I originally asked this question as part of the story about the 26th MEU performing a successful TRAP mission in regards to the downed pilots of the F-15.
I decided that it needed its own space.
Why is it necessary to have a dedicated, service specific CSAR force?
The Marine Corps has on numerous occasions proven that it is capable of performing the mission. So has the US Navy.
I'm not discounting the work of the Air Force PJ's...Combat Controllers and the Pilots in blue that perform this mission....but when we have operations that are as far afield as we have...when a captured pilot is a valuable commodity...when whoever is closest is the best...is it really effective to have a dedicated force?
I'm not sure.
This might be why:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1368633/Libya-war-US-chopper-shoots-6-villagers-welcomed-Air-Force-F-15-crash-pilots.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
no Patrick...i'm not going to let you take precautionary actions by US Marines and use it as a show of lack of training or proficiency.
ReplyDeletehow many times have we seen US servicemen dragged off by crowds (well actually i haven't ever but its a possibility)?
they were seeking to protect.
the question remains. do we need a dedicated CSAR?
Point wasn't to ridicule the training or professionalism of the USMC, for whom I have tremendous amounts of respect. Point was to illustrate that CSAR is a very complex, dangerous, and unique mission, one which warrants the training of dedicated personnel and equipment for that mission. Of course if a pilot goes down, you will want to get him out as quickly as possible, which means if you have USMC assets in the area capable of getting the pilots out quickly, then you use them. However, if I were commanding Odyssey Dawn, I'd probably want USAF CSAR assets forward deployed on the Kearsage, since they have extensive experience in CSAR and equipment (Pavehawk, CV-22) tailored to that mission.
ReplyDeleteTo be clear, I don't think CSAR has to be married to a particular service, but I do think the mission absolutely warrants dedicated personnel and equipment. I do think having one service in charge of it probably makes issues like training, acquisitions, and logistics simpler, but I see no reason why a joint force comprising elements of all the services couldn't do the same mission.
I beleive SECDEF made the decision that ALL services were to have a CSAR capability when he cancelled the USAF CSAR helo acquisition.
ReplyDeleteI think he was right, don't you?
Its about having an organic force to draw upon. USAF CSAR deploys with USAF (Pave Hawks are operating from ships off Libya), Marines deploy with USN and USMC aviators. Whoever can get there first goes.
ReplyDeleteMV-22 were escorted by Harriers to pick up the pilots.