DOCSLIB.ORG

The Art of Strafing

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Art of Strafing The Art of Strafing By Richard B.H. Lewis ODERN fighter pilots risk their lives Mevery day performing the act of strafing, which to some may seem like a tactic from a bygone era. Last Novem- ber, an F-16 pilot, Maj. Troy L. Gilbert, died strafing the enemy in Iraq, trying Painting by Robert Bailey to protect coalition forces taking fire on the ground. My first thought was, “Why was an F-16 doing that mission?” But I already knew the answer. In the 1980s, at the height of the Cold War, I was combat-ready in the 512th Fighter Squadron, an F-16 unit at Ramstein AB, Germany. We had to maintain combat status in air-to- air, air-to-ground, and nuclear strike operations. We practiced strafing oc- casionally. We were not very good at it, but it was extremely challenging. There is a big difference between was “Gott strafe England” (“God punish flight controls and a 30 mm Gatling flying at 25,000 feet where you have England”). The term caught on. gun. I have seen the aircraft return from plenty of room to maneuver and you In the World War I Battle of St. Mihiel, combat with one engine and major parts can barely see a target, and at 200 feet, Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker once strafed of a wing and flight controls blown off. where the ground is rushing right below eight German artillery pieces, each Unquestionably, the A-10 is the ultimate you and you can read the billboards drawn by a team of six horses. Horses strafing machine. screaming by. and wagons scattered everywhere, the Strafing in other fighter aircraft, The only aircraft required to strafe great pilot later recounted. The physical though done more and more often, is in the Cold War was the A-10, and for damage was not great, but the disruption extremely dangerous. To be effective good reason. It was the only aircraft of the horse train worked. on the battlefield, a pilot must be able built to endure the hazards of strafing Among World War II strafing aircraft, to perform low-altitude passes in the against Warsaw Pact forces. We have few if any were more effective than face of the enemy. Each party is blazing all seen aircraft in the movies, diving at the American B-25 Mitchell bomber. away at the other. In fighter aircraft other the ground, guns blazing, while people In the Pacific, it was used frequently than the A-10, the pilot must make very on the ground are running to take cover. on treetop-level missions against Japa- low passes if he is to deliver accurate That’s not how it really is. Once the nese airfields and shipping, with great fire from the gun. Doing this, though fighter enters the low-altitude environ- impact. In both World War II and the it might sound easy, requires intense ment, the pilot is subject to multiple Korean War, 12.7 mm guns were the concentration. This is critical if the pilot threats; he faces not only surface-to-air real workhorses. The 20 mm gun has is to avoid flying through the up-thrown missiles and anti-aircraft artillery but been the weapon of choice for most debris from exploding targets or flying also handheld heat-seeking missiles and US fighters over the past 50 years. Its into ground objects. automatic gunfire. key attributes have been its high rates For most fighter pilots, strafing well In “No Man’s Land”—that is, below of fire and muzzle velocity. in combat is no simple task. Holding 5,000 feet—the chances of being hit go During the Vietnam War, we lost large wings level while tracking a target for up astronomically. However, for many numbers of aircraft, many as a result more than 10 seconds is considered aircraft, the limitations of the gun require of getting down low and in the range too predictable for enemy fire. One the pilot to fly lower, below 1,000 feet, of lethal fire. This made it a priority to has to visualize the point in the bat- if he or she hopes to consistently hit the build a ground attack aircraft dedicated tlespace where one needs to be to start target. When you get down that low, bad to close air support. the strafing pass, and yet still maintain things can happen. The design of the A-10 is unlike awareness of the target’s location. This The Pentagon defines strafing simply any other aircraft. It was built with un- dual task can best be carried out using a as “the delivery of automatic weapons fire paralleled emphasis on simplicity and five- to 15-degree dive angle. Altitude, by aircraft on ground targets.” The term survivability. For instance, it features a airspeed, and wind direction must also itself has an interesting pedigree. It is titanium “bathtub” to protect the pilot be considered. derived from the German word “strafen,” from direct hits from armor-piercing and Imagine yourself flying down a large meaning, “to punish.” In World War I, high-explosive projectiles in sizes up to funnel that ends at the target. One finds a popular German Army catch phrase 23 mm. Beyond that, it has redundant lots of room to maneuver at the top of 54 AIR FORCE Magazine / July 2007 the funnel; you can do that and still hit The same thing happened in Balad, debate about whether we should take out the target. However, at the bottom of the where we found people going to get that gun. I’m glad we didn’t, because, in funnel, you run out of maneuver room. roadside bomb supplies. We have been combat trials, we have already had gun One needs to place the aircraft’s aiming using the gun against single persons who kills. The gun was required to complete symbology short of the target such that have been planting improvised exposive the mission. it drifts up to the target as the gun comes devices. You’ll have an individual with a Even so, the F-22, like all other within firing range. It is difficult to keep truck, and a couple of other individuals; fighters, can strafe when it has to. And the gun sight on the target for more than you’ll see them get out and move around, it will probably have to. Few would two seconds while flying at 552 mph. trying to dig a hole, and you’ll bring in have thought, 20 years ago, that the One can’t just stare, zombie-like, at the an F-16 or an F-15E, or maybe an A-10, F-15E would one day play the role target. This causes target fixation, which and you’ll use 20 or 30 mm and go kill of classic strafing machine. Yet the can become a fatal experience. them. If you have troops in contact, or Strike Eagle did a great job strafing We know from Gilbert’s death what you have individuals in buildings, you al Qaeda fighters during the March Painting by Robert Bailey such concentration can cause. (See do the same thing. 2002 battle on Takur Ghar, one of the “Aerospace World: F-16 Pilot Awarded Some pilots are expanding the strafing main engagements of Anaconda. Of the DFC,” June, p. 14.) The official envelope, so to speak. Earlier this year, course, it should be noted that the F- accident report blamed the accident the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael 15E pilot had long, deep experience on Gilbert’s “channelized attention,” W. Wynne, told this story: “About a year flying the A-10. which was “manifested by his desire ago, our F-15 airmen were thinking about The F-35 Lightning II fighter, which to maintain a constant visual positive how they could execute night strafing. is set to enter service in 2013, has a identification of targeted enemy ve- It seemed hard, maybe undoable. Last special gun, better for strafing ground hicles, and subsequent target fixation month, I learned it was being done in targets than the gun found in the F-22. on these vehicles.” These circum- daily ops in the fight. ... Actually, it is The F-35 is specifically designed to stances, the report went on, caused the now called easy.” The F-15 community have the sensors and weapons needed F-16 pilot “to begin and then press his had programmed F-15 simulators at to support ground operations. It will attack below a recoverable altitude.” Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., where go deep, but it will also thrive in On Gilbert’s second strafing pass, he CAS engagements. Its gun will carry came in at an extremely low altitude “Enemy troops 75 meters special shells powerful enough to and simply could not recover. He flew penetrate armored targets, unlike the the airplane into the ground. away. ... I need guns only!” F-22, whose gun ammo is specially Then there is the risk of being brought designed to blow up an airplane. The down by the “Golden BB”—the single, F-35’s gun will be a weapon of last lucky but lethal shot that finds its mark. you could, through practice, work a resort, though, because of the extreme That risk exists for virtually any fighter night strafe from “hard” to “easy” in a vulnerability of the pilot during a whose cockpit can be easily penetrated matter of months. strafing mission. by ground fire. That is why, after the A-10s probably will be here until they With the advent of small, low-col- pilot has strafed the target, he pulls up fall out of the sky, but can they always lateral-damage weapons, the tactic of hard.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Air-To-Ground Battle for Italy
    Air-to-Ground Battle for Italy MICHAEL C. MCCARTHY Brigadier General, USAF, Retired Air University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama August 2004 Air University Library Cataloging Data McCarthy, Michael C. Air-to-ground battle for Italy / Michael C. McCarthy. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-58566-128-7 1. World War, 1939–1945 — Aerial operations, American. 2. World War, 1939– 1945 — Campaigns — Italy. 3. United States — Army Air Forces — Fighter Group, 57th. I. Title. 940.544973—dc22 Disclaimer Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Air University, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. Cleared for public release: distribution unlimited. Air University Press 131 West Shumacher Avenue Maxwell AFB AL 36112–6615 http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil ii Contents Chapter Page DISCLAIMER . ii FOREWORD . v ABOUT THE AUTHOR . vii PREFACE . ix INTRODUCTION . xi Notes . xiv 1 GREAT ADVENTURE BEGINS . 1 2 THREE MUSKETEERS TIMES TWO . 11 3 AIR-TO-GROUND BATTLE FOR ITALY . 45 4 OPERATION STRANGLE . 65 INDEX . 97 Photographs follow page 28 iii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Foreword The events in this story are based on the memory of the author, backed up by official personnel records. All survivors are now well into their eighties. Those involved in reconstructing the period, the emotional rollercoaster that was part of every day and each combat mission, ask for understanding and tolerance for fallible memories. Bruce Abercrombie, our dedicated photo guy, took most of the pictures.
    [Show full text]
  • IN PURSUIT a Pilot’S Guide to Online Air Combat
    IN PURSUIT A Pilot’s Guide to Online Air Combat JOHAN KYLANDER For Barry “Carrot” Hayes Copyright © Johan Kylander 2005 2 JUNE 12: TRIPLE TRIP I step into my personal P40-B at Cambrai, strap in, slide the canopy back and go through the pre-launch routine: tailwheel locked, trim wheel fully back, RPM set at maximum, listen and scan for intruders. None around. It's 13:45 local time and the hound dogs are too lazy to even yap in the blistering French afternoon. I fire the engine and slam the throttle full forward, clearing the south hangers with feet to spare. I ess and quarter-roll all the way up to 4 km where I reduce to normal pitch and cruise east over the battlefield, still quarter-rolling and weaving gently. I check my six every 2 seconds. There’s nothing to be seen at the Meuse apart from a grand vista at 4,5 km. No enemy formations, not even a single recon plane. Oh well. I cut to fine pitch, anticipating a boring lonely wait over Bertrix-Acremont. I’m doing about 340 IAS as I come in from southwest of the field. Hey, there’s a bogey diving in west at about 4 km – probably friendly. I lose him in the clouds as I swing left to take up orbit. 2 seconds later I spot a 109 arcing in on my six from the west, co-alt. Well well, who’d a thunk! Someone else must have been here to stoke the waffles not long ago.
    [Show full text]
  • AFDD 2-8 Command and Control
    Cover Sheet for Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD) 6-0, Command and Control OPR: LeMay Center/DD 28 July 2011 AFDD numbering has changed to correspond with the joint doctrine publication numbering architecture (the AFDD titles remain unchanged until the doctrine is revised). Any AFDD citations within the documents will list the old AFDD numbers until the doctrine is revised. The changed numbers follow: OLD NEW TITLE AFDD 2-1 changed to AFDD 3-1 Air Warfare AFDD 2-1.1 changed to AFDD 3-01 Counterair Operations AFDD 2-1.2 changed to AFDD 3-70 Strategic Attack AFDD 2-1.3 changed to AFDD 3-03 Counterland Operations AFDD 2-1.4 changed to AFDD 3-04 Countersea Operations AFDD 2-1.6 changed to AFDD 3-50 Personnel Recovery Operations AFDD 2-1.7 changed to AFDD 3-52 Airspace Control AFDD 2-1.8 changed to AFDD 3-40 Counter-CBRN AFDD 2-1.9 changed to AFDD 3-60 Targeting AFDD 2-10 changed to AFDD 3-27 Homeland Operations AFDD 2-12 changed to AFDD 3-72 Nuclear Operations AFDD 2-2 changed to AFDD 3-14 Space Operations AFDD 2-2.1 changed to AFDD 3-14.1 Counterspace Operations AFDD 2-3 changed to AFDD 3-24 Irregular Warfare AFDD 2-3.1 changed to AFDD 3-22 Foreign Internal Defense AFDD 2-4 changed to AFDD 4-0 Combat Support AFDD 2-4.1 changed to AFDD 3-10 Force Protection AFDD 2-4.2 changed to AFDD 4-02 Health Services AFDD 2-4.4 changed to AFDD 4-11 Bases, Infrastructure, and Facilities [Rescinded] AFDD 2-4.5 changed to AFDD 1-04 Legal Support AFDD 2-5 changed to AFDD 3-13 Information Operations AFDD 2-5.1 changed to AFDD 3-13.1 Electronic Warfare AFDD
    [Show full text]
  • HELP from ABOVE Air Force Close Air
    HELP FROM ABOVE Air Force Close Air Support of the Army 1946–1973 John Schlight AIR FORCE HISTORY AND MUSEUMS PROGRAM Washington, D. C. 2003 i Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Schlight, John. Help from above : Air Force close air support of the Army 1946-1973 / John Schlight. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Close air support--History--20th century. 2. United States. Air Force--History--20th century. 3. United States. Army--Aviation--History--20th century. I. Title. UG703.S35 2003 358.4'142--dc22 2003020365 ii Foreword The issue of close air support by the United States Air Force in sup- port of, primarily, the United States Army has been fractious for years. Air commanders have clashed continually with ground leaders over the proper use of aircraft in the support of ground operations. This is perhaps not surprising given the very different outlooks of the two services on what constitutes prop- er air support. Often this has turned into a competition between the two serv- ices for resources to execute and control close air support operations. Although such differences extend well back to the initial use of the airplane as a military weapon, in this book the author looks at the period 1946- 1973, a period in which technological advances in the form of jet aircraft, weapons, communications, and other electronic equipment played significant roles. Doctrine, too, evolved and this very important subject is discussed in detail. Close air support remains a critical mission today and the lessons of yesterday should not be ignored. This book makes a notable contribution in seeing that it is not ignored.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fighting Five-Tenth: One Fighter-Bomber Squadron's
    The Fighting Five-Tenth: One Fighter-Bomber Squadron’s Experience during the Development of World War II Tactical Air Power by Adrianne Lee Hodgin Bruce A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Auburn, Alabama December 14, 2013 Keywords: World War II, fighter squadrons, tactical air power, P-47 Thunderbolt, European Theater of Operations Copyright 2013 by Adrianne Lee Hodgin Bruce Approved by William Trimble, Chair, Alumni Professor of History Alan Meyer, Assistant Professor of History Mark Sheftall, Associate Professor of History Abstract During the years between World War I and World War II, many within the Army Air Corps (AAC) aggressively sought an independent air arm and believed that strategic bombardment represented an opportunity to inflict severe and dramatic damages on the enemy while operating autonomously. In contrast, working in cooperation with ground forces, as tactical forces later did, was viewed as a subordinate role to the army‘s infantry and therefore upheld notions that the AAC was little more than an alternate means of delivering artillery. When President Franklin Delano Roosevelt called for a significantly expanded air arsenal and war plan in 1939, AAC strategists saw an opportunity to make an impression. Eager to exert their sovereignty, and sold on the efficacy of heavy bombers, AAC leaders answered the president‘s call with a strategic air doctrine and war plans built around the use of heavy bombers. The AAC, renamed the Army Air Forces (AAF) in 1941, eventually put the tactical squadrons into play in Europe, and thus tactical leaders spent 1943 and the beginning of 1944 preparing tactical air units for three missions: achieving and maintaining air superiority, isolating the battlefield, and providing air support for ground forces.
    [Show full text]
  • Conventional Weapons
    ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL 45 2 The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors concerned and are not necessarily those held by the Royal Air Force Historical Society. First published in the UK in 2009 by the Royal Air Force Historical Society All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing. ISSN 1361 4231 Printed by Windrush Group Windrush House Avenue Two Station Lane Witney OX28 4XW 3 ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY President Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC AFC Vice-President Air Marshal Sir Frederick Sowrey KCB CBE AFC Committee Chairman Air Vice-Marshal N B Baldwin CB CBE FRAeS Vice-Chairman Group Captain J D Heron OBE Secretary Group Captain K J Dearman FRAeS Membership Secretary Dr Jack Dunham PhD CPsychol AMRAeS Treasurer J Boyes TD CA Members Air Commodore G R Pitchfork MBE BA FRAes *J S Cox Esq BA MA *Dr M A Fopp MA FMA FIMgt *Group Captain A J Byford MA MA RAF *Wing Commander P K Kendall BSc ARCS MA RAF Wing Commander C Cummings Editor & Publications Wing Commander C G Jefford MBE BA Manager *Ex Officio 4 CONTENTS RFC BOMBS & BOMBING 1912-1918 by AVM Peter Dye 8 THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAF BOMBS, 1919-1939 by 15 Stuart Hadaway RAF BOMBS AND BOMBING 1939-1945 by Nina Burls 25 THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAF GUNS AND 37 AMMUNITION FROM WORLD WAR 1 TO THE
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond Close Air Support Forging a New Air-Ground Partnership
    CHILD POLICY This PDF document was made available CIVIL JUSTICE from www.rand.org as a public service of EDUCATION the RAND Corporation. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE Jump down to document6 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS NATIONAL SECURITY The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit POPULATION AND AGING research organization providing PUBLIC SAFETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY objective analysis and effective SUBSTANCE ABUSE solutions that address the challenges TERRORISM AND facing the public and private sectors HOMELAND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION AND around the world. INFRASTRUCTURE Support RAND Purchase this document Browse Books & Publications Make a charitable contribution For More Information Visit RAND at www.rand.org Explore RAND Project AIR FORCE View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non- commercial use only. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents. This product is part of the RAND Corporation monograph series. RAND monographs present major research findings that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND mono- graphs undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. Beyond Close Air Support Forging a New Air-Ground Partnership Bruce R. Pirnie, Alan Vick, Adam Grissom, Karl P. Mueller, David T. Orletsky Prepared for the United States Air Force Approved for public release; distribution unlimited The research described in this report was sponsored by the United States Air Force under Contract F49642-01-C-0003.
    [Show full text]
  • F-16C, T/N 88-0496
    UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD REPORT F-16C, T/N 88-0496 311th FIGHTER SQUADRON 54th FIGHTER GROUP HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO LOCATION: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NEW MEXICO DATE OF ACCIDENT: 31 JANUARY 2017 BOARD PRESIDENT: MAJOR GENERAL PATRICK M. WADE Conducted IAW Air Force Instruction 51-503 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION F-16C, T/N 88-0496 WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NEW MEXICO 31 JANUARY 2017 On 31 January 2017, at 19:18:31 hours local (L), an F-16C, Tail Number (T/N) 88-0496, fired 155 20mm training projectile bullets on the supporting Joint Terminal Attack Controllers’ (JTAC) position at the Red Rio bombing range (located on the White Sands Missile Range), injuring one military member and killing a civilian contractor. The mishap pilot (MP) and mishap instructor pilot (MIP) were assigned to the 311th fighter squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico (NM). The MP was enrolled in the F-16 Formal Training Unit program, flying a night, close-air support (CAS) training sortie under the MIP’s supervision. After a successful bomb pass and two failed strafing attempts, the MP errantly pointed his aircraft at the observation point and fired his gun. One 20mm TP bullet fragment struck the mishap contractor (MC) in the back of the head. A UH-60 aircrew extracted the MC, provided urgent care, and transported him to Alamogordo, NM. The MC died at the hospital at 21:01 hours L. The MP was a USAF First Lieutenant, with 86 total flying hours, 60.9 in the F-16.
    [Show full text]
  • Night Air Combat
    AU/ACSC/0604G/97-03 NIGHT AIR COMBAT A UNITED STATES MILITARY-TECHNICAL REVOLUTION A Research Paper Presented To The Research Department Air Command and Staff College In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements of ACSC By Maj. Merrick E. Krause March 1997 Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................ ii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................... iv PREFACE....................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT................................................................................................................... vi A UNITED STATES MILITARY-TECHNICAL REVOLUTION.................................. 1 MILITARY-TECHNICAL REVOLUTION THEORY ................................................... 5 Four Elements of an MTR........................................................................................... 9 The Revolution in Military Affairs............................................................................. 12 Revolution or Evolution? .......................................................................................... 15 Strength, Weakness, and Relevance of the MTR Concept ........................................
    [Show full text]
  • EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT Thtvestigation F-16 CG, SIN 90-0776 524TH EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTER SQUADRON (EFS), BALAD AB, IRAQ 27 NOVEMBER 2006
    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT ThTVESTIGATION F-16 CG, SIN 90-0776 524TH EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTER SQUADRON (EFS), BALAD AB, IRAQ 27 NOVEMBER 2006 On 27 November 2006, at 1332 hours Jocal time, an F-16 fighter aircraft, serial number (SIN) 90-0776, crashed 20 miles northwest of Baghdad while supporting friendly forces under enemy attack. The mishap aircraft (MA) was part of the 524th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) deployed from Cannon AFB, NM to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) Balad AB, Iraq. The mishap pilot (MP), deployed from Luke AFB, AZ was serving as the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group (EOG) chief of standardization 1 and evaluation (OGV). On the day of the mishap, he was flying with the 524 h EFS. The MA impacted the target area and was destroyed. The MP made no attempt to eject and died immediately on impact. No personnel or objects on the ground were injured or destroyed during the crash. The mishap sortie began as a non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (NTISR) mission. Approximately three hours into the sortie, a coalition helicopter made a hard landing and the MP' s two-ship formation was tasked to provide NTISR support. A coalition ground force moving to secure the do·wned helicopter came under heavy attack from enemy forces employing small/medium caliber weapons and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). The MP was tasked by the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) to engage enemy vehicles with his 20 millimeter cannon. While the MP's wingman returned to the tanker to refuel, the MP worked with the JTAC to positively identify (PID) the enemy vehicles by making several low passes.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 8 May 2007 SMALL WARS JOURNAL
    Small Wars Journal – Vol 8, May 2007 SWJ Magazine1 Volume 8 May 2007 SMALL WARS JOURNAL www.smallwarsjournal.com AAADVISING IIINDIGENOUS FFFORCES Captain Ryan T. Kranc IIINTRODUCTION ::: IIIN THE MEDIUM TERM As the Long War continues, reaching its An Iraq that is in the lead defeating tactical, operational, and strategic objectives terrorists and insurgents and providing its requires training and advising the security own security, with a constitutional, elected forces of Iraq and Afghanistan to take control government in place, providing an inspiring of their country from insurgents, sectarian example to reformers in the region, and well violence, and lawlessness. General George Casey said in September 2005 that "The sooner we can shift [to Iraqi security forces] the better. A smaller U.S. footprint, that is allowed to BLOGGING STRO NG decline gradually as Iraqi forces get stronger, Our Surge (SWJ-rear) proceeds well. The all-star actually helps us." 1 The November 2005 crew of bloggers continues to grow at the SWJ Blog, www.smallwarsjournal.com/blog/ . The National Security Council publication, The Small Wars Council survived its recent forum National Strategy for Victory in Iraq emphasized expansion and continues to grow, fast that point, quantifying victory in Iraq according approaching 1,000 members. to three distinct time metrics: This edition of the SWJ Magazine is, again, later than our authors deserve. We will adjust our IIIN THE SHORT TERM methods for vol 9 to get better throughput. We have many more quality articles tee’d up and An Iraq that is making steady progress in yearning to be read.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 5 in VIVO DIAGNOSTICS and METRICS in the ASSESSMENT of LASER-INDUCED RETINAL INJURY
    In Vivo Diagnostics and Metrics in the Assessment of Laser-Induced Retinal Injury Chapter 5 IN VIVO DIAGNOSTICS AND METRICS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF LASER-INDUCED RETINAL INJURY † ‡ § HARRY ZWICK, PHD*; JAMES W. NESS, PHD ; MICHAEL BELKIN, MD ; AND BRUCE E. STUCK, MS INTRODUCTION VISUAL FUNCTION: SHIFTING FOCUS BEYOND THE MACULA ASSESSING IN VIVO RETINAL MORPHOLOGY Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Optical Coherence Tomography FUNCTIONAL METRICS AND STRUCTURAL CORRELATES Assessing Visual Function Along the Visual Pathway Integrating Imaging With Visual Function LASER ACCIDENT CASES Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 REVIEW SUMMARY *Formerly, Team Leader, Retinal Assessment Team, US Army Medical Research Detachment, Brooks City-Base, San Antonio, Texas 78235-5108; cur- rently retired †Colonel, Medical Service Corps, US Army; Program Director, Engineering Psychology, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, US Military Academy, West Point, New York 10996 ‡Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel §Director, Ocular Trauma Research Division, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, 3400 Rawley East Chambers Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78234- 6315; currently retired 129 Military Quantitative Physiology: Problems and Concepts in Military Operational Medicine INTRODUCTION The field of laser–tissue interactions encompasses in 1968 at the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia, almost all branches of science, including basic and ap- Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Army’s laser safety plied physics, engineering, meteorology, biology, and program was to support development of military medicine. Since the invention of lasers in the middle lasers by minimizing their potential risks to soldiers of the last century, lasers have become ubiquitous, in the field.
    [Show full text]