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Stryker brigades fit for duty

Apr- 4-2005 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT , Stryker Vehicle

A Stryker Brigade commander responds to an op-ed in the Washington Times with a letter of his own. This letter was originally published on February 14th, 2005, but I don't believe we've linked to it before.

Link to Full Article

I would like to respond to the opinions Col. Douglas A. MacGregor voiced in his letter to the editor ("Army transformation," Friday).

First, as a commander of a reconnaissance troop in the Stryker brigade, I do not view myself as the leader of a "SWAT" team, as Col. MacGregor describes Stryker brigades. No offense to the members of those great organizations, but the mission I am trained to handle is far more complex. I am charged with conducting "full-spectrum operations," meaning everything from peacekeeping to high-intensity conflicts. Stryker brigades demonstrated the capability to accomplish these missions on multiple occasions in Iraq.

True, there were days spent doing presence patrols of Mosul or handing out school supplies to needy children. But many days were spent conducting successful, productive raids on the homes and businesses of insurgents, as well as other direct-action operations.

Col. MacGregor asserts that the "Army's generals have kept the Stryker land-combat vehicle out of urban fighting in places such as Fallujah and Najaf, where they would have sustained serious losses." To my knowledge, Col. MacGregor is correct that there were no Stryker units in those operations, but he's wrong on the reason why. When U.S. forces launched the offensives to retake those towns from insurgents, the battle-hardened, more experienced Stryker unit — the first Stryker brigade — had just been sent home after a year in Iraq. The replacement unit — the second Stryker brigade — had only been on the ground for less than a month. It was still in the process of becoming familiar with the situation and the conduct of missions there.

Be sure to read the rest.

(Link from Steve Thorne, via the 14th Cavalry Association)


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