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 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I'm being deadly serious. If you were storming Okinawa, or trying to re-capture Taiwan from China, or a launching a surprise attack against North Korea, then marines make sense. The funny thing is that I was reading that the US military top brass were reluctant to commit 10th Mountain division to Afghanistan (did they get deployed there?), but not the marines!

Units from the 10th Mountain have deployed to Afghanistan many times.

From Wiki:







10th Mountain Soldier in the Afghan Highlands.
Following the 11 September 2001 attacks, elements of the division, including its special troops battalion and the 1-87th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in late 2001. These forces remained in the country until mid-2002, fighting to secure remote areas of the country and participating in prominent operations such as Operation Anaconda, the Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, and the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi.[28] The division also participated in fighting in the Shahi Khot Valley in 2002. Upon the return of the battalions, they were welcomed home and praised by President Bush.[50]

In 2003, the division's headquarters, along with the 1st Brigade, returned to Afghanistan. During that time, they operated in the frontier regions of the country such as Paktika Province, going places previously untouched by the war in search of Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces. Fighting in several small-scale conflicts such as Operation Avalanche, Operation Mountain Resolve, and Operation Mountain Viper, the division maintained a strategy of small units moving through remote regions of the country to interact directly with the population and drive out insurgents.[51] The 1st Brigade also undertook a number of humanitarian missions.[44]

In 2003 and into 2004, the division's aviation brigade deployed for the first time to Afghanistan. As the only aviation brigade in the theater, the brigade provided air support for all US Army units operating in the country. The brigade's mission at that time focused on close air support, medevac missions, and other duties involving combat with Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in the country. The brigade returned to Fort Drum in 2004.[52]

Reorganization and Iraq deployments[edit]





10th Mountain Soldier in patrol in Nuristan Province.
Upon the return of the division headquarters and 1st Brigade, the 10th Mountain Division began the process of transformation into a modular division.[53] On 16 September 2004, the division headquarters finished its transformation, adding the 10th Mountain Division Special Troops Battalion. The 1st Brigade became the 1st Brigade Combat Team,[54] while the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated for the first time.[55] In January 2005, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated at Fort Polk, Louisiana.[56] 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq.[42]

In late 2004, 2nd Brigade Combat Team was deployed to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team undertook combat operations in western Baghdad, an area of responsibility which included Abu Ghraib, Monsour, and Route Irish. It returned to the US in late 2005.[42] Around that time, the 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed back to Iraq, staying in the country until 2006.[54]

Recent deployments[edit]





10th Mountain Division troops from the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry hike through Kunar Province.
The division headquarters, 3rd Brigade Combat Team and two Battalion Task Forces from the 4th Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, staying in the country until 2007. The division and brigade served in the eastern region of the country, along the border with Pakistan, fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment.[57] During this time, the deployment of the brigade was extended along with that of the 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. It was eventually replaced by the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team which was rerouted from Iraq.[58]

In winter 2006 the 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, was deployed again to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom as the only aviation brigade in the theater, stationed at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Named "Task Force Falcon," the brigade's mission was to conduct aviation operations to destroy insurgents and anti-coalition militia in an effort to help build the Afghan National Security Force's capability and allow the Afghan government to increase its capabilities. In addition, the Task Force provided logistical and combat support for International Security Assistance Force forces throughout the country.[59]

After a one-year rest, the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division was deployed to Iraq for the first time in April 2008. The division headquarters served as the command element for southern Baghdad until late March 2009, when it displaced to Basrah to replace departing British forces on 31 March 2009 to coordinate security for the Multinational Division-South area of responsibility,[60] a consolidation of the previously Polish-led south central and British-led southeast operational areas. The 10th Mountain Division headquarters transferred authority for MND-S to the 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard on 20 May 2009.[61]





10th Mountain Soldiers wait for the order to move against enemy positions in Logar Province.
The 4th BCT operated in Northeast Baghdad under the 4th Infantry Division headquarters from November 2007 until January 2009. The 10th Mountain participated in larger scale operations such as Operation Phantom Phoenix.[62]

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was slated to deploy to Iraq in 2009, but that deployment was rerouted. In January 2009, the 3rd BCT instead deployed to Kunar, Logar and Wardak Provinces, eastern Afghanistan to relieve the 101st Airborne Division, as part of a new buildup of US forces in that country.[63] The brigade was responsible for expanding forward operating bases and combat outposts (COPs) in the region, as well as strengthening US military presence in preparation for additional US forces to arrive.[64]

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team was scheduled to deploy to Iraq in the fall of 2009, as a part of the 2009–2010 rotation to Iraq.[65] The 1st Brigade Combat Team was scheduled to deploy to Iraq in late 2009, but deployed instead to Afghanistan in March 2010.[66]

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan in March 2011, again relieving the 101st Airborne Division. During this deployment, 3rd BCT mainly occupied forward operating bases (FOBs) and combat outposts (COPs) in the Maywand, Zhari, and Arghandab Districts of Kandahar Province. The brigade redeployed to Fort Drum in March 2012 after a twelve month deployment.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team deployed to Regional Command East, under the 101st Airborne Division from October 2010 and returned in October 2011.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Mountain_Division_(United_States)#War_on_Terrorism

 whembly wrote:
Ultimately, there is little choice but to negotiate an end to the war... glassing that country is not an option. We went it... kicked some Taliban ass and took name too.

Unlike al-Qaeda, the Taliban are an integral part of Afghanistan as leaders of the Pashtun tribe (I think).

The war in Afghanistan in the post-Soviet era has been both religious and tribal... victory for either side would be difficult if not impossible .

We’re negotiating to our part of it, and to attempt to get assurances that the Taliban won’t cooperate with terrorism outside of their borders again.

The rest will really be up to the Afghans people.

Add in a porous border with Pakistan, and the involvement of Pakistan's ISI (you know, that country that was our ally and we were giving money to hand over fist) and the conflict just kept getting dragged out.

 CptJake wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I'm being deadly serious. If you were storming Okinawa, or trying to re-capture Taiwan from China, or a launching a surprise attack against North Korea, then marines make sense. The funny thing is that I was reading that the US military top brass were reluctant to commit 10th Mountain division to Afghanistan (did they get deployed there?), but not the marines!

Units from the 10th Mountain have deployed to Afghanistan many times.

From Wiki:







10th Mountain Soldier in the Afghan Highlands.
Following the 11 September 2001 attacks, elements of the division, including its special troops battalion and the 1-87th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in late 2001. These forces remained in the country until mid-2002, fighting to secure remote areas of the country and participating in prominent operations such as Operation Anaconda, the Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, and the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi.[28] The division also participated in fighting in the Shahi Khot Valley in 2002. Upon the return of the battalions, they were welcomed home and praised by President Bush.[50]

In 2003, the division's headquarters, along with the 1st Brigade, returned to Afghanistan. During that time, they operated in the frontier regions of the country such as Paktika Province, going places previously untouched by the war in search of Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces. Fighting in several small-scale conflicts such as Operation Avalanche, Operation Mountain Resolve, and Operation Mountain Viper, the division maintained a strategy of small units moving through remote regions of the country to interact directly with the population and drive out insurgents.[51] The 1st Brigade also undertook a number of humanitarian missions.[44]

In 2003 and into 2004, the division's aviation brigade deployed for the first time to Afghanistan. As the only aviation brigade in the theater, the brigade provided air support for all US Army units operating in the country. The brigade's mission at that time focused on close air support, medevac missions, and other duties involving combat with Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in the country. The brigade returned to Fort Drum in 2004.[52]

Reorganization and Iraq deployments[edit]





10th Mountain Soldier in patrol in Nuristan Province.
Upon the return of the division headquarters and 1st Brigade, the 10th Mountain Division began the process of transformation into a modular division.[53] On 16 September 2004, the division headquarters finished its transformation, adding the 10th Mountain Division Special Troops Battalion. The 1st Brigade became the 1st Brigade Combat Team,[54] while the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated for the first time.[55] In January 2005, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated at Fort Polk, Louisiana.[56] 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq.[42]

In late 2004, 2nd Brigade Combat Team was deployed to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team undertook combat operations in western Baghdad, an area of responsibility which included Abu Ghraib, Monsour, and Route Irish. It returned to the US in late 2005.[42] Around that time, the 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed back to Iraq, staying in the country until 2006.[54]

Recent deployments[edit]





10th Mountain Division troops from the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry hike through Kunar Province.
The division headquarters, 3rd Brigade Combat Team and two Battalion Task Forces from the 4th Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, staying in the country until 2007. The division and brigade served in the eastern region of the country, along the border with Pakistan, fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment.[57] During this time, the deployment of the brigade was extended along with that of the 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. It was eventually replaced by the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team which was rerouted from Iraq.[58]

In winter 2006 the 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, was deployed again to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom as the only aviation brigade in the theater, stationed at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Named "Task Force Falcon," the brigade's mission was to conduct aviation operations to destroy insurgents and anti-coalition militia in an effort to help build the Afghan National Security Force's capability and allow the Afghan government to increase its capabilities. In addition, the Task Force provided logistical and combat support for International Security Assistance Force forces throughout the country.[59]

After a one-year rest, the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division was deployed to Iraq for the first time in April 2008. The division headquarters served as the command element for southern Baghdad until late March 2009, when it displaced to Basrah to replace departing British forces on 31 March 2009 to coordinate security for the Multinational Division-South area of responsibility,[60] a consolidation of the previously Polish-led south central and British-led southeast operational areas. The 10th Mountain Division headquarters transferred authority for MND-S to the 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard on 20 May 2009.[61]





10th Mountain Soldiers wait for the order to move against enemy positions in Logar Province.
The 4th BCT operated in Northeast Baghdad under the 4th Infantry Division headquarters from November 2007 until January 2009. The 10th Mountain participated in larger scale operations such as Operation Phantom Phoenix.[62]

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was slated to deploy to Iraq in 2009, but that deployment was rerouted. In January 2009, the 3rd BCT instead deployed to Kunar, Logar and Wardak Provinces, eastern Afghanistan to relieve the 101st Airborne Division, as part of a new buildup of US forces in that country.[63] The brigade was responsible for expanding forward operating bases and combat outposts (COPs) in the region, as well as strengthening US military presence in preparation for additional US forces to arrive.[64]

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team was scheduled to deploy to Iraq in the fall of 2009, as a part of the 2009–2010 rotation to Iraq.[65] The 1st Brigade Combat Team was scheduled to deploy to Iraq in late 2009, but deployed instead to Afghanistan in March 2010.[66]

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan in March 2011, again relieving the 101st Airborne Division. During this deployment, 3rd BCT mainly occupied forward operating bases (FOBs) and combat outposts (COPs) in the Maywand, Zhari, and Arghandab Districts of Kandahar Province. The brigade redeployed to Fort Drum in March 2012 after a twelve month deployment.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team deployed to Regional Command East, under the 101st Airborne Division from October 2010 and returned in October 2011.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Mountain_Division_(United_States)#War_on_Terrorism

Like I said, a unit trained to fight in mountainous terrain makes sense in getting deployed in a mountainous country! Thanks for the post.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Seaward wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I'm being deadly serious. If you were storming Okinawa, or trying to re-capture Taiwan from China, or a launching a surprise attack against North Korea, then marines make sense. The funny thing is that I was reading that the US military top brass were reluctant to commit 10th Mountain division to Afghanistan (did they get deployed there?), but not the marines!

The Marines don't fight exclusively on or near water.

Well they should!

I know times and technology change, but if Marines are not deployed in amphibious operations, then the whole world has gone mad!

LOL the Royal Marines and US Marines...RC South Afghanistan....To the Brits...Bastion...to the USMC...Leatherneck..

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

Add in a porous border with Pakistan, and the involvement of Pakistan's ISI (you know, that country that was our ally and we were giving money to hand over fist) and the conflict just kept getting dragged out.

Well, the Pakistani government was our ally. As is the case in most parts of the world, the allegiance of the state does not guarantee the allegiance of the organizations it supposedly exercises control over.

 whembly wrote:

The war in Afghanistan in the post-Soviet era has been both religious and tribal... victory for either side would be difficult if not impossible .

There was also a fair bit of foreign interference from Saudi Arabia and Iran.

At that time it was correct for them to interfere. Russian policy at that time if I remember correctly....no State Religion...eerrr no religion period.

 Jihadin wrote:
At that time it was correct for them to interfere. Russian policy at that time if I remember correctly....no State Religion...eerrr no religion period.

This was after the withdrawal of the Soviets.

Something they enforced into the their version of a ANA. How can you fight for a religion if you don't believe in a religion. Remember now these Afghan fighters. Correction all the adult males were raised in that religion. You notice we never even came close to interfering with their relgion. We were not allowed to wear crosses, carry bibles, or a perfect example our Chaplains were not allowed to administer "Last Rights" in view of a local. It has to be done inside a MRAP or out of sight. I'm not a religious man but my troops knew if I got "opted out" I do not care who gives me "last Rights" as long as someone there can do a version of it.

"WE WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS"

What the heck happened to this country, dude? Where did all this political estrogen come from? We need a strong leader. Someone who isn't afraid to drag his member in the dirt and lay down some ass-kicking.

We need Chaos.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

 Seaward wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
And it still hasn't been explained to me why Marines were operating in a land-locked country!

Where's that "not sure if serious" jpeg?

I'm being deadly serious. If you were storming Okinawa, or trying to re-capture Taiwan from China, or a launching a surprise attack against North Korea, then marines make sense. The funny thing is that I was reading that the US military top brass were reluctant to commit 10th Mountain division to Afghanistan (did they get deployed there?), but not the marines!

Although our doctrine revolves around amphibious warfare, we are equally well suited to perform a variety of other tasks. It's not that it's the only thing we do, it's just what we do better than anyone else.

The 10th mountain does seem like a logical choice for deployment in the highlands of afghanistan, based on name alone, but in reality, deployments are dependent on more than just technical expertise. As I understand it, army divisions basically compete for deployment spots.

USMC specialize in Amphib landing.

82nd = Airfield seizure
101st = lateral movement on the battlefield (almost 8 battalion of lift asset its a freaking BDE move)
10th MTN = Mountain warfare
2nd ID = Stryker BDE's
Actually most of the Divisions are Stryker BDE's
173rd Combat Team is mostly Light Infantry with organic arty. Back in the days they were 4th BDE of the 82nd

So saying we do not just...as in the US Military...do not specialize in one aspect. We fit into all aspect of the battle field.

Also the USMC as mention before are in RC South Afghanistan at Leatherneck/Bastion

edit

No screaming bloody murder we're in Peace Talks with the Taliban. We did as a Nation reelect this guy We;; for those who voted for him

Besides....do you seriously believe the Insurgents are going to agree and abide by the terms we set down?

Do you actually believe we're going to do a prisoner exchange with the insurgents with no proof that our one guy is still alive?

Good money Karzi popping smoke before we leave the country.

 Jihadin wrote:
Good money Karzi popping smoke before we leave the country.

I'm sure the Mayor of Kabul already has his escape planned

There has been multiple space Marines already, including Col. John Glenn, yut!

The Marine Corps specialty at this point is more that we have complete, integrated combined arms strike packages floating around the world, not only to support our native amphibious assault missions, but to basically do anything and everything up to invading small countries within twenty four hours or the next one's free. (For example, that F-15 that went down over Libya? Pilot, RIO recovered and aircraft remains thermited in under three hours from mayday.) No one does combined arms like we do when operating on the Marine Expeditionary Unit. Otherwise the Pentagon likes to whistle up Marine units to go to the gakkiest parts of extremely gakky areas to make with the whole "amphibious assault specialists" without the "amphibious".

The bottom line for what the Corps is doing in Afghanistan? You don't leave a couple divisions worth of well trained and aggressive troops sitting around when there's a war on, and we don't tell the Pentagon "we don't do windows" when we get a call.

WSO! RIOs died with the Tomcat. :(

 Captain Fantastic wrote:
"WE WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS"

Except when we will

I stand corrected.

WSO! RIOs died with the Tomcat. :(

GGGOOOOOSSEEEEEE!!!!

 tumblebomb wrote:
The Moral argument that we should help people is fair and correct but we can't just pick and choose. There are countries worse than Afghan I believe and we don't invade them all. Its really taking far too big a stick to the problem.

Yes, but once you have invaded a country, you kind of end up with a stronger obligation than would otherwise exist.

Of course who's to say the way we do things is so great.

Well, we don't have to say everything we do is great in order to be able to say it's a hell of a lot better than assaulting and killing young girls for attending school.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
There has been multiple space Marines already, including Col. John Glenn, yut!

The Marine Corps specialty at this point is more that we have complete, integrated combined arms strike packages floating around the world, not only to support our native amphibious assault missions, but to basically do anything and everything up to invading small countries within twenty four hours or the next one's free. (For example, that F-15 that went down over Libya? Pilot, RIO recovered and aircraft remains thermited in under three hours from mayday.) No one does combined arms like we do when operating on the Marine Expeditionary Unit. Otherwise the Pentagon likes to whistle up Marine units to go to the gakkiest parts of extremely gakky areas to make with the whole "amphibious assault specialists" without the "amphibious".

The bottom line for what the Corps is doing in Afghanistan? You don't leave a couple divisions worth of well trained and aggressive troops sitting around when there's a war on, and we don't tell the Pentagon "we don't do windows" when we get a call.

The other day, I discovered disturbing news. The US marine corps is bigger than the entire British Army!

You'll never beat us! Never!

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


The other day, I discovered disturbing news. The US marine corps is bigger than the entire British Army!

You'll never beat us! Never!

And the Jarheads haz moar toyz too!

Seriously... that's simultaneously comforting and scary.

Pretty sure the Marine Corps aviation component is comparable to the RAF too.

If the RAF and the British Royal Army want to compete.....Think of the Helmand Province in South Afghanistan

JK...JK....JK

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Pretty sure the Marine Corps aviation component is comparable to the RAF too.

Yeah, the Marine Corps' air assets make it like the 5th largest air force in the world I'm pretty sure.

And with all that impious CAS focus.

Someone has to do the actual work while the air to air guys wait for the Russians to show up. We even have C-130 gunships now.

I'm telling you, man, the Bear is coming over the Pole any day now.

It's why we'll always need to spend a lot of time practicing ACM over Key West. AND NO OTHER REASON.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Pretty sure the Marine Corps aviation component is comparable to the RAF too.

Yeah, but our airforce is royal, our marines are royal. You guys are just the common-run-of-the-mill types!