Typically I lurk, but I thought that this might be of some interest.
I'm a cadet at VMI, contracted and seeking an Infantry slot (because DA appeals to me) after I commission, and I would like to put in my SF packet (because FID appeals to me more) when the time comes,. I just returned from ROTC Leadership Development and Assessment Course (now most crappulently named "warrior forge," but I prefer the term LDACistan).
I was pleased to see that when we went to the "field," a lot of emphasis was placed on cultural awareness and promoting the right kind of interactions with the "locals." We were learning to conduct Bi-Lats and the like.
While I may gripe about the fact that they still train cadets like the Russians are ready to roll through the Fulda Gap any day now, and the A1s we train with were manufactured during Vietnam, I feel like the folks on high have at least started to see the importance of the FID stuff and that "big army" has gone so far as to insert it into cadet training.
Just nice to see that steps are being made towards winning what is, IMHO, a far more important mission than (the still necessary) booting and shooting at this stage in the game. Looks like "big army" is taking more notes from SF than what sweet gear to buy from Ranger Joes
