Accession Number:

ADA191403

Title:

Men against Fire in Vietnam

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Glenn, Russell W.

Report Date:

1987-11-08

Pagination or Media Count:

100.0

Abstract:

This thesis examines combat effectiveness in Vietnam. Did American soldiers in Vietnam put out an effective volume of small arms fire This question and its applicability to current training and future combat are addressed in this monograph. The basis for analysis is two surveys, one of 500 Vietnam veteran members of the 1st Cavalry Division Association and a second of 63 officers who served as platoon leaders or company commanders in Vietnam. The surveys questioned respondents regarding personal engagement of the enemy, engagement by other unit members, causes for failing to fire, and training advice for contemporary soldiers. The results bode well for an American army that may fight in other Vietnam-type wars or have to fight outnumbered and win. Over 83 of the soldiers equipped with individual weapons and over 86 of those manning crew-served systems engaged the enemy in Vietnam.

Descriptors:

• *ARMY TRAINING
• *PERFORMANCE(HUMAN)
• *GUNFIRE
• WEAPONS
• MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS
• LEADERSHIP
• TRAINING DEVICES
• ARMY PERSONNEL
• THESES
• MANPOWER
• SURVEYS
• CREWS
• SMALL ARMS
• COMPANY LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS
• MILITARY COMMANDERS
• VIETNAM
• PLATOON LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS

Subject Categories:

• Personnel Management and Labor Relations
• Fire Control and Bombing Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE