US Army Combat Medic loadout

[HorseSoldier]

Originally Posted by Eddie

The more appropriate question would be how do we not use them.

But we also hold them to a higher standard than other nations do. I guess it's the level of responsibility and professionalism that we expect from them. For instance, in the Iraqi army, NCOs to the level of Sergeant Major really have no authority. It's the officers that run their army. Stuff that a Staff Sergeant or a high-speed Sergeant would do in our Army, would have a Captain in charge of it.

We don't do much with them that's very remarkable or different than other 1st World nations, from what I've personally seen. Sure we do more with them than developing nations, but a big part of that is quality issues, NCO recruiting policies (i.e. those nations that rely on shake & bake NCO tracks for conscripts), and such.

[Eddie]

We give them a lot more professional education than anyone else.

I'm just saying.

Your opinions may vary.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Eddie

We give them a lot more professional education than anyone else.

I'm just saying.

Your opinions may vary.

Not that the US NCOs arent put through a good education - but that it is better than ANYBODY elses..

I think this vary greatly .From branch to branch ,nation to nation and changing situations regarding funding etc etc .

As you said -different opinions are bound to be aired about this one .

All in my humble opinion of course

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by headquarters

Not that the US NCOs arent put through a good education - but that it is better than ANYBODY elses..

I think this vary greatly .From branch to branch ,nation to nation and changing situations regarding funding etc etc .

As you said -different opinions are bound to be aired about this one .

All in my humble opinion of course

Just to be honest, I'm beyond the point of caring about this. I'm not an instructor at any of the NCOA Courses, nor have I been to any foreign courses in that realm. I've talked to other personnel who were, I was told that in PLDC, I've talked to graduates and students of the Sergeants Major Academy, even talked to my old BN XO who taught at West Point for three years. Whenever the subject came up, I was told the same thing. However, I didn't care enough then to ask why or how. I can't answer it now. I'll publicly admit that and let you go on believing what you guys want to.

[perardua]

I am suddenly reminded of something that is repeated endlessly in British NBC training - "British NBC equipment is the best in the world." I have no idea if that's true (and don't wish to be put in a situation where I can truly find out), but it's been relentlessly drummed into me by instructors.

I suspect most militaries have a similar thing with regard to being told that "our x is the best in the world", and most people probably won't ever be in a position to objectively judge otherwise.

[jester]

Originally Posted by perardua

I am suddenly reminded of something that is repeated endlessly in British NBC training - "British NBC equipment is the best in the world." I have no idea if that's true (and don't wish to be put in a situation where I can truly find out), but it's been relentlessly drummed into me by instructors.

I suspect most militaries have a similar thing with regard to being told that "our x is the best in the world", and most people probably won't ever be in a position to objectively judge otherwise.

That is quite common, it builds confidence and Esprit De Corps and all of those other cool words. But in the end it is simply a tool to help your troops/organization build on. And honestly I doubt the instructor has compared every other "system" in use by other nations to really see. Kind like how I posted earlier,

"doing/saying things because they have always done/said it that way withouth thought." In turn, it is kinda like being robots or simply parroting the training manual automaticaly reguardless of it being true or not. Heck, we all do such things at our jobs.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Eddie

Just to be honest, I'm beyond the point of caring about this. I'm not an instructor at any of the NCOA Courses, nor have I been to any foreign courses in that realm. I've talked to other personnel who were, I was told that in PLDC, I've talked to graduates and students of the Sergeants Major Academy, even talked to my old BN XO who taught at West Point for three years. Whenever the subject came up, I was told the same thing. However, I didn't care enough then to ask why or how. I can't answer it now. I'll publicly admit that and let you go on believing what you guys want to.

OK. Same

[Webstral]

Originally Posted by perardua

I am suddenly reminded of something that is repeated endlessly in British NBC training - "British NBC equipment is the best in the world." I have no idea if that's true (and don't wish to be put in a situation where I can truly find out), but it's been relentlessly drummed into me by instructors.

I suspect most militaries have a similar thing with regard to being told that "our x is the best in the world", and most people probably won't ever be in a position to objectively judge otherwise.

The US Army landed in North Africa in 1942, having been told the same sort of thing. While there were some areas in which the US Army performed better than the Germans, even at this point in time, the Germans in North Africa were a better force. Experience counts for something. History has taught us to be suspicious of claims to the effect that our force has the best/is the best in any broad area. Sun Tzu teaches us to be aware of ourselves and our enemy, so it's important to make an honest assessment.

Webstral