Author Topic: Army strength question? (Read 363 times)

Gyro/T69 · « **on:** March 08, 2003, 07:47:33 PM »

As I understand it. There are 10 active Army divisions? 1st Armor, 1st, 2, 3, 4, 25 Inf, 10Mt, 82, 101 airborne and the 1st aircav. Yes?

Is there 3 active Marine divisions?

Now the question:D How would the inactive divisions be filled out if needed? Are they completely stood down? Would new recruits or draftees be needed to round them out?

OIO · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2003, 07:49:33 PM »

Those divisions are currently being bred in Texas.

'urrah!

Gyro/T69 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2003, 07:52:00 PM »

Why thank you for the informative post.

Maverick · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2003, 08:29:04 PM »

Gyro,

Tha majority of the filling out would be done by the Reserve and the Guard. The Reserves currently are structured as combat support and combat service support. That means those that support the front line soldiers. Everything from beans to bullets and fire support as well. Some of the Guard units are combat units and would be available to use as additional units. From what I've seen locally there isn't a major push to mobilize those combat units, yet.

Filling combat losses by the draft and enlistments is not a feasable option for the short term. It takes about 4 to 9 months (depending on the MOS) to make a front line soldier. The more technical the skill the longer the training takes.

Does this answer your question? Let me know if you want more info.

Cheers

Gyro/T69 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2003, 08:41:13 PM »

To a point:) What I'm wondering about, if we had to tomorrow. About how many full strength divisions could we field in a emergency?

Hangtime · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2003, 09:26:46 PM »

classified.

take that mans name.

Raubvogel · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2003, 12:49:03 AM »

There are also 3 Armored Cavalry Regiments, and a buttload of Separate Infantry Brigades. The 7th ID is around and is composed of an active Army HQ and command with 3 Nasty Guard/Reserve brigades to fill it out. It would probably be the easiest extra division to get going. Bottom line is, the strength we have is overkill for pretty much anything. If the toejam really hit the fan, the National Guard has bunch of divisions that could get ready in a month or so. Reserves are mostly smaller units that augment the active force.

Counting divisions doesn't really tell the whole story. The modern day infantry or armored division is exponentially more lethal than the division of yesteryear.

davidpt40 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2003, 01:00:56 AM »

I do believe that the National Guard would require a little bit of 're-orientation' training if a major conflict developed overnight. Thats not to say these guys aren't motivated, but there was a bit of nationwide record & training falsfication going on here lately.

As for reserves, a bit of training wouldn't hurt either. Have a highschool friend who joined the marine reserves right out of school. MOS was admin. He went through basic training that summer, went to school (college) in the fall. In December he gets a call that hes been switched to tow-gunner, and hes shipping out to South West Asia in 2 weeks. "No big deal, I'm sure they don't teach you much in Advanced Infantry Training anyways Rob, have fun fighting T-72s in your jeep". For some reason my friend didnt find my comment very funny. Wonder why?

Monk · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2003, 02:01:21 AM »

3 active Marine Divs, 1 active reserve Div, and a crap load of inactive reserve Marines.

Very big, Army active reserve here in Germany. very experienced in "Gulf Warfare" .......if you know what I mean.

Charon · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2003, 09:02:29 AM »

My Reserve Division (85th - the “Custer Division,” or just plain old "Coffee and Doughnuts"

) was designed to crank out Cavalry in the event the Soviets poured through the Fulda Gap in the 1980s. We would have taken about two weeks to get positioned, then start cranking out 8-week cycles with our DIs and instructors at Fort Bliss, Texas. We would ship overseas as cadre with the third cycle. Of course, the nukes would have likely flown before we finished the first cycle anyway...

The mission was changing when I left the unit in 1992. It’s still training, but it seems to be more of a broader training support mission than Cavalry specific.

Charon

Raubvogel · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2003, 11:46:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by davidpt40
I do believe that the National Guard would require a little bit of 're-orientation' training if a major conflict developed overnight. Thats not to say these guys aren't motivated, but there was a bit of nationwide record & training falsfication going on here lately.

And just how would you know? FYI, plenty of Guard units shipped right out to Desert Storm and performed admirably. The National Guard and Army Reserve of today is not the same as it was years ago.

davidpt40 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2003, 12:25:13 PM »

While my memory is not photographic, my info is from a few different sources over the years. Of those that come to mind-

Articles in Reader's digest commenting on low combat readiness of NG and Reserve troops. Circa 1996

Commentary of Col David H Hackworth

Book- "Hazardous Duty"

Various news interviews

I forget, what country was it that was using golf carts instead of tanks to practice maneuvers in? Oh, I remember now, The United States of Amerca. But hey, if you can drive a golf cart, you can probably drive a tank, or else why would they practice in them?

miko2d · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2003, 12:53:35 PM »

davidpt40: I forget, what country was it that was using golf carts instead of tanks to practice maneuvers in?

We used to do practice runs on foot in the Soviet army. Jogging a few dozen miles pretending you are riding a tank does wonders for crew's concentration and physique.

If you screw up by botching the spacing or timing or whatever, the whole company or a batallion just repeats the jog the next day without burning tonns of fuel or tearing up the countryside.

miko