Targan;
Having worked with several commonwealth troops, and their NCOs and operated as a liason for such more than once. Nope, they aren't better or worse, I feel most are pretty much equal, different, strange sure, but over all I considered them on equal terms with us in the MC. I must say this, I have often felt that the NCOs of the Army were not equal to us. Not being arrogant or ego or service centeric here. But in my view and expereince as well as discussions with others from the army.
One big reason is the US Army, is a larger structure with greater funding they have a larger manpower pool to draw from and this includes their NCO's and Officers. Whereas the MC <In my day> and the commonwealth forces are smaller, with smaller personel pools and budgets so they have to do more with less. And often that means people filling positions above their pay grade, so these people need to step up to the plate and preform. As well as promotions comming at glacial speed so again the personel often don't get the rank to go with the job but the task must be accomplished reguardless.
Again, I also say some of it is the organization structure the Army is in a mindset that is now going from Division to Modular Brigade, whereas for most Common Wealth and the MC the Regiment was the prime organization with some going to Brigade, so its a smaller closer organization.
I have often thought about allies and foes, and it is a fool who thinks they are less than they, this leads to under estimation and often a rude awakening. Just because your oponent grew up without plumbing or electricity and sleeps in a hut in the jungle does not mean he is not as smart or dedicated as us. I have never done that. Let the facts be shown, if they turn out to be inept then they get the label, some with allies, they don't operate like us, well thats cool because they aren't us. Let their actions and results determine opinions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Targan
I was asleep. Glad it didn't get any more heated though.
I was only ever in the Army Reserve but I have to say that Commonwealth and British Army NCOs are given a hell of alot of responsibility. And promotion as an NCO seems to be slower than in the US Army. From what I've seen Sgts and higher ranked NCOs in Commonwealth armies are often given levels of command and responsibility equal to what the US gives its new LTs. The modern US military is obviously highly effective so its not like the on-the-ground US military (Army & USMC) is a complete cluster f*ck or anything, but I'd be very surprised if the average US Army Cpl or Sgt is better trained and/or more experienced than the average Commonwealth Cpl or Sgt.
Eddie I understand that you feel you may have been personally slighted by comments on this forum. Please keep posting here because as a source of current US Army on-the-ground combat thinking on this forum you are pretty much unique. Also, irrespective of whether I agree with all of your opinions I have the utmost respect for the amount of time you have spent on active combat duty.
|