Vet 0369

I must take exception to most of this. It just isn’t true except in an extremely small number of circumstances. Most of the issues with replacements isn’t that they are not trained or inexperienced, but that most units train as a unit and are very familiar with how each operates. Replacements are new members of the unit, and as such are “unknowns.” It is a matter of “trust.” The reason the WW2 “vets” appeared to “shun” replacements is much more related to the the causality rate of the replacements themselves. Almost no one wanted to “get to know” or “befriend” a replacement who was likely to become a major casualty in the next fight and be gone. After surviving the first fight, the replacement had shown that he had either the “luck” or “skill” to survive and was accepted.

I must take exception to most of this. It just isn’t true except in an extremely small number of circumstances. Most of the issues with replacements isn’t that they are not trained or inexperienced, but that most units train as a unit and are very familiar with how each operates. Replacements are new members of the unit, and as such are “unknowns.” It is a matter of “trust.” The reason the WW2 “vets” appeared to “shun” replacements is much more related to the the causality rate of the replacements themselves. Almost no one wanted to “get to know” or “befriend” a replacement who was likely to become a major casualty in the next fight and be gone. After surviving the first fight, the replacement had shown that he had either the “luck” or “skill” to survive and was accepted.

Because he’s South African?

This attitude is not surprising at all, and has probably occurred for millennia. My Father. Who was also a Marine told me that when the MarineCorps 5th Division was formed, and Veterans from the battle for Guadalcanal were transferred in as a core group, most of them would find ways to get out of training for the “next” operation because they were already highly experienced at jungle war fair. Unfortunately for them, the training was for a relatively barren island named Iwo Jima! Many died because of the skipped training since it wasn’t the jungle fight they knew.
s.

Because he’s South African?

This attitude is not surprising at all, and has probably occurred for millennia. My Father. Who was also a Marine told me that when the MarineCorps 5th Division was formed, and Veterans from the battle for Guadalcanal were transferred in as a core group, most of them would find ways to get out of training for the “next” operation because they were already highly experienced at jungle war fair. Unfortunately for them, the training was for a relatively barren island named Iwo Jima! Many died because of the skipped training since it wasn’t the jungle fight they knew.
s.

This attitude is not surprising at all, and has probably occurred for millennia. My Father. Who was also a Marine told me that when the MarineCorps 5th Division was formed, and Veterans from the battle for Guadalcanal were transferred in as a core group, most of them would find ways to get out of training for the “next” operation because they were already highly experienced at jungle war fair. Unfortunately for them, the training was for a relatively barren island named Iwo Jima! Many died because of the skipped training since it wasn’t the jungle fight they knew.
s.

This attitude is not surprising at all, and has probably occurred for millennia. My Father. Who was also a Marine told me that when the MarineCorps 5th Division was formed, and Veterans from the battle for Guadalcanal were transferred in as a core group, most of them would find ways to get out of training for the “next” operation because they were already highly experienced at jungle war fair. Unfortunately for them, the training was for a relatively barren island named Iwo Jima! Many died because of the skipped training since it wasn’t the jungle fight they knew.
s.

LOL, actually, the typical Norwegian can speak English better than most native speakers. Fun fact, Norway and Japan require English language classes from the first grade to secondary school for all students. All Airline Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers are required to use English to communicate. France once tried to require pilots in French airspace to use French instead of English. The International Aviation Community put a stop to that attempt real fast!

LOL, actually, the typical Norwegian can speak English better than most native speakers. Fun fact, Norway and Japan require English language classes from the first grade to secondary school for all students. All Airline Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers are required to use English to communicate. France once tried to require pilots in French airspace to use French instead of English. The International Aviation Community put a stop to that attempt real fast!

It could also be infrared sensors on the drone picking up the hot exhaust from the stacks.

An old joke (or possibly insult depending on your point of view) I sometimes use goes:
”What do you call a person who speaks two languages?” Answer: “Bilingual.”
”What do you call a person who speaks three or more languages?” Answer: “Multilingual.”
”what do you call a person who speaks one language?” Answer: “American.”

As I said, it’s an old joke. With the explosion of multinational cultures in the U.S., it is even less true now than it used to be. I myself read, write, and speak Spanish on an elementary scale, had French in classes in Elementary School (grades 4 through 6), a year of German in Middle school, two years of Spanish in High School, and a smattering of Japanese when I was stationed in Japan for a year.
Plus, as a Marine, I can cuss in a number of languages.
I, for one, consider the joke, which I suspect to be European based, to be an insult. 
My point was that too many judge based on heritage, unfortunately. It went flat.

An old joke (or possibly insult depending on your point of view) I sometimes use goes:
”What do you call a person who speaks two languages?” Answer: “Bilingual.”
”What do you call a person who speaks three or more languages?” Answer: “Multilingual.”
”what do you call a person who speaks one language?” Answer: “American.”

As I said, it’s an old joke. With the explosion of multinational cultures in the U.S., it is even less true now than it used to be. I myself read, write, and speak Spanish on an elementary scale, had French in classes in Elementary School (grades 4 through 6), a year of German in Middle school, two years of Spanish in High School, and a smattering of Japanese when I was stationed in Japan for a year.
Plus, as a Marine, I can cuss in a number of languages.
I, for one, consider the joke, which I suspect to be European based, to be an insult. 
My point was that too many judge based on heritage, unfortunately. It went flat.

Media outlets are, for the most part, all “for profit” enterprises. That means the more controversies they can develop and present, the most profits they can make from their sales or commercials. I expect most outlets to be controversial or alarmist so they can generate more profits or support their owners political views. A very well known American writer and humorist once said “believe only half of what you hear and nothing of what you read!”

Not necessarily true. I don’t know how the Russian Aviation operations are set up, but the U.S. Military’s aviation mission rotation includes ALL Flight Officers. Unlike in ground units where the Battalion Comanders tend to not be on the “front lines,” Aviation Officers are expected, in fact are required, to be part of the combat mission rotation. I suspect the combat rotation of aircrews in Russian Aviation are the same.

Not necessarily true. I don’t know how the Russian Aviation operations are set up, but the U.S. Military’s aviation mission rotation includes ALL Flight Officers. Unlike in ground units where the Battalion Comanders tend to not be on the “front lines,” Aviation Officers are expected, in fact are required, to be part of the combat mission rotation. I suspect the combat rotation of aircrews in Russian Aviation are the same.

Perhaps the graft, theft, and incompetent maintenance isn’t unique to the Russian Army and Navy and aren’t limited to those Services? What does that say about their Strategic Missile and Nuke Service?

One of the main precepts of the USMC “Human Relations” training” after the U.S.. Army massacre at Mai Lai was that the primary drive for most of Humanity is food, shelter, and security, and that they don’t care who rules them as long as that “drive” is satisfied. I would venture to say that, IMHO, most of the world population fall into this category, especially the Russian population most of whom never made it out of “Serfdom”. No matter what the “ideology” claimed. It is very difficult to affect a regime change when the people who are being ruled pretty much don’t care who is ruling them.

One of the main precepts of the USMC “Human Relations” training” after the U.S.. Army massacre at Mai Lai was that the primary drive for most of Humanity is food, shelter, and security, and that they don’t care who rules them as long as that “drive” is satisfied. I would venture to say that, IMHO, most of the world population fall into this category, especially the Russian population most of whom never made it out of “Serfdom”. No matter what the “ideology” claimed. It is very difficult to affect a regime change when the people who are being ruled pretty much don’t care who is ruling them.

One of the main precepts of the USMC “Human Relations” training” after the U.S.. Army massacre at Mai Lai was that the primary drive for most of Humanity is food, shelter, and security, and that they don’t care who rules them as long as that “drive” is satisfied. I would venture to say that, IMHO, most of the world population fall into this category, especially the Russian population most of whom never made it out of “Serfdom”. No matter what the “ideology” claimed. It is very difficult to affect a regime change when the people who are being ruled pretty much don’t care who is ruling them.

Just a bit of clarity on the “Battle of Bunker Hill” (actually a misnomer because the hill where the battle occurred was actually Breed’s Hill). First, the Rebels fortified the hill against orders. Second, the Rebels outnumbered Howe’s Regulars by a ratio of 2 to 1. Yes, Howe carried the win, but it was a Pyrrhic victory since he was unable to strike out of Boston at all because he suffered such extreme losses. This was actually a good thing for the Rebels because after the battle, because the Rebels only had enough powder and shot to last three minutes in a fight with the Regulars. That equates to nine rounds for each militiaman. Even after Washington took command of the Militia after the battle, they didn’t get any more powder and shot until the Continental Marines took New Providence Island in the Caribbean. If Howe had known that, he could have cleared out the whole bunch.

Just a bit of clarity on the “Battle of Bunker Hill” (actually a misnomer because the hill where the battle occurred was actually Breed’s Hill). First, the Rebels fortified the hill against orders. Second, the Rebels outnumbered Howe’s Regulars by a ratio of 2 to 1. Yes, Howe carried the win, but it was a Pyrrhic victory since he was unable to strike out of Boston at all because he suffered such extreme losses. This was actually a good thing for the Rebels because after the battle, because the Rebels only had enough powder and shot to last three minutes in a fight with the Regulars. That equates to nine rounds for each militiaman. Even after Washington took command of the Militia after the battle, they didn’t get any more powder and shot until the Continental Marines took New Providence Island in the Caribbean. If Howe had known that, he could have cleared out the whole bunch.

Not sure about East or West Prussia, but Poland and Russia (Eastern Europe) were pretty much constantly fighting each other, and the Karelian Peninsula was originally a Russian Grand Duchy after Sweden ceded it to Russia after a Swedish war of aggression against Russia (Finland at that time was part of Sweden). I think @panzermartin is still “basically” correct in a historical sense.