Best trained soldiers?

[Angus]

The era of WW2:
I am surprized nobody mentions the Japanese. I do not know so well of individual units, but they had some mean ones for sure.
Apart from those: British Commandos probably, earning death if they were captured  by the Germans.
Than again, German Fallchirmjager, or perhaps some certain units of the elite SS were hard as nails too, - awww....so were the British Paras...etc...etc
Ok, put my money on the Commandos

[Raubvogel]

If for example you end up in a light unit say..the 7th in Frt Ord or perhaps the 10th Mtn

Too light to fight, too dumb to run I was in the Bayonet Division at Ord....must have put about a million miles on my legs

Don't really have an opinion about the thread topic. Any opinion turns into the normal "my dad can beat up your dad" crap.

[batdog]

Originally posted by Patches
Batdog,

This thread was started as a way to enhance our knowledge via individual opinions and studies. That you are proud of your US Army service goes without challenge. I served in the US Army from 1968-1970, including a tour in Viet Nam. Then,  in 1973, I joined the US Marine Corps and served until 1979.  Sofar, I have taken no offense to anything anyone else has posted, and have been educated along the way. I don't think anyone has posted " out-of-line ", nor offensively.

Take a deep breath, feel the lungs burn on the last few hundred yards of a 10 mile run, and thank the Good Lord that there is great beer and ale in this world to heal wounded lungs.

... Yea... I think I misread Animal's quote (I still love the little **** regardless of his opinion) and the article from Hackworth annoyed me as well.

The sad thing is that Col Hackworth is right. In the mid 90's I trained some troops at Benning. I had a good bunch..squared away and highly motivated. There was this one soldier (dark green issue for what its worth) that was VERY squared away. I remember him saying that he felt that basic was too EASY. The drills told me the couldn't "cuss" a troop and troops had thier "personal space". I was like WTF... I'm sure Mr Foe will respect that...

Thank god for the units. You goto a unit such as the 75 Ranger Reg, 82nd, or just about any other line doggy unit your gonna learn to deal w/stuff like that. You WILL get smoked. I remember doing the Kwola (SP? That bear like critter from down under) many a time for screwing this or that up. I remember wondering WTF had I gotten my bellybutton into,lol.

Anyway... time for me to STFU and drive on.

For the record I think any miltary man who swung a sword for hours and hours and could possiabley die from just a nick was/is the sh*&. The old warriors had hardcore iron balls.

[Charon]

That's it? In my 8th grade gym class more than half of the class could meet those requirements. Especially 45 sit-ups, which would be a piece of cake. I could also easily make the 2 mile run but the 45 pushups would be the only part I might have a problem with.

They aren't half assed, bull**** pushups and situps. For the situps, your knees are bent and your ankles held, your butt can't leave the floor, you can't bounce and you can't rest in the down position, you hands can't unclasp.

For the push ups, your back has to remain rigid and straight, your elbows have to break 90 degrees and you can't rest in the down position.

Basically, it's how many perfect pushups and situps you can do in a row without resting, since the only ways you can rest provide strain. There's nothing quite like taking a PT test and hearing: 33, 34, 34, 34, 35, 36, 36...

[edit: sadly, I probably couldn't do more than 10 of each today after sitiing on my bellybutton for the past 10 years ]

Charon

[Bluedog]

Originally posted by -tronski-
Ancient: Parthian mounted archers

WW1: Canadian/New Zealand or Australian Infantry

WW2:  101st Airborne/ 1st Airborne Division (British) or the elite Waffen SS Formations (LSAH/Das Reich/Wiking)

Modern: Australian SAS /The Royal Marines

 Tronsky

Didn't think training given to Aussie troops in WWI was anything special?? More to do with the fact that they were all hard as nails bushmen/ stockmen/railway workers etc before they joined I thought. I think it was more their spirit than their training that served them so well.

I think you would have to be more specific as to what area of warfare you are talking about with modern day stuff, as it seems a lot of Armies are leaning toward more and more specialised training and equipment for a specific form of warfare.

For the sheer numbers, ability to deliver firepower onto a target, and the ability to maintain an army far from home for long periods of time, none can do it like the Yanks can, and several of their individual units can rightly be called Elite, and measured beside the best the world has.
But for the training standard of your average Joe Grunt Infantryman, across the board, I would have to do the patriotic flag waving thingy, and say the Aussie Army is right up there with the best of 'em.
And I would have to agree, WWII, the Imperial Japanese Marines would have to get a mention, after all, it took the Yanks, the Brits, the Aussies, the Kiwis, and several other nations to pull 'em up....they must have been doing something right eh?( Just like to add that the first time one of their assaults WAS pulled up, spanked, and sent packing, was by Aussies:) )  
P.S. I know a couple of ex-Rhodesian Light Infantrymen.....some SERIOUSLY hard bastards (Still. They're both in their 50s), I think they, and the Selous Scouts deffinately warrant a mention anywhere exceptional training is discussed.

And I would say that when it comes to Internal Security/ Counter Revolutionary/ Counter Terrorist type stuff, the Brits win hands down, they have about 1000 years or so practise/ experience.

[-tronski-]

Originally posted by Bluedog
Didn't think training given to Aussie troops in WWI was anything special?? More to do with the fact that they were all hard as nails bushmen/ stockmen/railway workers etc before they joined I thought. I think it was more their spirit than their training that served them so well.

I think you would have to be more specific as to what area of warfare you are talking about with modern day stuff, as it seems a lot of Armies are leaning toward more and more specialised training and equipment for a specific form of warfare.

For the sheer numbers, ability to deliver firepower onto a target, and the ability to maintain an army far from home for long periods of time, none can do it like the Yanks can, and several of their individual units can rightly be called Elite, and measured beside the best the world has.
But for the training standard of your average Joe Grunt Infantryman, across the board, I would have to do the patriotic flag waving thingy, and say the Aussie Army is right up there with the best of 'em.
And I would have to agree, WWII, the Imperial Japanese Marines would have to get a mention, after all, it took the Yanks, the Brits, the Aussies, the Kiwis, and several other nations to pull 'em up....they must have been doing something right eh?( Just like to add that the first time one of their assaults WAS pulled up, spanked, and sent packing, was by Aussies:) )  
P.S. I know a couple of ex-Rhodesian Light Infantrymen.....some SERIOUSLY hard bastards (Still. They're both in their 50s), I think they, and the Selous Scouts deffinately warrant a mention anywhere exceptional training is discussed.

And I would say that when it comes to Internal Security/ Counter Revolutionary/ Counter Terrorist type stuff, the Brits win hands down, they have about 1000 years or so practise/ experience.

Good points all...

The dominion soldiers were easily the best infantry in WW1.
Surprisingly the Anzacs/Canadians of WW1 did actually train extensively, largely before big attacks. Monash and Birdwood both drilled the I/II Anzac Corps troops rigorously in new assault techniques before Passchendaele for example.

I did consider the Japanese Marines and assault units, but consider the Allied parachute units I noted to be far superior, and their associated training to be the basis of their effectiveness.
Mind you, again as you pointed out...the Aussies (and militia at that) were the first to send them packing.

 Tronsky