Chaotic Dynamics: A Novel Approach to Intelligence Analysis in Asymmetric Warfare

[Ken White]

Stan, he's talking about training of analysts for intelligence work. You appear to be talking about training of regular soldiers for combat. Perhaps if you were discussing the same topic it might work better? (Biting my toungue over the 'stupid factor' opening... )

analysts -- and others -- a lot of guvmint agencies have been sending people to other nations (a bunch of them...) for a couple of years or more as civilians and in various modes to live on the economy and learn the culture as you suggest. Been doing it for years, a lot of years, even before WW II and in large numbers since then. Most everyone here's aware of that.

Fear's not an issue. Excessive publicity about it isn't helpful to a lot of programs though it is not classified. Just Google 'foreign area specialists' and skim the subjects on the first eight or ten pages.

Sometimes all of us wrongfully assume that everyone knows all the things we know...

[Stan]

analysts -- and others -- a lot of guvmint agencies have been sending people to other nations (a bunch of them...) for a couple of years or more as civilians and in various modes to live on the economy and learn the culture as you suggest. Been doing it for years, a lot of years, even before WW II and in large numbers since then. Most everyone here's aware of that.

Fear's not an issue. Excessive publicity about it isn't helpful to a lot of programs though it is not classified. Just Google 'foreign area specialists' and skim the subjects on the first eight or ten pages.

Sometimes all of us wrongfully assume that everyone knows all the things we know...

I wasn't gonna go there just yet.

An excellent point, Ken. I have the utmost respect for those and the FAO program in general. Regretfully, most know little about our service's finest. Little however need be said, and attention we don't need.

At about the 10-year 'time in service' mark, a single individual can, and often does pay back his/her service training ten-fold.

[Ken White]

wife and kids. Sorry, didn't mean to preempt...

Your comment is true on all counts.

[Stan]

wife and kids. Sorry, didn't mean to preempt...

Your comment is true on all counts.

No worries mate !

I might add for the uninitiated, that these Soldiers are not exempt from the stringent rules and regulations that govern the Armed Forces. They are, more often than not, faced with greater moral dilemmas.

Sadly, as Jedburgh once pointed out, some of our intel folks are literally forced into service without the benefits of language training. Granted, these fine men and women excel all on their own and could be considered masters of their occupational specialty.

I see no good reason to send a soldier anywhere unprepared.