There's always been a problem with new divisions coming into areas with a "different attitude" and being forced to relearn lessons unique to the area (at the cost of blood) or alienating the locals because their contacts had left (previous unit).
Thinking it'd be better to divide Iraq into division AOs and cycle in a Brigade from each division into these areas. Having the same division patch might not instantly eliminate the re-learning curve, but it may help during the interim weeks when the old unit does the knowledge transfer to the new one, as they will see the problem from the same perspective.
The only caveat is that this would mean the same mistakes might be made over and over again by different brigades and there would be less of a chance for "new approaches". On the bad side it means repeating the same things that may alienate the locals, and seeing it over and over again with new faces and new unit patches may create the perception of indifferent Americans.
Of course, we could go colonial and bring families to Iraq and occupy the place forever... |