thedrifter
04-20-07, 03:30 PM
Scales: U.S. must boost soldiers' training
Published: April 20, 2007 at 1:26 PM
WASHINGTON April 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. armed forces need to increase the intensity of combat training for ground troops, retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales Jr. told the Senate this week.
"Soldiers need more time to train for combat," Scales told the Senate Armed Services Committee in testimony Tuesday.
His comments came as Pentagon policymakers are putting far more emphasis on the importance of strong and well-trained U.S. ground forces after they were neglected in favor of expensive high-tech weapons systems during Donald Rumsfeld's six-year tenure as secretary of defense.
"Years, not months, are required to produce a close combat soldier with the requisite skills and attributes to do the increasingly more difficult and dangerous tasks that await him in the future. At least a year together is necessary for small units to develop the collective skills necessary to coalesce and fight as teams," Scales said.
"An infantry squad is the same size as a football, soccer or rugby team. ... A pro player ... has to fight for his position on the team. ... This is the image that we must internalize if we are to build exceptional close combat soldiers for the future," the general said.
"The Air Force and Navy have more first-line fighter aircraft costing between $50 million and $450 million apiece than the Army has infantry squads. The precious few squads we have must be treated as national treasures," he said. "Soldiers in close combat units, those most likely to die for our country, must be given time to train, bond and coalesce before entering combat.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. William Odom, now at the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, has for years argued that U.S. policymakers have neglected the Army's land combat base in favor of other services and more specialized forces.
Ellie
Published: April 20, 2007 at 1:26 PM
WASHINGTON April 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. armed forces need to increase the intensity of combat training for ground troops, retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales Jr. told the Senate this week.
"Soldiers need more time to train for combat," Scales told the Senate Armed Services Committee in testimony Tuesday.
His comments came as Pentagon policymakers are putting far more emphasis on the importance of strong and well-trained U.S. ground forces after they were neglected in favor of expensive high-tech weapons systems during Donald Rumsfeld's six-year tenure as secretary of defense.
"Years, not months, are required to produce a close combat soldier with the requisite skills and attributes to do the increasingly more difficult and dangerous tasks that await him in the future. At least a year together is necessary for small units to develop the collective skills necessary to coalesce and fight as teams," Scales said.
"An infantry squad is the same size as a football, soccer or rugby team. ... A pro player ... has to fight for his position on the team. ... This is the image that we must internalize if we are to build exceptional close combat soldiers for the future," the general said.
"The Air Force and Navy have more first-line fighter aircraft costing between $50 million and $450 million apiece than the Army has infantry squads. The precious few squads we have must be treated as national treasures," he said. "Soldiers in close combat units, those most likely to die for our country, must be given time to train, bond and coalesce before entering combat.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. William Odom, now at the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, has for years argued that U.S. policymakers have neglected the Army's land combat base in favor of other services and more specialized forces.
Ellie