Excellent letter in the Telegraph,
Re: The importance of target recognition
Date: 3 April 2003
Sir - The reason for the American forces loosing off a variety of ordnance at their allies is simple. Poor training.
I spent many years of my time in the Royal Air Force as a target recognition instructor. It is a requirement of all aircrew to reach and maintain a high standard of recognition as part of their categorisation. It was a pass/fail subject when I taught it.
Fifty per cent of the recognition course concentrated on "blue" forces, which then meant all Nato kit. On some of my courses, there would be American exchange officers, here to fly with our squadrons for a couple of years.
They were always astounded at the level to which we taught recognition. "At home," they would say, "we are told there's a box of slides in the back room if you feel like looking at them, but they're only some Russian stuff."
If you are not taught to recognise equipment of whatever sort - land, sea, or air - in the adrenaline rush of war, it will all look the same - a target.
From:
M E Turner, Rochester, Kent
Yeee har, yo, somathing isa movin', yee har, lets blow it away, yee har...