Originally Posted by
Timelord
Someone told me that the US Marines distinguish between “ Warfighters” and “. Enablers”. This seems very sensible to me, and Squadron numbers, Standards and so on are for Warfighters. The Bloodhound, Thor and indeed Predator units undoubtedly fitted the bill. I venture to suggest that the ASACS training unit, however valuable as an enabler, is not a warfighter. The blurring of the distinction between them can only be bad for esprit amongst the true warfighters and erode the respect they are due.
Hmmm ‘true warfighter’ … there’s a phrase that can only have come from someone who hasn’t served in recent conflicts. The enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan certainly didn’t ask whether people were enablers or warfighters before they launched attacks. And if you’ve read your Gerasimov then you’d know that ‘war fighting’ in the old fashioned sense is now very much about mopping up. Victory occurs well before the battlefield and the arrival of fielded forces.