What do you want to know about Army Organization?

[jmowreader]

I am preparing to write a guide to Army Organization for DUers and other like-minded people who (1) never served but wonder just what's the difference between an Airborne Division, an Armor Regiment and an Infantry Battalion, (2) soldiers who didn't attend an Army Org class--which is most of them--and (3) people from other services who have the same questions.

Qualifications: As a Military Intelligence soldier who started out life in the Counterintelligence field, I was trained in Army Organization so I could recognize a security problem. I later taught Army Org at the Fort Drum NCO Academy to prospective sergeants.

Your job: hit Reply and tell me what you want to know. I'll work up the Army Org post over the weekend.

[markus]

1. You hit the nail on the head

Tried to memorize all the ranks in all the services out of the AP Style Book to prevent overnight boredom/insanity at a newspaper gig, but have never gotten a handle on what the size and organization structure of the military units where. I think I got Platoon and Division about figuredo out, but there's plenty more.

[leftofthedial]

2. great idea

also what the relative capabilities of different kinds of units are and what missions and roles they are actually intended for. (as opposed to what they are being asked to do now.)

Not only the various units in the hierarchy, but statements like "tanks from the 4th Infantry Division" make this issue confusing.

[preciousdove]

3. 66 days of hell

Okay. I went into Ft McCoy in 1972 for USWAC basic to go into military intelligence. It was a microcosm for the ills of the US. The corruption of Nam, the total lack of respect for enlisted, women, minorities and anyone who was not a holy roller hypocrite. It culminated in a race riot after which soldiers who participated took off for the woods armed. They fired at things moving at night so nothing moved, not even ambulances and during the day there were hunting parties out shooting "stray dogs" even on the day that 11 of us left on the same plane to the Chicago hub.

Because of that we were offered a "get out of the Army free" deal with honorable discharge. Those that stayed were scattered as far apart as possible when training was done. Most lost their assignments. Darn I can't recall the terminology any longer.

Anyway I was supposed to go to language school in Monterey and then onto intelligence school in Texas. I was told I would probably work in the embassy in Czechoslovakia. but I took the offer as I had a hard time figuring out what I might be fighting for if I stayed. Watched and heard too many people die there. My hair fell out during the next 30 days. (Oh yeah, after telling Mom she, blew the whistle in a prostitution ring being run out of the mental health facility. You got sent there if you were having trouble adjusting or other problems and they sent you out on a new career.)

The USWAC was integrated into the regular Army. Czechoslovakia had some sort of a coup shortly after that.

I got Lyme Disease in the summer of 1974, got married that year. Had two sons born with the disease (who have recovered)and have been working on Lyme Disease advocacy when my health allows (Didn't get diagnosed until late 1990 and was not treated until the beginning of 1991 for the Lyme which by then I was totally bed ridden and unable to speak in excruciating pain.)

From what I heard from those who stayed in they didn't fare much better than I did. Are things still the same today?

Bet this isn't what you were expecting anyone to ask.

[OldSoldier]

4. I'll answer that...

Are things still the same today? Mmm...yes and no.

There's still a total lack of respect for anyone who isn't a holy roller hypocrite. Or Little Bo Peep...a guy who says "yes sir, yes sir, three bags full" and gets his head shaved once a week. Total conformity is the key.

They've pretty much put the kibosh on the race riots. You can't even have a questionable tattoo any more...after James Burmeister shot two black people, the Army brought every soldier into a little room, had him/her strip naked and inspected him/her for unapproved tattoos.

Guess why so many of them think Bush is still a wonderful guy?