What Would The Other Captains Have Done?

[Deepcrush]

I don't think anyone said the Bajorans were going to start invading planets. However their people are skilled in a large number of areas involving combat and its uses. There is always a need for people who can operate without needing a HQ hold their hands. That being the flaw of SF ground troops.

The lack of any weapon heavier than a rifle, or anything resembling combined arms, is a far greater problem than any dependency on centralised C2.

As for the Bajorans, they're yet another army of light infantry with no heavier equipment. They've at least got air support, but that can be rendered useless by bad weather. Their saving graces are that their lack of kit is mainly due to being very young as both a military force rather than stupidity, and they have masses of combat experience and are probably extremely good at small-unit tactics.

You forget that most everyone in Trek uses light infantry, ex being the CU who the Bajorans were able to deal some nasty hurt too. I'd take Bajoran troops over Starfleet troops any day of the week.

[Mark]

Wait!!! Starfleet HAS troops? I thought they just beamed down alot of security personel with engineers and scientists, all carrying rifles to back them up.

[Deepcrush]

Well, thats about right. Though, in truth thats about what passes for troops in the UFP.

[Sionnach Glic]

Wait!!! Starfleet HAS troops? I thought they just beamed down alot of security personel with engineers and scientists, all carrying rifles to back them up.

In truth, that's what they are. We just call them soldiers because we're feeling generous.

[Mark]

That's like putting me, who was a battalion clerk on the front line. Because I had eight weeks of basic

[Sionnach Glic]

Hey, you'd still manage to outperform the Feds.
Then again, I could probably outperform the Feds, and that's saying something.

[Mark]

[Deepcrush]

Only 8 weeks...? Damn, talk about easy.

Marines get 12.

[Captain Seafort]

Hmm, when they call it "basic" they aren't kidding - initial training in the British Army is 14 weeks for most Corps, 24 weeks for the infantry, and the royal marines get 32 weeks.

[Deepcrush]

US basic doesn't include specialist training. Only services common.

[Captain Seafort]

That's also the case for the first figure I mentioned, although the latter two do include the full infantry/Commando training as well.

[Sionnach Glic]

Hasn't the length of time for training in the US military been cut by quite a bit since the start of the Iraq War?

[Mikey]

I don't think so - as Deep said, Basic is just that. After that, there's all sorts of different specialist training: jump school, sniper school, Ranger training, etc., etc.

[Sionnach Glic]

Ah, right.

Oh, and what's "jump school"? I'm getting this bizzare mental image of US troops advancing on Iraqi positions on pogo sticks.

[Captain Seafort]

Oh, and what's "jump school"? I'm getting this bizzare mental image of US troops advancing on Iraqi positions on pogo sticks.

Parachute training I expect.