In our gun trucks(with competent crews) PID was a muzzle flash. If friendlies were operating in the area you would have had that info in your convoy brief from the MCTs or it would come across the net from either Sherriff or Handcuff. Our crews backed eachother up. If the gunner saw that we were taking fire and could see the muzzle flash(and hopefully tracers), and that it is obviously somebody shooing AT US, then they would engage, and the TC would back that decision. We did have incidents where incompetent crews didn't engage even though they were taking all kinds of fire along with one or two IED detonations for fear of having to do a bunch of paperwork and having to explain to the chain of command why the hell they fired their weapon, along with times where the gunner got scared, and the TC playing psycologist in the damn truck telling them that it's okay. Shit it's not okay to me when lead is flying in my direction. You can be scared later when the adrenaline is dumping from your system. That type of shit gets you punched or elbowed in the shins or the balls. Those crews got a lot of shit from their peers throughout our tour.

The .50 is supposed to be only used for equipment. The AK or RPG that the asshole is trying to kill us with is equipment. That's how our guys got around that technicality. Of course I wouldn't condone dumping a hundred rounds downtown to wax a single guy with an AK taking potshots at us, for I certainly wouldn't want one of those rounds ripping some innocent kid in half or something. The whole damn chain of command would get deep fried for that type of shit. It's fucked up when the locals are more afraid of a M9 which probably wouldn't even hit them when being fired from a moving vehicle, as opposed to the Ma Deuce which can sever limbs by having a round come within a foot of hitting you. They know what our ROE are, and they use the shit to their every advantage. I think that we needed to be a little bit more agressive and a little more proactive in how we handle business, and if we did I feel that things would have been in their current state a lot sooner. To me it's like our hands are tied, and we have all of this fantastic equipment in front of us. Iraq has calmed down a lot. The funny thing is, though, that OIF 1 was the time there that I saw the least amount of shit. Of course though I was in a support unit and was not directly engaging the enemy, and the whole insurgent thing hadn't become the thing to do yet. The second time('04-'05) was when I personally experienced the most combat, Including having a mortar land damn near on top of me over by the theater on "the big snake" FOB.The third time there('06-'07) I only saw shit happen out on the road three or four times during my whole tour. From friends that are currently deployed mortars are the main attack going on these days, and they are happening at random. The roads have been quiet as hell.

Afghanistan is it's own mess. In my opinion we need to overrun that place with overwhelming force, which is much easier said than done due to the terrain. If the goddamn Soviet Union couldn't beat these guys in the '80s(although the Mujahideen DID have some help from us), then we surely have a challenge ahead. Personally I'd go there just for the change in scenery. I've seen enough of Iraq to claim citizenship there. It's pretty bad when I can still remember how to get just about anywhere in country off the top of my head, and can tell you what shit has changed out on the roads. At least Afghanistan has some fucking mountains to look at.

 

I must agree with most of what the above post stated, however it’s a damn shame when we are in a combat situation and we have soldiers that have to be scared to pull a trigger because of repercussions of their actions. That is the wrong answer I am aware of all the stupid stuff prior soldiers have done to make all these rules and so forth, But should you put fear in ones mind because others have shamed themselves?? In my mind that is straight bullshit. I have never had the problem of having to explain why I pulled the trigger. Or will I ever. I have heard about units having to write up statements and have ammo accountability???? What is that??

Thankfully I have been attached to either Infantry units or Field Arty units... in 04-05 i was a gunner and we just shot at whatever because the war was still fresh but as time goes by i see the ROE's change more and more and it disturbs me. Understanding we have to do the right thing as a country BUT. when our soldiers lives are in danger and they are questioning themselves as to shoot or not shoot I say shoot first question later o-well if you get in trouble its not worth your life and I will protect my soldiers to the end if it comes down to them getting in trouble for trying to save my or other soldiers in my squads life.. That is about all of my rant....

I believe afcrackistan is where we should just go in and blow shit up. We have been looking for the same mofo for 8 years almost and we can’t find him??? Why the heck not. We found al zaqarwi and saddam but somehow we can’t find 1 mofo. And that 1 dude is on all types of meds in and out of hospital for his messed up kidneys... its time to take the focus away from making all these rules and realize this is combat its not time to be sweet anymore lets go after the bad guys.

please excuse my bad grammer.

 

+ rep for you sir, you actually pay attention and care about whats going on over there. A lot of soldiers dont,and just look forward to the experience to say they deployed,and for the money.

I hear you about knowing the roads in and out. Senators,Irish,Jackson,etc LOL.

 

i am this close to neg repping you for saying that!

Irish + HETS + daylight = suicide.

 

LOL!!! Luckily I have never had to drive a HETT down irish in the daylight. I have driven LHS's and PLS's down Irish during daylight,and night time though.

 

I've had my fair share of adventures on Irish. Especially the Irish/Oilers interchange where you pull up onto the bridge. A couple of mortars dropped on our convoy got me my CAB there. Most of my fondest MSR memories come from the Sword/Vernon interchange at that big-ass cloverleaf. I've been in convoys that got hit there one way or another on like ten different occaisions, including an IED detonation like 30 feet from my damn truck. I smashed my first civilian vehicle with my 915 there as well. Good times.

As ar as the rest of it goes, I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six. And how in the fuck can't we find a 6'5" Arab guy in a region where the average male stands at 5'7"? A 6'5" Arab guy hooked up to a dialysis machine no less! Rediculous.

 

[QUOTE=SimplistikTA;4837590]I've had my fair share of adventures on Irish. Especially the Irish/Oilers interchange where you pull up onto the bridge. A couple of mortars dropped on our convoy got me my CAB there. Most of my fondest MSR memories come fro the Sword/Vernon interchange at that big-ass cloverleaf. I've been in convoys that got hit there oneway or another on like ten different occaisions, including an IED detonation like 30 feet from my damn truck. I smashed my first vehicle with my 915 there as well. Good times.

As ar as the rest of it goes, I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six. And how in the fuck can't we find a 6'5" Arab guy in a region where the average male stands at 5'7"? A 6'5" Arab guy hooked up to a dialysis machine no less! Rediculous.[/QUOTE]

lol my point exactly!!! I think something is suspect about that

 

It's a damn conspiracy I tell ya! LOL

 

One of these days we should have a meet or something.

 

Thats exactly what I was thinking. Ive been trying to hang out with eddie,jen,and a few others,but I just havent been able to link up with them. What do you suppose,Lunch or dinner?