"Now, the focus has returned to light infantry operations and jungle warfare" ---Command Sgt. Maj. Ray DevensThe 25th Infantry Division "Jungle Fighters" are back.
I was once really worried about the direction the Army was going. Quite honestly I thought they were hopelessly lost.
I was wrong.
It seems that a few of them have found their true North and are getting ready for the future. Read the Army Times article on whats being done to setup that Jungle School (if you don't have a subscription just watch the advertising and they let you through) here. Well worth your time and quite encouraging.
Sidenote: I wonder how much gear is going to have to be replaced because it isn't suited to the jungle environment. I'm also curious as to how Hawaii can provide the terrain for a real deal jungle school. Its been awhile but I don't remember triple canopy terrain anywhere on that place.
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ReplyDeleteThis tickled the memory box...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil/News/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/6999/Article/103366/marines-look-to-return-to-waikane-for-jungle-training.aspx
wow. nice blast from the past. i totally forgot that. i was hookin and jabbin then so maybe it never caught my attention in the first place though. is this where the Army is looking now?
DeleteSol,
ReplyDeleteGood timing that the Philippine Government has signed a 10-year "return to the Philippines" bases agreement with the US. Now there's another place to practice jungle warfare.
yeah but i'm cooling to getting entangled with the Philippines. i read a report that a majority of the residents want to become our 51st state? say what?!!!! we want to help against a common foe not adopt another country.
Deletei'm getting a bit wary of the whole thing.
Solomon,
ReplyDeleteNo, the training area the Army is looking at is much bigger, but similar terrain because it is on the windward side of the island.
Since the environmentalists have been trying to shut down all of the live fire ranges due to "environmental concerns" having schools like this is a good thing to keep the Army training. One state Rep from Hawaii (Abercrombie) even suggested that since deployment rehearsal missions at NTC include a company live fire event the Army didn't need a range in Hawaii capable of handling a Company CALFEX. Of course Rep Abercrombie didn't have an answer as to where the companies would do a live fire if they had to rapidly deploy to Korea, or the Phillipines, or Okinawa, or Japan, etc. Lawsuits shut down Makua range back in 2003 or so, and no live fire has happened there since that I know of. The Schofield barracks and PTA upgrades are supposed to be finalized next year or the year after to allow a CO CALFEX.
Personally I think the Army should hold on to Makua for a non-fire maneuver training area.