U.S. Air Force's Role Changing in Iraq

[deadparrot]

AN AIR BASE IN KUWAIT - U.S. airmen are increasingly on the ground in Iraq, driving in convoys and even working with detainees — a shift in the Air Force's historic mission that military officials call necessary to bolster the strapped Army.

The main aerial hub for the war in Iraq has 1,500 airmen doing convoy operations in Iraq and 1,000 working with detainees, training Iraqis and performing other activities not usually associated with the Air Force, said Col. Tim Hale, commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.

"Every one of us has learned that we are in a nontraditional state in our armed forces," he said, standing outside an auditorium at an air base in Kuwait.

The dangers of the new roles were highlighted when the expeditionary wing lost its first female member in the line of duty in Iraq. Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson, 21, was killed in a roadside bombing while providing convoy security in September near the U.S. detention center at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060102/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_air_war

[lyonn]

1. U.S. policemen next?

Ya know, just to help with the Iraqi police training. (sarcasm) We are a bit short on new recruits to help those who are doing their 2nd and 3rd and who knows, maybe 4th term over there.

Will it occur to bushco that we cannot do Iran or Syria?

[saigon68]

6. Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson, 21

http://airmanjacobson.com/

About me:
"I just want to say that I really never understood why Ren and Stimpy went off the air, let me just tell you that it's about time that Spike tv brought Ren and Stimpy back to life...

I love you guys and I've missed you so much. Also Spongebob squarepants and I are going to have our babies together, yes lil spongelits.I love invader zim. And I broke my second to last toe on my right foot and now it hurts but it's cool. I like boys that Drool and I love the smell of cut grass and a cool day in the meadows. I want to have two kids and i want to name them Hunter and Austin.

I hate how I have to wait in line at Disney land. . . And I want to tell my First grade teacher, Ms. Craig that I love her for being awesome and teaching me how to spell. I dislike angry people that discus politics, and think they know everything. I wish that children didn't have to starve or get sick. I'm proud to be an American although sometimes I wish I were Canadian. . . . I want to die happy, and have a productive life.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Thanks for posting that memorial. Hope many will see it. n/t

[saigon68]

10. You are Welcome

[mom cat]

2. Watch for their casualties to increase.

[MadisonProgressive]

3. Their recruitment numbers will tank now too.

Dumb Fuck is completely destroying the military for years to come.

[DemonFighterLives]

4. They don't belong in that duty

just like the National Guard don't belong over there.
What's next?
:freak:

[MADem]

5. Anyone who couldn't see this coming was not paying attention

Check out this article--it discusses the changes to USAF basic training, and the gee-whiz, brand-spanking new addition of COMBAT TRAINING! http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/basic_training1/airforce.html

The Air Force plans to expand the idea behind the Scorpion's Nest to a full week -- Warrior Week. "The idea is built on a scenario of a seven-day deployment for 1,000 airmen to a tent city," said group deputy commander Jones. "They will process to the site just as they would during a deployment to the desert."
The site, built recently by Air Force engineers, is near the installation obstacle course. The tent city will be set up as if in a high-threat area and will contain equipment airmen would have in those areas. The tents will be air-conditioned or heated as needed. "Deployment will go from Sunday through Saturday," Jones said.

Much of the training that now takes place in classrooms will shift to the field, including force protection, the laws of armed conflict, the Code of Conduct and first aid. A session in the Scorpion's Nest will continue to figure in the schedule.

...The Air Force is looking at a Warrior Week culminating event along the lines of the Marine Corps' Crucible, the Army's Victory Forge and the Navy's Battle Stations. Only after they complete Warrior Week will a trainee be called "Airman."

So much for "AIM HIGH!" as a motto--they'd better start realizing that if they want to stay alive, they need to hit the target, not aim high...it's gotta suck to be them, though--they didn't sign up for THIS shit!

[Bigmack]

11. NOT trained...

.. for that shit!

I posted here when that young air(woman) was killed that the Air Force is not trained for combat.

Somebody posted back that they are getting some training.

Bullshit!

Maybe it's just the old Marine sense of superiority, but I believe that anybody who's being sent into ground combat needs LOTS of training with weapons and explosives.

A week of grabass does not equal infantry schools and live-fire exercises.

Those people are being sent out without the indoctrination and training to succeed and stay alive.

I have to admit a certain amount of sexism here, too. The idea of sending an untrained young woman into combat just doesn't sit well with me.

[MADem]

12. But you see, they are getting the same lousy training that half the ARMY

is getting--the GENDET version, for want of a better phrase. In the Corps, everyone is a warrior--a necessity due to the small size of the branch. This is NOT the case for the other branches, Army included. A lot of those Army kids over there, and many who returned in aluminum transfer tubes, who are (or were) skivvie stackers and wrench benders had the same level of training that you are now seeing provided in USAF basic.

The fact of the matter is, not everyone has the motivation or desire to be as hard core as those who join the USMC. They're splitting the difference, and giving these kids just-in-time training to participate in low level police actions which, if they escalate, will morph into OJT.

Not saying it is right, but that is the way it is.

I can't agree with your statement about the females, though. I found them to be every bit as capable as males in performance of duty, and frankly, more reliable in some regards. About ten years or so ago I added up all the downtime I had to accomodate for my personnel, and despite losing a few females to pregnancy, when I looked at the guys who got drunk, missed muster, broke bones doing stupid shit while drunk, landed in correctional custody or the brig, went UA or AWOL, the females had fewer missed/nonproductive days as a percentage of their total complement than the males did. I say if they want to do the job, let them do the job.

[Bigmack]

13. I'm not saying women can't do the job...

... or that they can't fuck up like the men. I just get this gut feeling that a country that sends untrained women into combat is "eating it's own seed corn".

[Why Syzygy]

8. How clever of

George and his neocon masters. The MacAirForce.

[Toots]

9. Makes me want to race down to the Air Force recruiters office

The military is being totally dumped upon by the people who have absolutely no knowledge of the military. Because of their complete ignorance the military is being destroyed. IMO this is a very severe crime against America. I think all NFL teams should be coached by women kindergarten teachers. I think we would see some similarities to what is happening to our military...