U.S. Air Force Wants Soldiers to Be Like Batman

[Seydaman]

That
Is
AWESOME

 

[Sovvolf]

We already have an Army of Batman's... We call it the S.A.S... Yeah, go me!.

In all seriousness though... That's one of the coolest things I've ever heard of.

 

[Slangeveld]

US army is going to walk around in leather suits with young boy sidekicks.

Oh fuck.




Nah, in all seriousness Sounds solid. I can see the reasoning.

 

[Arcanist]

Hooray for militarism? Does anyone on this site have any critical faculties at all? I thought that was supposed to be the appeal of The Escapist: intelligent gaming commentary.

Instead here is a rah-rah article about some gross misuse of taxpayer money to build some sort of -- whatever the hell it is -- and all the punch-drunk writer can slaver over or comment about is the idiotic acronym that refers to some comic book hero.

Disappointing.

I'd like to point out that this program is focusing primarily on making the kit soldiers carry leaner and, by association, cheaper.

Perhaps some reading comprehension would do you well.

 

[Iron Lightning]

This will be the best recruitment tool ever:

"Join the Air Force! Become Batman!"

 

[KingFall]

Or they could, alternatively, take cues from other armed forces about how to properly supply soldiers with equipment during operations by improving their vastly outdated logistical systems that haven't really changed in 30 years.

Whether true or not, yea. Our shit could use some re-evaluation. It's a good system, but this is exactly what this program is aiming to do. Just with a more badass acronym. They seem to be wanting to bridge the 30 year gap you perceive in one go, and then use the momentum to blast it thirty more years.
But, seriously. Just think of the novelty for a second. It's freaking Batman.

That sounds really cool, but I think I'd be able to take this article a lot more seriously if Adam West wasn't standing next to it hamming things up.

Hey now, Adam West is a badass. Even if he only can show it on Family Guy now.

All in all, as a general concept I think it would be neat for our soldiers to be more versatile, but I was under the impression that they received quite a bit of training to handle a lot of different situations anyways...so I'm wondering, if that's true, what more could they be taught?

They're not being taught much, I think it's a program that focuses more on hardware.

Like repair, computers and technical stuff?

Yea, I think that's the gist of it. Improve our tech and how we carry/use it.
Maybe they'll introduce a training program later..
Operation SNAKE. ... Hah!

"Well-informed cynicism is only another mode of conformity." -Horkheimer, Eclipse of Reason

And quoting philosophy books isn't? The only difference is who you're conforming with.

As opposed to writing entire articles based around quoting Air Force press releases? If you can't see a distinction, well, here is a nice cover-shooter game for you.

Good God you're a self-assured fucking elitist little prick.

Here, I'll explain my earlier stance to you since you obviously need some explanation. Trust me, you are not more intelligent than I am, though you can obviously quote more intelligent people pretty well.

Imagine, for a split-second, you are a soldier. I know this violates much of your deeply-held sense of entitlement of having protection without having to do the dirty work yourself, but bear with me. The article clearly states that the average soldier lugs around over 160 pounds of gear, which is probably twice what you weigh. The goal of the program is to reduce the payload of the soldier without reducing his combat effectiveness.

You, as the soldier, would no doubt approve of this 'waste' of tax money. If we live in a society that regularly expects it's soldiers to fight (and we do, rightly or wrongly, under both party's flags), then you would see the benefit. The fact that they are using 'Batman' as a comparison is only because he exemplified the goal of the program, which was fast and nimble yet not without effective technology to help him perform his job.

No doubt you'd rather be spending it on some government funded art grants or some STD treatment drugs and child welfare checks for the 'hopelessly' less fortunate, but in the meantime you'll just have to settle for a smug sense of satisfaction knowing you know what the proper thing to do is.

Despite the fact that you are completely rude, I will answer you.

You want soldiers not to get shot up, mutilated, or lug 160 pounds of gear around? I want that too. I don't hate the enlisted personnel, I feel pity for them. Misguided or forced by poverty, they are citizens and deserve a lot better than what they have now.

So let's get them out of Afghanistan and Iraq. And Somalia, Bosnia, Japan, Germany and the 400+ other military bases and countries they are stuck in around the world. What the fuck are they doing there? "Protecting our freedoms", uh huh, sure. Protecting the corporate interests of the elites, actually. And as soon as any soldier gets out, with PTSD or without, yeah good luck getting anything from the Veterans Administration. Do they get job assistance? No. Does Blackwater get billions of dollars? Yeah. How ignorant can you be? Where do you get your news, Fox? The system chews these people up and throws them away. If you actually knew anything about the military you would be ashamed of your simplistic jingoistic trash.

Maybe you should stop worrying about Duke Nukem Forever or whatever and read a fucking book. The only one benefiting from these pointless, unwinnable wars are defense contractors who make millions of dollars every day, overcharging the government for everything from Blackwater bullshit to Halliburton base crap to Predator kill drones.

If you're happy with that, go ahead and suck some military industrial cock and get a job rooting for the Pentagon and global imperialism. I chose otherwise.

Making stupid aspersions and ad hominem attacks about what you imagine I would think the money should be spent on just makes you look stupid, by the way. As if the rest of your post didn't already accomplish that.

Wow. You.. irk me.
cobrausn, on the other hand, you have my respect. Well done, there.

 

[Devil's Due]

(removed by the National Security Agency)

 

[Blind Sight]

Suddenly I think we're going to see a lot more terrorists being randomly hung upside down by rope in caves.

 

[Boba Frag]

So the Air Force wants an army of Batmen, the Marines want an army of Robert Heinlein style power troopers and... what fictional creation does the army want to emulate?

Either the Space Marines from Warhammer 40k or the Hell Jumpers from ODST.

Depends on who's chief of staff

 

[joshuaayt]

"President America! The enemies were seen talking to Charles Xavier! They must be allies!"
"...Execute the Anti-Marvel initiative..."
"Sir... Are you sure? We've never tested the power of the B-"
"JUST DO IT, MAJOR! Call. Batman. Now."

 

[The Great JT]

I'm glad the military is idolizing the proper people.

Also, I hope they're more like the 60's Batman than the 2000's. Nothing personal, I just always get a chuckle out of Adam West playing Batman...old chum.

 

[Boba Frag]

General- "Sir our soliders are having a hard time fighting insurgent, any suggestions?"

Pres- "Be more like Batman!"

Thats how I imagine it went down.

Hold on I think I can enhance this imaginary scenario.

[Interior: The War Room...on a Tuesday (because shit like this always happens on a Tuesday)]

Army General: My boys are getting their asses whipped by those sandy bastards! They're like less stealthy ninjas with IED's and rocket launchers!

Marine General: The Marines aren't faring any better, things just haven't been the same since Mr. Rogers retired. Now that was a man who knew how to skin an enemy of freedom.

Navy Admiral: Why don't you guys just use warships? Any problem can be solved using a warship with guns so big it's almost comical!

Air Force General: *smacks the Navy Admiral* You idiot they're in the middle of the desert; boats don't work there remember?

Navy Admiral: Well I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to develop some sand boats would it?

*The other generals groan in aggravation*

Marine General: Mr. President, our scientists and strategists are out of options that don't include the phrase "Nuke them into the stone-age"; what do you suggest we do?

*The President looks up from his morning news paper with a smirk on his face*

The President: I'm glad you asked. You see gentlemen when all reasonably sane options have been exhausted and our superior technology and resources are put to shame there's only one thing to do.

*The President reaches into his suit and produces a thin paperback book. The generals lean forward in their chairs to examine it*

Army General: Is that..?

Marine General: You couldn't possibly mean...?

Navy Admiral: OOO! Does this mean we're getting new warships!?

Air Force General: You aren't suggesting that...?

The President: Yes gentlemen. The solution to our problem is simple. We need to be more like Batman!

[Roll campy batman intro. End Scene]

Dude!!

You should get a bunch of your friends, raid an army surplus store and MAKE that scene happen.

Or ask the lovely people of Loading Ready Run to have a look at it

 

[Nouw]

That's awesome.

Imagine the enemies

"Is that Batman?"

so the air-force wants their soldiers to be rubber suit wearing pedophiles with a barely clothed boy sidekick?

I wouldn't call him barely clothed.

So the Air Force wants an army of Batmen, the Marines want an army of Robert Heinlein style power troopers and... what fictional creation does the army want to emulate?

Either the Space Marines from Warhammer 40k or the Hell Jumpers from ODST.

Depends on who's chief of staff

Even better, Starship Troopers. If you've read the book, you know why. If you didn't...

10% survived training (they either quit, died or had to leave because of medical reasons)
They all have around about 3 micro-nukes
They have tank-proof armour. Send the entire Panzar Company and one soldier could rip them all apart!
They excel in Close-Combat.

You know what I mean. Warhammer 40,000 with Christians, would that pan out? XP

"Soldiers, here is the first rule; Thou Shalt Kill"

"Wait what?"

 

[Vrach]

Sounds like a pretty good idea for powering up the equipment in the field. But I gotta agree with whoever said it in the thread, Adam West standing on the side of the article made it quite hard to take the idea seriously

Hooray for militarism? Does anyone on this site have any critical faculties at all? I thought that was supposed to be the appeal of The Escapist: intelligent gaming commentary.

Instead here is a rah-rah article about some gross misuse of taxpayer money to build some sort of -- whatever the hell it is -- and all the punch-drunk writer can slaver over or comment about is the idiotic acronym that refers to some comic book hero.

Disappointing.

 

[DarkSpectre]

The Air Force has long been the bastion of forward thinkers and geeks in the United States Military. We are constantly seeking to prepare for war 50 years in the future. This could help save a lot of lives in the future and a lot of money. Also add to this the micro RPA that we are developing. All this stuff will save a lot of lives. Impressive stuff being done.

As a side note, all you people that think this is a huge waste of money don't really understand engineering projects or the way that projects are started in the DoD. It is really hard to get funds for a new project. You have to go through a long cost analysis that shows that in the long run the project will either save money or provide a significant strategic or tactical advantage. The DoD wastes a lot of money but it is not on research, it is wasted on everyday operations.

 

[FortheLegion]

I want one of the hooks to tap into the power lines... that sounds real cool....

 

[Carlston]

That sounds really cool, but I think I'd be able to take this article a lot more seriously if Adam West wasn't standing next to it hamming things up.

Yeah, I mean seriously...

Unless your making fun of everyone born in the last 40 years... Adam West lost the title of Batman long ago.

 

[mjc0961]

I hope this means a story of Dr. McNinja where he tries to join the Air Force.

 

[cjbos81]

Just call me when they finally develop the phaser.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

The Air Force has long been the bastion of forward thinkers and geeks in the United States Military. We are constantly seeking to prepare for war 50 years in the future. This could help save a lot of lives in the future and a lot of money. Also add to this the micro RPA that we are developing. All this stuff will save a lot of lives. Impressive stuff being done.

As a side note, all you people that think this is a huge waste of money don't really understand engineering projects or the way that projects are started in the DoD. It is really hard to get funds for a new project. You have to go through a long cost analysis that shows that in the long run the project will either save money or provide a significant strategic or tactical advantage. The DoD wastes a lot of money but it is not on research, it is wasted on everyday operations.

Spoiler: Right here, wiseguy.

Always nice to hear from people that actually know what they're talking about.​