BLUF: The military does NOT live by the “That’s the way we’ve always done it” system.
The “That’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality went out the door about the time we (the US) got involved in the Middle East. For example: ambushes. Our doctrine used to be taught “use covering fire to displace out of the ambush area as quickly as possible and go back for your dead and injured later”. But then the enemy started using our dead and injured to make headlines on the evening news by dragging the bodies through the streets or forcing the injured survivors to make statements on camera before being executed. So, we adapted. Nobody gets left behind if at all possible anymore. Our doctrine changed because it HAD to.
The Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) was created in ‘85 as a direct result of the ginormous f!!k-up that was Grenada. As the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as other locations around the world continue to wage on, CALL analyzes enemy behavior as well as our own troops’ actions and modifies military ‘doctrine’ accordingly.
Much of a US service member’s training is still the same because there are some things that stand the test of time (marksmanship, attention to detail, physical fitness). However, I know that the basic training that I attended 27 years ago is a far cry from the one they attend now. Drill and ceremony practice takes an extreme back seat to CQB and MOUT training. You don’t qualify with your weapon from a foxhole position anymore. Hell, you don’t even shine your boots anymore. Desert suede all day, baby.
So yes, some things stay the same. But anyone who says that the military still does things the same way as they used to, didn’t serve after 11 Sep, 2001.
Please stop feeding the trolls. The only reason this comment is highlighted is because so many people are responding! (and yes, I do see the irony here but figured the damage was already done)
Maybe easier to get on the duck market?