On the Ground Observations from Baghdad

[thedrifter]

A Grunt In Iraq Checks Into The Net



On the Ground Observations from Baghdad

I don't have enough time to email as I would like but it has been an interesting couple of days. Six bombs today (and two more that the police prevented). About forty people killed. The [al Rasheed] hotel was hit again last night by a couple of mortars and about four rounds into the area around the pool.... The Facility Protection Service Iraqis around the hotel did not have weapons or they could have disrupted the attack. We had structural engineers looking at the place today and they hope to get the place back running in a couple of days.

Please educate tomorrow's warrior leadership about this kind of environment where State Dept Ambassadors are in charge before the war is really over... Make sure everyone on the enemy's [side] understands they have been defeated before you stop. Otherwise they will find themselves with this kind of situation. Emphasize to the CS and CSS guys that they need to train their troops to be warriors. A whole lot of mechanics and clerks are out patrolling, nurses and docs carrying guns also. Lots of reserve lawyers, chaplains, CA, and MSC working in areas normally you wouldn't find them. Chaplains are senior officers in a couple of ministries. Lawyers working environmental and planning. MSC Colonels doing oil etc. Don't assume that because you are a finance or transport officer you won't be manning patrols and checkpoints, etc.

Same for gear. Don't let truck companies and medical folks think they don't all need the best protective gear. Every body needs two weapons. Forget M4s. They don't get enough muzzle velocity generated to go through cinderblocks but M-16s do. We need to rethink small caliber for combat in cities. Need something that kills the close in target not pokes little holes in it. Something like a Thompson submachine gun with a little more powder behind it. Need to relook night vision for semi-illuminated urban environments.

Everyone loves the .50 cal. Need to relook the TO&E of motorized and transport units so they are more like WWI in the number of machineguns. Every truck in your unit needs a ring mount and a fifty up front and probably another in back. Fire extinguishers need to be able to put out big rubber and fuel fires. 240 Machine guns get great reviews but not enough of them. SAWs are great but poke little holes. They are used as crew served weapons a lot on UMMVEs without something bigger. All units need to work on machinegun marksmanship. Sniper training in urban environment where people are living and moving around your position needs a relook. Need rubber pads for guard posts; lots of standing for troops. Powdered drink in MREs need to be geared for 1.5 liter water bottles not canteen cup."

A GRUNT

http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/...0.0262270385756

Sempers,

Roger

[Jerry D]

"Powdered drink in MREs need to be geared for 1.5 liter water bottles" I couldn't have stated that better myself when you don't have a px to buy Gatoraide mix from the MRE should have enough to make 1.5 liter bottle of water more better for desert environment.