I for one do not understand all these little security forces or whatever that are put together. How is this different from NATO troops? How is it decided that which troops go with what group? I always thought American troops were deployed under American command.

Secondly, I saw a picture of US troops with an ISAF patch on with different looking uniforms. They look like the old style camo before the digi patterns. Anyone know about this?

Forgive me if these sound like dumb questions, I wasn't in the military.

I've heard a retired general say that ISAF stands for "I Saw Americans Fight"

[This message has been edited by CGSC Lobotomy (edited 12/19/2011 12:09p).]

ISAF is basically the allied forces in Afghanistan. It's led by NATO (mostly us) but also includes several non-NATO countries such as Australia. The commander is GEN Allen of the USMC and has always been an American.

Most US Army and Air Force servicemembers are issued Multicam when deployed to Afghanistan, which is a modernized version the old woodland BDUs. Back home, they wear the digitized ACU/ABUs.

[This message has been edited by Ag of Northern Virginia (edited 12/19/2011 12:15p).]

quote:

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GEN Allen

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It's "Gen. Allen"

Only the Army and Navy use all caps in their ranks. The "spinoff" services use abbreviations with periods.

I
Suck
At
Fighting

Ah ok. Was just curious. I've seen that "multi-cam" before on TV when I've seen troops come home and thought the Army had another set.

How do units end up getting selecting to do a tour with ISAF or any other NATO or even UN task force? Think it's rather ironic that we are the ones always contributing the most troops to all these forces.

quote:

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Think it's rather ironic that we are the ones always contributing the most troops to all these forces.

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Why?

Supposed to be a coalition of all these different nations, yet we carry the load.

The US has ALWAYS carried the financial load in coalition warfare. Even when we loan allies war materiel their monarchs will cancel the debt and we don't do a damn thing about it.

Some soldiers apparently wearing this stuff now too



A-TACS

ATACS looks like it would be quite effective. I like it. Doesn't stand up to desert MARPAT of course but then again...I'm biased.

I just sent 5 Polish Heroes home after a ramp ceremony here yesterday. Given the Polish to US population ratio, that is roughly equivalent to 40 US deaths. Sure Poland has strategic reasons for being here and yes we see things differently in our approachs to fighting the enemy however, both France (yes France) and Poland here in RC East are fully committed to this fight and we share the same blood, sweat and tears. Just food for thought. Merry Christmas.

Good post, CAV. I agree with your sentiment.