Archive for October, 2015

Marines Adopt M4

Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller approved making the M4 the primary rifle for all infantry battalions.  The Marines are adopting the M4 as its primary Infantry rifle something the US Army did for its light Infantry in the late 90’s and for the rest of its combat arms troops in 2006.  I presaged this decision …

What do Poland and Syria have in common?

What do Poland and Syria have in common?  Both have been playgrounds for Russian adventurism and political manipulation by the application of brute (sometimes brutal) military force. History tells us of the product of the Molotov-Ribbentrop meeting.  Ribbentrop  was Hitler’s foreign minister and Molotov was Stalin’s representative.  At the meeting they agreed to invade and …

It’s not a war crime if your hospital is also a bunker

Recently, US forces struck a hospital in operations to recover Kunduz Afghanistan from the Taliban.  The hospital was engaged because it was reported Taliban forces were firing on Afghan Forces (initially reported as US Force) inside or in the vicinity of the hospital.  The hospital was engaged by an AC 130U gunship.  This version is …

On Leadership & Training by Terry Baldwin

  Published here with permission from LTC (RET) Terry Baldwin & Soldier Systems Daily.  (Thanks!)   I was a freshly minted Infantry Staff Sergeant in the spring of 1981 attending the 25th Infantry Division’s Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course. We had a 2-Star guest speaker one day. I admit I don’t recall his name or job …