Marine artillery unit serves as infantry in Iraq

[w8liftinglady]

our marines are being milked dry by the war in Iraq and multiple deployments

Lance Cpl. Danny Studdard is an artilleryman by trade and training.

But it's been 18 months since he's worked with 155 mm howitzers, and by his own admission, he might not be any good at putting steel on target anymore.

-snip-

The reasons for the shift are simple enough -- the Marines need considerably more truck drivers, infantrymen and military police than they need howitzers. Also, the Corps is steeped in a philosophy that every Marine is first and foremost a rifleman.

It's likely, though, that the changes are more than a temporary response to the stress Iraq has put on the military's smallest branch. Already the Corps and its reserve force are making the changes permanent.

-snip-
Since 2003, the reservists in the North Texas units have been regularly deploying to Iraq at a pace that will tap the regiment of available units and manpower in spring 2007.

"Approximately one battalion of Marines has been used every seven months for a deployment," Col. Paul O'Leary, regimental commander, wrote to the Star-Telegram. "However, based on current regulations we will have used all of our reserve forces and will not be able to use them again unless there was another presidential callup."

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/14517145.htm?source=yahoodist&content=dfw_news

[Captain Hilts]

1. Sub sailors used for security details. This is INSANE. nt

[w8liftinglady]

2. This is the part that scares me...

"Since 2003, the reservists in the North Texas units have been regularly deploying to Iraq at a pace that will tap the regiment of available units and manpower in spring 2007"

what are we doing to these Marines-all reservists with regular jobs?Who will be signing up to become a reservist,versus a regular marine or soldier?

[Horse with no Name]

5. Is it ANY wonder that they "claim" that unemployment figures are down?

If you consider all the jobs that the reservists are losing while they are being used as cannon fodder, it isn't any wonder.
Theoretically, they lose their job at home but are still employed by Uncle Sam--now there are some false empty numbers for you.

[TomInTib]

3. This is all so wrong on so many fronts.

All that intense training gone for nought.

[Kutjara]

4. I suppose it sholdn't come as a surprise...

...that the Bush Junta is wrecking the military the same as it has wrecked everything else it's touched.

It will take a decade at least before the honor and integrity of the US military recover. I really feel for the servicemen and women who are being made to operate with so little support. I feel even worse for the career soldiers who are watching their once proud Service turned into a global laughing stock.

Shock & awe? Mutt & Jeff, more like.

[vogonjiltz]

6. They aren't the only ones,

I'm afraid I can't site any specific articles, but a couple days ago I saw a photo in the Chicago Tribune of a soldier on patrol in Falujah, but according to the caption the guy was navy. Yes a sailor in full combat gear and nowhere near the ocean. The Air Force have been using Airmen to drive and guard convoys, guard airbases. Those are perfectly good uses of Air Force personel, but even the Air Force is conducting patrols and getting involved in skimishes in iraqi towns and cities.

[PsN2Wind]

7. Not defending the war

but ask any Marine or former Marine and they will tell you that
"Every Marine is a basic rifleman". That's just the way it's always been.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Marine corpsmen are all navy. But, yes, navy and air force...

personnel on patrols is just WRONG. And I don't think folks join the navy to carry a rifle, wear armour, and fight in the desert.

Just a hunch.

But they're telling navy people with 15 years in, you want to finish your 20 and get retirement, you'll have to do it in the army.