Posted on Jun 21, 2018
PFC Mechanic
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This is a good question yes?
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SGT Dave Tracy
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Edited 6 y ago
Prior to GWAT, there were probably many WOs, Os & NCOs without combat experience.
Prior to Gulf War there were probably many WOs, Os & NCOs without combat experience.
Prior to Vietnam War there were probably many WOs, Os & NCOs without combat experience.
Prior to Korean War there were probably many WOs, Os & NCOs without combat experience.
Prior to WW 2 there were probably many WOs, Os & NCOs without combat experience.
Prior to WW 1 there were probably many WOs, Os & NCOs without combat experience.
(You see where I'm going with this)

Experience is a great teacher--probably the best--and worthy of respect (I know I give experience a listen). That doesn't mean those with it must be the best leaders any more than those without it are not good leaders. So some people might frown on leaders without combat experience, but strip away the ego, and history has shown that many an inexperienced leader managed to step up and get the job done when the time came.
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1SG Charles Rivenburgh
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
>1 y
Ike had no command experience larger than a platoon before Africa and Europe
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SSG Kenneth Ponder
SSG Kenneth Ponder
>1 y
Before wwl there were no patches
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SSG Kenneth Ponder
SSG Kenneth Ponder
>1 y
CPT William Jones eisenhower was a administrator, not a good leader. He surrounded himself with a combination of good combat leaders and drew from that pool of information, just like Fox taught him. MacArthur said it best, "best damn clerk I ever had"
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COL John McClellan
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Not if you are brand new just out of basic or such; but it's probably pretty usual otherwise - after 18 years of un-declared (war) but active combat operations... if you are mid-grade or senior and no time downrange... yes, I suspect that many would find that.. inadequate!
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SGT Dave Tracy
SGT Dave Tracy
6 y
Back in 2010, I had a 1SG (Infantry) with a single overseas service stripe on his Class As. We were always curious about that, but then again, it was more than many of us had.
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MSG Reid Zohfeld
MSG Reid Zohfeld
>1 y
Spoken like politician
I have no down range time BUT I trained Over a thousand troops to go to the sand box and they all came home
I tired to be thought of inexperienced because I was not sent even though I volunteer many times
Thank God I retired because of soldiers I see today are nothing compared to the ones of the past
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MSG Greg Kelly
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First I look at it as a deployment patch only about 1 to 3 percent of the people who deploy actually hear or fire their weapons in combat. And that is a high guess on my part. That does not take away from those who have not been shot at or did any shooting. We all have our crosses to bare. Many people have many reasons for not having a deployment patch. Some soldiers who want to go overseas just keep missing the plane so to speak due to position, MOS or rank. Some do not want to go. I cannot understand those people. And some are just avoiding it due to fear, I do not understand them either. Its OK to be afraid but never let it control you or make your decisions for you. But I will say this never pre-judge anyone or judge on what you may not understand. And just because someone has not deployed they may still be a great leader no matter what anyone thinks. Hell I had peers just hated my guts because of the way I walked how stupid and childish is that for senior NCOs to act. Did not find that out until I made E8 and finally brought the issue out. I just laughed at them all and walked away. So who really had the issue me for my walk or small minded NCOs. Do not let a small mind hurt you. just sayin
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
>1 y
Msg Kelly. No such thing as a deployment patch. Being deployed means being assigned outside the USA. The patch worn on right shoulder is for being deployed to a designated hostile fire zone. Germany is a deployment but hasn’t been eligible for the”combat” patch for over 50 years. I find it very ignorant(dictionary definition applies) what the military calls deployed and so many in the military of senior ranks thinking deployed is the same and only applies to combat zone. I was overseas from Sep 67 to May 71. It included over 32 months RVN the rest in Germany.
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MSG Greg Kelly
MSG Greg Kelly
>1 y
CPT William Jones - thanks CPT Obvious I think you missed the key words (First I look at it) pay close attention to the letter I. I am aware of the regulation on patch's. either you did not read what I wrote or perhaps I struck a nerve. either way
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
>1 y
First Msg my bonafides. I spent from sep 66 to May. 71 overseas(deployed) 32 months in hostile fire zone. I have seen the elephant. The rest in Germany I was deployed the entire time. No patch for time in Germany it wasn’t a hostile fire zone. I have no idea what sort of nerve you think I would have to be hit. You didn’t use it but saying tours is a small pet peeve of mine as during you wars a tour ran from 30 days to 15 months. So I always use months they haven’t changed over time. :CPT William Jones]
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
>1 y
Small addition. All deployed time was as a volunteer Combat Engineer asOpposed to a Construction Engineer. CPT William Jones
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