Marines look to Vietnam in training Iraqi security

[bemildred]

Anybody remember this?

---

The Marine Corps also is taking a page from Vietnam. But it is drawing on a part of its Vietnam experience it considers a success to prepare for its mission of building an Iraqi security force strong enough to allow U.S. and coalition troops to go home.

Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said that when his Camp Pendleton-based Marines return to Iraq next year, their primary mission will switch from hunting down insurgents to training and mentoring Iraqi security forces. To that end, he intends to "embed" small Marine teams in Iraqi army or police units for extended periods.

---

"We went back and read through the history, read the after-action (reports) on CAP," Sattler said, referring to the Combined Action Platoon program.

The Marines operated the CAP program from 1965 to 1971, despite U.S. Army opposition, in an effort to secure their sector in the northern region of South Vietnam.

SignOnSanDiego