US Army Border Patrol Force

[Canadian Army]

This is some thing I came up with after reading about the Mexican/US Border War (1910-1919) and the Pancho Villa Expedition (1916-1917). After reading about these two occurrences I came to conclusion that some type of semi-professional military organization would be need enhance or replace border security along the border in Twilight 2000; in both versions; as a result of the internal problems of Mexico.

[Graebarde]

Whoah!!! Col David Hackworth.. for real.. he was my BatCom in AIT as was he in 4/39 in 69.. HARDCORE!!... one tought as nails, don't take sht from nobody.. back you 100% if you were right or nail you hide to the wall if you weren't.. Have to finish reading, but that really sent me back down memory lane.. FB

[Adm.Lee]

A few nits to pick: why name them RCTs, instead of brigades? And why give the infantry regiments different numbers than the regiments, if they are regiments?

I enjoyed reading Hackworth in books and in Newsweek during the '90s, I can imagine his getting vocal about the Twilight War.

Perhaps you could add in which divisions in the Fifth and Sixth Armies the remnants were absorbed by?


Graebarde, I assume you are aware of Hackworth's books, including the one just on his Vietnam tour?

[Canadian Army]

A few nits to pick: why name them RCTs, instead of brigades? And why give the infantry regiments different numbers than the regiments, if they are regiments?

Here are your answers:

I decided to use RCTs because I wanted something closer to how the old Legion of the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_the_United_States) was structured, a RCT seemed to fit the bill and I was also not to sure when the brigade combat team concept was first adopted.

I gave the RCTs different numbers than the Regiments, because of two reasons 1). The USMC use a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th RCT for it 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Marine Regiments. 2). Because of the mid-1950s Pentomic infantry division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentomic) reorganization 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th RCT are descended from 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Infantry Regiments. I did make a mistake with the 158th RCT, because during Twilight the regiment would still be active as a Arizona Army National Guard Infantry Regiment.

[James Langham]

This is some thing I came up with after reading about the Mexican/US Border War (1910-1919) and the Pancho Villa Expedition (1916-1917). After reading about these two occurrences I came to conclusion that some type of semi-professional military organization would be need enhance or replace border security along the border in Twilight 2000; in both versions; as a result of the internal problems of Mexico.

Really nice article, although wasn't Hackworth living in Australia by this point? Also with his views on nuclear weapons I can see him staying there! Great use of a historical character though.

[Legbreaker]

I did make a mistake with the 158th RCT, because during Twilight the regiment would still be active as a Arizona Army National Guard Infantry Regiment.
It's the State Guard isn't it rather than US Army or National Guard? What's to say there isn't two units known as 158th? They are essentially two seperate military organisations after all (even if closely allied).
Wouldn't be the first time for that sort of confusion...

[natehale1971]

Really nice article, although wasn't Hackworth living in Australia by this point? Also with his views on nuclear weapons I can see him staying there! Great use of a historical character though.

The wiki says that he had returned to the US and was reporting on the Global War on Terror and the War in Iraq in the years before he died of Cancer, and I think they said that he was in the US getting Cancer Treatments. His family has been taking legal action trying to get the Government to recognize Agent Blue at the same level as Agent Orange as causing a series of related diseases... and that kind of hit's home for me with the fact my dad died almost a year ago form Agent Orange related health issues. He was only 65 and our family history is to live well into the 90s. The VA doctors had been treating him for a laundry list of medical problems that had been revealed to be related to Agent Orange and PTSD, and the burecrats wouldnt give him his disabilty.

[Adm.Lee]

Here are your answers:

I decided to use RCTs because I wanted something closer to how the old Legion of the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_the_United_States) was structured, a RCT seemed to fit the bill and I was also not to sure when the brigade combat team concept was first adopted.

I gave the RCTs different numbers than the Regiments, because of two reasons 1). The USMC use a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th RCT for it 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Marine Regiments. 2). Because of the mid-1950s Pentomic infantry division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentomic) reorganization 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th RCT are descended from 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Infantry Regiments. I did make a mistake with the 158th RCT, because during Twilight the regiment would still be active as a Arizona Army National Guard Infantry Regiment.

Ah. RCTs in the US Army went away with the Pentomic mess, and then brigades came after it, ca.1963, so they'll well in use by the '90s. AFAIK, the Marines don't really use RCTs as such, but if they reinforce a regiment to operate alone, they call it a brigade, too.