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From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Questions (Carriers & Corps)
Message-ID: <1991Feb22.231919.3850@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 22 Feb 91 23:19:19 GMT
References: <1991Feb20.052409.29442@cbnews.att.com>
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From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold)
>      	Secondly, I was watching the nes the other day and the news person
> referred to the seventh corps as "elite".  Is the seventh corps actually elite
> when compared to other units its size, or was the news person just throwing in
> colorful illustration? 

The news creatures, as usual, get it mostly wrong.  Forgive them, for
they know not.

The US military (Army in particular) has had a historical aversion to
"elite" units.  It is due to our "minuteman" heritage, "citizen army"
image.  As a country, we have been, and continue to be, somewhat 
suspicious of professional soldiers.  Special forces have been parts
of the US military, but have always been formed reluctantly and dis-
banded quickly.  The "Green Berets" are the most recent example.

The closest long-standing units which might be called "elite" are the
airborne. There is always some animosity and name-calling; a para who
reports to a "leg" unit wearing his jump boots may be subjected to
a corrective lecture.  Things like that.

The US also tends to rotate personnel, so that units don't get too
provincial.  Very egalitarian.

European armies, on the other hand, have developed professional
elite forces, with regimental histories, colors, flashy uniforms, etc,
to set them apart.  You can spend your entire career with one unit
in the Foreign Legion.  Makes for very cohesive units.  Also an
occasional coup attempt.

Note also that the US military establishment does not like to make
celebrities.  It will be interesting to see what happens to the current
TV visibles, Brig Gen Neal and Gen Kelley.  Will they be thrust forward
to positions of even greater responsibility, or will they slowly fade
away?

Film at 11.


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