What should we be teaching our soldiers about the conduct of war?

SPC John Tacetta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:37:23 -0400

Chief Eddie Gallagher and Major Ian Fishback present two very different schools of thought on the conduct of war, particularly at the operational level. What do you feel we need to teach our new soldiers about these two approaches?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Fishback
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gallagher_(Navy_SEAL)

Ian Fishback - Wikipedia

Response by MSgt Steve Sweeney made Sep 16 at 2022 7:37 AM

MSgt Steve Sweeney — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 07:37:21 -0400

I'm not sure the two Wikipedia articles are sufficient to capture the "schools of thought" in question. If you are meaning to ask should we brutalize and torture enemy prisoners or detainees in our charge, I am going with "no". On the other hand, should we impose over-restrictive rules of engagement in some hopes of pacification? Again I say "no".

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 16 at 2022 7:56 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 07:56:42 -0400

As they are taught, neither of these men is well versed enough in the operational side of war to speak to how the military should train and operate at that level.

The military has laws and rules of conduct, and specifics on how to handle prisoners of war. If a Service member operates outside of the boundaries there actions should be reviewed by the appropriate authorities to determine if their actions were justified based on the situation on the ground at the time it occurred. There is no one answer to any like solution therefore, the rules, standards and laws must be upheld and that is the only answer for institutional training.

I may have missed the mark as the pint is foggy to me.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 16 at 2022 2:30 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:30:52 -0400

One should never give up his or her honor in order to prosecute war. Defeating the bad guy by becoming even worse is no path to honor, glory, or even long-term success. Eventually, the chickens come home to roost.

On the other hand, while maintaining virtue is important, there is such a thing as being too virtuous. War is Hell. Any pretense that it is not is delusion. When engaged in combat, kill quickly, efficiently, and without reservation.

But AFTER the combat, care for the wounded of BOTH sides, treat enemy prisoners humanely, and give what care you are tactically and strategically able to give to the bystanders.

We have to walk the center path. If we make our warriors into social workers, they will not win wars. But if we allow them to turn themselves into murderers (and there is a difference between murders and "good kills") and torturers, they will not win wars, either.