05Nov04

More from the Front, from one of our students:

"There is a learning curve over here, just as in all wars. Fortuna tely, this time commanders are actually listening to what (USMC) Corporals and Sergeants are telling them. The result is that we're doing better now than several months ago. We are regularly inflicting crippling casualties on the enemy while drastically reducing our own. Things are looking up here!

I can't say it too often: REALISTIC RIFLE AND PISTOL TRAINING IS A MUST. The 'Hot Range,' to which we were introduced by the Farnams, needs to go system wide, and the sooner, the better. The more 'serious=80 the training, the more serious the Marine. We need to get away from the 'game/match ' attitude that so typifies what often passes for small-arms training now. Politics, lectures, good intentions, and 'rules' don't make Marines v ictorious. Serious training and correct attitude does!

Lastly, we must instill in each Marine an aggressive warrior attitude. Eac h needs to have supreme confidence in himself and in his personal ability. Each must be instilled with a superiority of purpose and an iron will. Eac h needs to think of himself as an 'operator,' not just a cog in a gear.

I am rotating back to CONUS soon. I'm looking forward to the oppor tunity to pass on what I have learned. See you early next year."

Comment: With warriors like this, there is no possibility of failure! Happily, the foregoing is typical of what we have come to expect from all ou r Marine students. It is indeed a privilege and an honor to be able to work with them. They are magnificent, and, for their sake (and for the sake of all those who have gone before), we will make "Hot Ranges" stand ard!

/John