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COMBAT PATCH ‘UNIFORMITY’

I have marched in change-of-command ceremonies, and both times, it has been stated as a rule, usually passed down by the squadron or battalion command sergeant major, that all right-column and front-row paratroopers would wear a combat patch.

Sometimes, it may be a brand-new private or second lieutenant that has never been deployed, much less seen combat, who must wear it due to their position in formation. Of course, it’s done for “uniformity” purposes.

They have forgotten that the combat patch has meaning. It was earned by those who fought and possibly died while serving this nation, yet its honor and pride is taken away the moment you see paratroopers wearing it just for uniformity.

What really gets me, though, is the disregard for Army regulation. As far as I know, there is no regulation allowing the combat patch to be worn in a ceremony just for “uniformity” purposes.

— Sgt. Tim Clausen, Fort Bragg, N.C.

CUT BRIGADE HQs

With a possible drawdown and more certain budget cuts looming on the Army’s horizon, it should look at shrinking the number of brigade combat teams we maintain.

We could retain equivalent combat power by eliminating headquarters. With the increased use of electronic battlefield tracking systems, our brigade and battalion commanders have the situational awareness to lead and manage up to five elements.

And this is not without precedence. During the Cold War, a few of the Army’s heavy brigades had two mechanized infantry battalions and two armored battalions. Back then, a mechanized infantry battalion had four line companies, an anti-tank company and a headquarters company.

I would argue that today’s BCTs with only two line battalions and a cavalry squadron have a disproportionate combat-power-to-headquarters ratio. More than half of today’s line battalions have only three line companies — the combined arms battalions being the exception.

The Army is peaking at 42 brigades with about 131 infantry, combined arms, Stryker and cavalry battalions and squadrons. The almost 460 line companies could instead be formed into 115 battalions of four line companies each, which could, in turn, fill 28 brigades with four line battalions.

Those brigades could have additional force structure much like our Styker Brigade Combat Teams, one of our most successful organizational designs with its inherent organic capability.

The wholesale reduction from 42 brigades to 28 enhanced brigades would allow us to keep substantially more capability compared to simple reduction of a few entire brigades. With manpower being one of the Army’s most significant costs, we could then absorb Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ budget cuts with as small a reduction of combat power as possible.

It is likely future Army budgets will get significantly smaller. We need to drive the discussion on how to realize those savings before big decisions on force cutting will be taken out of our hands.

— Maj. Neal Nelson, Hohenfels, Germany

GAY ISN’T WRONG

In response to recent letters, comparing homosexuality to polygamy, genocide and “torturing babies for pleasure” is a bit outrageous in my opinion.

Two people falling in love, regardless of age, race or sexual orientation, should not be considered immoral. Immorality is based on principles of right or wrong.

Just because two people of the same sex engage in a sensual or committed relationship, it doesn’t mean you should judge them as being immoral. What they do is between them and no one else.

Besides, unless you were a homosexual yourself, you don’t really know how they feel and how their minds and bodies work.

To say that all homosexual behavior is immoral is no more right than saying all heterosexual behavior is immoral.

— Spc. Wilson, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

BEGIN VA ON ACTIVE DUTY

The current backlog of Veterans Affairs claims has been a problem for veterans and dependents. This suggests the VA operates solely in a reactive mode to veterans’ needs. Why is there not a “push system” for claims and the release of benefits?

For example, an active-duty sergeant first class that has a knee injury and a permanent profile against running or standing should be “pushed” into the VA system (minus collecting pay benefits) for 20 percent service-connected disability before he can retire at 20 years.

This type of push system provides a few initial advantages. It would (1) reduce claims sent to regional VA offices, (2) expedite more accurate identification of future VA budget requirements and better fund the process for VA, (3) reduce paperwork to and from VA, (4) give more time for life planning, (5) speed up claim processing and (6) provide a smoother transition from active duty to the VA system of medical care.

These advantages pump funds more flawlessly into community support for veteran and dependents.

— Maj. D.A. Sutherland, West Park, Fla.

BERETS SHOULD STAY

As the only Army soldier in existence who likes the black berets [“A beret bereft of support,” May 10, 2010], I think it should be noted that the black beret has not always been the exclusive headgear of the Rangers. When I entered the Army in 1974, there were a great number of soldiers walking about in black berets, and none were Rangers. They were members of the Women’s Army Corps, who wore black berets in and before 1974.

But, when it was adopted for the entire Army, I admit, it might have been best to issue non-Rangers a color other than black.

Berets of any color, however, look sharp when worn properly. True, they are best suited for a dress uniform or event.

Over the last several years, their wear in a field environment has not been required by commanders exercising common sense, and patrol caps have been widely used during such times.

But if the beret is as deadly as some would have us believe, how is it that our elite forces seem to wear it without being blinded, developing skin diseases, and being generally incapacitated in some form?

Lastly, since the black beret looked sharp with the dress greens, I suppose the beret will look just as well with the new Class A uniforms, which seem to be much more of a fashion faux pas than any headgear that might accompany them.

— Lt. Col. Terrence A. Smith, Brentwood, Tenn.

END HAZING

Can anyone explain to me why [“Parting Shot,” Aug. 2] celebrates hazing?

In the picture, you see a platoon leader receiving a goodbye pink belly.

I don’t know if the one that I had was worse than a normal pink belly, but if I had an option, I would rather be punched in the face.

My stomach was so black, blue and purple after my pink belly when I was a private first class , that someone would have probably went to jail or been relieved if I reported it.

— Staff Sgt. Aaron Lindsey-Long, Hohenfels, Germany

NEED COMBAT CADRE

I read the question about whether NCOs should get promoted with combat experience [“Hot Questions,” Aug. 23] and it brought me to another issue: Should instructors be allowed to teach combat skills without combat experience?

I’m a medical training noncommissioned officer with the National Guard and see instructors without having any combat or deployment time teaching combat medic courses. How can you teach something you have no experience in?

Sure, it’s easy to read presentations and teach out of a book, but perspective is lost when an instructor doesn’t have valuable experience to apply to lessons. Plus, combat medicine changes frequently and is so much different than the classroom.

Students also question the credibility of instructors, especially students with actual combat time. An instructor must be able to weave real-world experiences with the subject matter presented.

When it comes to teaching combat medicine, you had to have done it.

— Sgt. John O. Montgomery, Hope Hills, N.C.