<p>Please show me the quote in the article that says Navy and Marines does CAS better. All I found was a complaint that we do't go as low (and I have a few buddies who have done 500' ("ish", and I only say "ish" because to say they went lower would get them in trouble) passes in full blower as a "Show of Force" when requested). Altitude does not equate to ability, especially when the majority of the weapons used are GPS guided using coordinates provided by the guys on the ground. Forced to do it this way because the ROE dictated to us by Army Generals says so.</p>
<p>The AF also has lots of mandated missions as well (Global Mobility, Air Dominance, Global Strike, to name a few) just like the Navy has sea control. But you insinuate we don't hold up our end in this ground war when we meet our other mandated requirements. Using that logic, we could say the same of the navy (focusing on other missions to the detriment of the ground war) How does focusing your funds and new capabilities on sea control help the young soldier in Central Baghdad? </p>
<p>BTW, I do agree with your suggestion that we need to open up the UAV pilot pipeline to others outside of the typical AF pilot community. My squadron buds and I talk about this all the time. We even like the idea of bringing back the Warrant Officer career field to fill this need. But this is all talk way above my (and your) pay-grade.</p>
<p>USNA
First, Buckaroo was not chastising you for defending yourself against being called a "troll" I think Buckaroo was requesting that you keep the forum civil. Secondly, did you really think that you wouldn't stir up a controversy by writing the things you wrote or was that your original intent? Most of the decisions that y'all are talking about are made at a much higher pay grade than any of us.
Bullet,
Thanks for your comments. It is nice to hear from someone that has been there. Thanks for all you do.</p>
<p>I think the intent of the statement was that the Navy was doing a better job. You know better than I that sometimes the old guns and dumb bombs are necessary. Back in the early days of the war the GPS and lasers went early, leaving only the dumb bombs. The Basra downtown nite time F-18 mortar team take out back in March was 20mm. They are still doing the seat-of-the-pants stuff. Apparently the grunts on the ground think the Navy does it better.</p>
<p>Oh well, something else we'll just have to agree to disagree on. I do know that quite a few grunts will be the first to buy me a beer when I tell them I fly in F-15Es. I politely refuse and buy them a pitcher instead, they deserve it more.</p>
<p>We all have a stories and gripes about how other services do their jobs. Part of the terrian; we all think we're number one, and everyone else is number two (literally, and in as what goes down the toilet :) ) But in the end, I know that if any of us ever hears the call for support from our bro's on the ground, we would all beat each other back in our attempts to be the first on station.</p>
<p>Again, roles and missions are serious topics, but usually ones left to people much higher up in rank than us....</p>