The wonderful @PamelaBrownCNN was about to ask me about this @washingtonpost article, but I think she ran out of time on @CNN tonight.
But I'd like to talk about it because it talks more than just about the "weapons" the west is providing...it's about training for combat.1/9
Most readers will marvel at the tactics & maneuvers UKRs army and its generals used in the east (Donbas) & the southeast (Kherson) during their Oct/Nov operations.
But there's so much more to be gleaned from this article.
It speaks to the transformation of UKR's Army. 2/
If you've read the piece, read it again with a different view.
UKR generals conducting "rehearsals" (in Germany) with US officials.
Our Army calls those "ROC Drills" for "rehearsal of concept." That's a commander/staff drill to coordinate & synchronize actions in combat. 3/
We practice those rehearsals in training, conduct them during warfare & teach the techniques to others.
You never - NEVER - want to go into a fight not knowing what your teammates are doing.
It's done with small units ...& with large units. In a gym, or in the dirt. 4/
Read what else is implied in the article:
Operations based on finely tuned intelligence.
Our army teaches soldiers "don't feel your way around the battlefield...know what you're going after."
Intel collection, analysis, application is key to "intel-based operations." 5/
Precise targeting!
Don't waste ammunition...use targeting to launch precision ammunitions to hit only important targets.
As a US commander - from Squadron to Division - the commander & staff assessed the "High Value Targets."
Using the loop of Decide-Detect-Deliver-Assess. 6/
As a Division Commander in combat, every Saturday morning we held our "targeting boards" for both kinetic and non-kinetic targets.
What would we strike, and who would we engage in a counterinsurgency operation?
The UA only is worried about striking! 7/
The @washingtonpost article discusses some UKR units going fast (in Donbas) & others going not as fast (in Kherson).
Commander's define that "tempo" and it's determined by the context of the fight.
A mentor once taught me "know when you need to speed up & when to slow down."8/
Finally, all of this come together because of great leadership - from corporals to generals - and courage manifested in individual soldiers.
Ukraine's Army has been trained in these things...the Russian Army has not.
Read this WP article again...it's got a lot of nuance. 9/9
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