Light Infantry Outdated? Lessons from Bolt from the Blue

[Aaron]

Depends on the time period, as for the 80s and in central Europe yes they were out classed but still had some uses as securing the rear area and leave behind forces as in dumping 4 bns in hamburg as you retreat up the peninsula. As for confronting armored formations, no, they would be to easy to out maneuver and crush. But out of central Europe they still had many uses.

As for today I think special ops should be doubled across the board and yes I dont think the 82nd and 101st are needed. The 3 ranger bns are airborne qualified and that gives you more airborne troops then most country's of the world. As for the 101st helos I think they should be spread out with the other divisions to give them more flexibility. The marines still have a mission and a good structure for todays warfare, they have some armor, some apcs, art, own helos, and aircraft to make them very flexible which I think would be a better organizational structure for the 82nd and 101st to follow.As for the marines amphibious capability I think it should be scaled back and the money used elsewhere. We dont need to land a divisional size unit on a beach anymore and the military leaders probably wont do it anyways for fear of casualties as you mentioned.

All in all theres a place for both types depending on where you are in the world, they could sure use 2 of the US armored divisions from the 80s in Ukraine right now.

Aaron