In other words, there are some training subjects that cannot be reduced. Le Wen Novel | Before you know it, the little meeting in Bradley's office has been going on for more than an hour. One problem after another is raised and then resolved. In the end, they had to face the reality that no matter how compressed the original training schedule was, it would be difficult to complete it all before the end of October.

"I'm afraid it's going to have to be cut. Otherwise, the pressure below is too much. John glanced at the dense training subjects on the tactical board, "Eliminate a few from the non-assessment items first, and then find time to make up for them later." ”

"That's all it takes, but it's also a question of which subjects to remove." Li Qi said with a slight frown. These current training subjects are not arranged blindly, and all of them are of vital importance to future operations. The choice is also a big question.

"In my opinion, we should postpone the use of battlefield treatment, bazooka and walkie-talkie." The few Swain picked are all subjects that have just been launched recently. Especially the use of bazookas, because of the lack of equipment, the training cycle has been greatly lengthened.

"I disagree. These three items are crucial for future airborne operations. John immediately objected. There is a very classic line in the TV series "Band of Brothers": "We are paratroopers and should have been surrounded." John felt compelled to remind Bradley and others of the difference between the combat environment in which paratroopers and light infantry were facing.

"After being airdropped into the enemy's rear, paratroopers need to fight with high intensity in isolation and lack of heavy weapons. Walkie-talkies are the key to rapid assembly and recovery, bazookas are a sharp weapon for overcoming difficulties, and emergency battlefield treatment is the last means of saving lives; these three are all key subjects in the future training of paratroopers. If we can prepare for this in advance, it will be a very convincing plus in the competition. ”

John's reasoning was convincing, and Bradley and Ridgway immediately sided with him. Swain also knew that John had a point, but he was still unwilling to admit defeat: "Which ones do you think you should choose?" ”

"Air defense training and infantry coordination." John laid out his thoughts bluntly. "For an ordinary infantry division, these two subjects are essential skills, but airborne divisions are different. First of all, air supremacy is one of the prerequisites for the implementation of airborne, and before the paratroopers are airdropped to the combat site, the enemy's air power has generally been destroyed or severely damaged, and the pressure on air defense is not great. Secondly, the Airborne Forces are light infantry, and there is no heavy artillery, not to mention tanks. Moreover, the light tanks and armored vehicles now distributed to our division are not enough to equip the reconnaissance battalion, and the training is not easy to carry out. ”

If it weren't for the fact that infantry and artillery coordination was an assessment subject, and the training had been almost completed, John would have even wanted to delete this subject. Anyway, by that time the paratroopers would not have 155 howitzers at their disposal. However, if he really mentioned it, Swain, the artillery commander, would probably be even more dissatisfied.

In front of John, a well-known "airborne tactician", Swain still had some disagreement. But under the persuasion of Bradley and Ridgway, he finally relented.

"That's it, air defense training and infantry tank coordination training have been postponed for the time being." Bradley made the final decision: "There is one more question, let's clarify the next division of labor." Matthew is in charge of the 503rd Regiment, Joseph you are in charge of the 504th Regiment, I am in charge of the 505th Regiment, and John is in charge of the reconnaissance battalion, medical battalion, communications battalion, and the direct units of the military police and supply divisions. What do you think? ”

"Omar, what about next month's exercise?" John asked, somewhat embarrassed.

In early August, General Kruger's Second Third Army and General Ben-Lear's Second Army will hold a large-scale military exercise in Louisiana. It was the largest military exercise ever conducted by the U.S. Army, with more than 300,000 participants. John was supposed to go to the scene on behalf of the 82nd Division.

Moreover, in order to strengthen the knowledge and understanding of modern warfare among the backbone officers at the division, battalion, and company levels, John had also deliberately won 30 places through Eisenhower to serve as grassroots observers in the units participating in the exercises of the 3rd Army. In exchange, he would stay after the exercise to exchange experience with the 3rd Army and guide them in the pilot work of logistical reform.

John calculated that such a large-scale exercise would have to last at least 20 days, and after that, a few months would have passed. Now at this juncture, let alone a month, not a week can be wasted.

"How did you communicate with Ike before, and how many people did you decide to bring over?" Bradley asked.

"The preliminary plan is that I will take the staff officers of the two divisions and wait for the official start of the exercise, and I will be regarded as a member of the Fourth Army Observation Group. Another 30 battalion and company-level officers will pass two days before the exercise begins. Ike would arrange for them to serve as observers in the grassroots units. However, the specific personnel has not yet been finalized. Because he had only communicated with Bradley about this plan, and neither Ridgway nor Swain knew much about it, John explained it in great detail.

"No, absolutely not! At this time, if the backbone of the battalion and company can be withdrawn, how can the training be carried out? It has to be messed up. Before Bradley could speak, the anxious Swain spoke: "John, you can go yourself, none of the junior officers can go." ”

Although he knew that the other party did not mean to, John was choked by the upright former military prosecutor and rolled his eyes. Isn't this a clear statement that he is useless, and that the role of staying in the division is not as great as that of those grassroots officers?

"Actually, it's not impossible to reduce the number of people." Li Qiwei's brain was much more active, and he immediately linked this with the problems he encountered in the 503rd regiment. "Omar, why don't you just take this opportunity to get those guys in the way out of the way for a while."

John understood what Ridgway meant, he wanted to send all the guys who couldn't get away like the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 503rd Regiment and couldn't hold the wall to the Third Army as observers. Just say hello to Eisenhower's side, delay it for another ten days and half a month, and when they come back, the training plan is almost complete.

However, is it appropriate to pack a bunch of "garbage" and stuff it into the Third Army? During the exercise, the army staff and various group armies will send people to the scene to observe, what if those guys are out of restraint outside and make some trouble? Not only will it cause trouble for Eisenhower, but the 82nd Division will also be disgraced in front of a group of high-ranking and fraternal units.

John expressed his thoughts euphemistically, and Ridgway was silent. Everyone was silent, waiting for Bradley, the division commander, to get his opinion.

"I still have to participate in the observation group. This time, not only our Fourth Army, but also all divisions of the First Army will send people, and it is not good for our division to be absent alone. Bradley weighed it and finally decided: "Anyway, this exercise is in Louisiana, and it's only a few hours' drive away." John, you will work hard when the time comes, I usually train me to let Matthews keep an eye on you, and I will inform you if there is anything, and you can come back at any time. ”

"No problem, Omar." John knew that he was staying in the division, that is, in the role of an overseer, and that he would not be of much help in terms of specific training. Rather than staying in the division, it is better to go to the exercise site and have a long experience. As for hard work, when he rode three jumpers to deliver couriers in his previous life, he ran hundreds of kilometers a day, what is this road?

"As for those battalion and company-level officers, forget it, the training of the troops is inseparable from them for the time being. I'll call Ike myself to explain this. After speaking, Bradley said to Li Qiwei again: "Don't worry about the battalion commander, I will find a way." ”

As he was saying this, the phone on Bradley's desk rang suddenly. "Hey, I'm Bradley."

"Hello, Chief of Staff...... Yes, he's in my office right now, are you going to talk to him? …… Okay, I'll relay his ......"

Putting down the phone, Bradley said to John, "John, the chief of staff has given you an urgent task. You go back and pack up, and a commuter flight will pick you up tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. to take you to Washington. When I arrived, I reported directly to General Strong. I think you know where his office is? ”

General Strong, head of the Army G2 (Intelligence Department) division? John was a little confused by the sudden order. But Bradley didn't reveal any more information, and he knew he shouldn't ask.

So he could only stand up and salute, and "happily" accepted the order. Everything will be known when we arrive at the staff headquarters tomorrow morning.