Value Training for Troops

[Canuck_Buck]

BAGHDAD, Iraq"”The top U.S. general in Iraq on Thursday ordered American commanders to conduct core values training on moral and ethical standards on the battlefield.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197752,00.html

The order was issued about a week after the U.S. Marine Commandant, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, traveled to Iraq and cautioned troops on the danger of becoming "indifferent to the loss of a human life," following the allegations that Marines killed civilians in Haditha.

I am curious to see if this sort of training helps at all...when a human being snaps because of the trauma of war....warriors become more than the sum of their training....I've never been to war and have no first hand experience, but I think some folks here have...any opinions?

Does anyone think this is useful/good/bador just a knee-jerk political response to a timelessage old consequence of war that goes back as far as the beginning of time?

[NCOutdoors]

ORIGINAL: Canuck_Buck

BAGHDAD, IraqÂ*"”Â*The top U.S. general in Iraq on Thursday ordered American commanders to conduct core values training on moral and ethical standards on the battlefield.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197752,00.html

The order was issued about a week after the U.S. Marine Commandant, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, traveled to Iraq and cautioned troops on the danger of becoming "indifferent to the loss of a human life," following the allegations that Marines killed civilians in Haditha.

I am curious to see if this sort of training helps at all...when a human being snaps because of the trauma of war....warriors become more than the sum of their training....I've never been to war and have no first hand experience, but I think some folks here have...any opinions?

Does anyone think this is useful/good/badÂ*or just a knee-jerk political response to a timelessÂ*age old consequence of war that goes back as far as the beginning of timeÂ*?

I see no problem with re-emphasizing war ethics to soldiers. I think that training on how to handle the trauma and shock of battle, while still in the battle might help too. But we wouldn't want to create a situation where soldiers have to think two and three times about every battle field decision.

[kevin1]

Sounds like ass covering to me , nothing more .

[Tazman]

I will be interested to see the replies of those who have actually been in combat, I have not been so my opinion is one based on zero expereince.

I do not feel it can hurt to re-emphasize war ethics, but my understanding is that war ethics are not what many of us would consider good ethics outside of war.

[boysda]

i think it will help, if it's treated seriously by those giving the training. soldiers and sailors are usually the sum of their training. someone shoots at you, your initial instincts tell you to soil yourself and run. training helps overcome that. someone pops your buddy, you instintinctively want vengeance. proper training should help overcome that as well.

[rile1564]

I don't want to see civilians killed anymore then the next guy. I just hope this training doesn't put more troops at danger because they hesitated at the wrong moment.