American Platoon Pros And Cons

Sebastian Junger is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair. Who, within a time period between 2007 and 2008 follows an American platoon deployed to Afghanistan. Korangal Valley to be exact, which is roughly twenty five miles from the border of Pakistan. The United States goal was to put our American troops there to over throw the Taliban regime. We intended to help Iraqi’s clear and secure neighborhoods, and to protect their local population. Sebastian followed the second of Battle Company, part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He studied how these people evolved under extraordinary circumstances, and how it was like to live in implorable conditions for days, weeks, and months at a time, “There is no electricity at Restrepo, no running water, and no hot food, and they will be up here for most
“Every platoon also has a headquarters element composed of a medic, a forward observer, a radio operator, a platoon sergeant, and a lieutenant who had graduated from officer candidate school.”(Junger P. 20,21) This actual platoon ended up having three different lieutenants. The final one being Steve Gillespie. Although it was necessary to have the lieutenant’s knowledge while in combat, they didn’t have much experience. So to balance this out a sergeant was designated as well. Many of the sergeants have been in the Army for several years, so that’s where the experience came from. Second platoon was considered one of the toughest ones. They were put in their location Firebase, Phoenix. Because they were not afraid of anything. “Wars are fought on physical terrain-deserts, mountains, etc.-as well as on what they call “human terrain.”(Junger P. 43) They would find a lot of their information through “Prophet”, which was eavesdropping on enemy radio. Everyone in second platoon had their favorite weapon they would like to use while in combat. “There are mark guys and .50 guys.” (Junger p.150) Mark is a