This is the same thing that happened in Vietnam, a rush to get fresh meat to the area. It will cost American lives from the lack of training.

FORT MONROE, Va. -- The US Army, struggling to cope with stepped-up operations and extended deployments of its soldiers to Iraq, has shortened the duration of several of its bedrock training courses so that troops can return to fighting units on the front lines more quickly, according to senior training officials.

One training course that is considered the "first step" in educating newly minted sergeants -- the noncommissioned officers considered the backbone of Army units -- has been cut in half to 15 days. Meanwhile, an intensive program designed to prepare young officers for advanced leadership has been compressed from eight months to less than five months so that the Army can fill positions in constant demand from commanders in the Middle East.


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Our lack of training was an issue when we first invaded Iraq. Sounds like we are still taking a knife to a gun fight.

When troop sstrength is tight, this is their answer. It was the same in Voietnam and it helped kill a bunch of Americans.