia and apparently more than just the gunman was involved. PFC Private RallyPoint Member SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" LTC Stephen F. CPL Dave Hoover SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Private RallyPoint Member Capt Dwayne Conyers CPT Jack Durish

Response by PO1 John Meyer, CPC made Dec 8 at 2019 4:39 AM

2019-12-08T04:39:01-05:00

I thought of the same question when I was stationed at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. It's stop #2 after Pensacola for all Navy, Marine, and Air Force pilots as their way to earning their wings. I came across Italian, Australian, German, Swiss, Turkish, English, and Saudi officers that were training to become pilots. I wondered why we are training these people. Then a thought occurred to me. What better way to fight together against a common enemy if we all know how we fight.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 12:28 PM

2019-12-08T12:28:15-05:00

Not the countries with ties to China or russia.

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Dec 8 at 2019 12:40 PM

2019-12-08T12:40:09-05:00

That is a very good question and I just don't have an answer either way. What a 'sticky' subject.
How do we leave our allies in the dust when they ask us for assistance in training? How do we train our allies, who can be our future enemies, without giving them secrets that could hurt/kill us?
I wish I had a crystal ball. I don't and can't answer this.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 1:55 PM

2019-12-08T13:55:25-05:00

Absolutely, it increases our interoperability for our allies to be using the same doctrine, methods, and techniques as us. For instance, all the NATO nations use the same operations orders format that we use. When I was a medic I had a student in my class who was a commissioned nurse in the Lithuanian Army and was going to the Nurse Administration course after that. While I was there, I met a guy from Malaysia who was an Army Ranger School and Airborne School graduate. While I was in Iraq we stood up an Infantry battalion, teaching these Soldiers Small Unit Tactics one sqaud at a time.
The US has the most complete set of military schools in the whole world. Allowing other countries to attend our schools enables us to work closer and strengthens our ties with them. Every person who attends a school here becomes a point of contact in a different country, it builds our professional network into an international one

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 8 at 2019 5:09 PM

2019-12-08T17:09:07-05:00

Sure, why not? Just need to be more diligent when selecting/clearing folks!

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Dec 9 at 2019 1:23 PM

2019-12-09T13:23:42-05:00

When I was CSM for the 62nd Engineers, we trained Iraqi Army Engineers and integrated them into our operations with no more background on them then their Commanders head nod. Nothing like riding in your vehicle or walking down a dark street with two heavily armed guys with a language barrier behind you. We never had any incidents.

When I had the 554th Engineers we had foreign students in the EBOLC and CPTs career Courses. Had to referee a couple squabbles over perceived insults and slights due to cultural differences and humor verses insults (some folks just take stuff and themselves way to seriously), but over all everyone got along well and with a little effort the offended parties and the offenders were realigned and singing coumb- by -ah again.

My point is that you will never be able to weed out all the folks with ill intent or that are evil. My opinion is; we need strong allies and the time to start working with folks and building alliances is before the shit hits the fan and not down range.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2019 6:21 PM

2019-12-09T18:21:07-05:00

See, the whole point of having allies is that you someday may have to fight alongside each other.

We should probably all know what we are doing, and what they are doing.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 11 at 2019 3:09 AM

2019-12-11T03:09:00-05:00

To be honest the School of the Americas and our training programs with European allies and allies from Australia through Korea and Japan are mutually beneficial my friend SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member. The problem since 1979 at least has been with Muslim majority nations as well as nations like Nigeria which is split.
IMHO it is wiser to train Muslim majority nation military personnel in their home countries.
FYI FYI SP5 Jeannie Carle SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik SPC Diana Rodriguez SPC Diana D. SSG Diane R. LTC Hillary Luton Maj Kim Patterson Sgt Kelli Mays SFC Private RallyPoint Member SGT Elizabeth S SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" MSG Andrew White SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ Rene De La Rosa TSgt David L.