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"“…The patience and tolerance to live harmoniously in an unfamiliar culture; the fortitude to be content with the less than comfortable circumstances for prolonged periods; an understanding of, and sympathy for, a foreign history and religion; a willingness to learn a new language; the flexibility, imagination and humility necessary to climb to the head of people who live by a very different set of assumptions; none of these are found automatically in our modern Euro-Atlantic culture. The attributes, and the skills these attributes imply, often need to be taught in addition to purely military skills.
We seem to be able to churn out in large numbers officers who can manoeuvre around the high intensity battlefield in armoured vehicles by day and night. Finding and training people who have the necessary attitudes, skills and quality of character to live with, to be accepted by, and to lead successfully a group of Dhofari Firquat is another matter altogether.” - Ian Gardiner"
We seem to be able to churn out in large numbers officers who can manoeuvre around the high intensity battlefield in armoured vehicles by day and night. Finding and training people who have the necessary attitudes, skills and quality of character to live with, to be accepted by, and to lead successfully a group of Dhofari Firquat is another matter altogether.” - Ian Gardiner"
specialised-infantry-leadership
Posted from thearmyleader.co.uk
Leadership Development
Leadership
Junior Officers
Infantry
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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I think Ideology is a Center of Gravity which is difficult to defeat. Usually the will of the people will decided victors.
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We (the west) has been trying to figure this irregular warfare/COIN type strategies our for decades without a lot of strategic success. When we fought the Germans, the Japanese, the North Koreans/Chinese etc. We did not spend a lot of time trying to work with the indigenous people. We simply vanquished the enemy on the battlefield. They enemy had few real supports in the conquered territories as they were conquerors and oppressive.
In Vietnam, we started in earnest these sort of hearts and minds campaigns and tried to figure out how to understand the local culture, religion, customs etc. We all know how that war ended.
It seems to me the largest difference is that in places like Vietnam or today in Afghanistan or in dozens of other countries around the world, we are the foreign army even if we have some local support of the government. The people in the country do not necessarily want us there nor are they supporting of having a foreign army on their soil. As bad as the opposition might be, they are at least their own. We will never be fully trusted.
This smaller units with specialized skills might make us all feel good that we are trying something different that might yields a better result but I am not optimistic. I think we need to consider the wars and actions we engage in better and realize that we cannot win hearts and minds that do not want to be won. Our actions should be dictated by the application of force to take out a hostile threat only, not try to establish democracy, rebuild the infrastructure, prop up the government we helped bring to power etc. Just one old mans opinion.
In Vietnam, we started in earnest these sort of hearts and minds campaigns and tried to figure out how to understand the local culture, religion, customs etc. We all know how that war ended.
It seems to me the largest difference is that in places like Vietnam or today in Afghanistan or in dozens of other countries around the world, we are the foreign army even if we have some local support of the government. The people in the country do not necessarily want us there nor are they supporting of having a foreign army on their soil. As bad as the opposition might be, they are at least their own. We will never be fully trusted.
This smaller units with specialized skills might make us all feel good that we are trying something different that might yields a better result but I am not optimistic. I think we need to consider the wars and actions we engage in better and realize that we cannot win hearts and minds that do not want to be won. Our actions should be dictated by the application of force to take out a hostile threat only, not try to establish democracy, rebuild the infrastructure, prop up the government we helped bring to power etc. Just one old mans opinion.
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@LTC Eric Udouj
Lawrences of Arabia are not made, they are born w/ those inate skills.
Lawrences of Arabia are not made, they are born w/ those inate skills.
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