Apart from the current technology, which of these two are or were the best combatants?

Question

The ground soldiers that fought during the VietNam war or the ground soldiers in Iraq war? No disrespect to either.

I meant of the American ground soldiers in each war.

Answer 1

I'm an Iraq vet twice over, with Vietnam vets in the family (all of us infantry). I'd say Vietnam, hands down. Here's why:

(1) An all-volunteer force is a creation of the 70s. America fought all its other major land wars with a mix of volunteers and draftees. While it's said that an all-volunteer force is better trained and led, such is not necessarily the case. An all-volunteer force is a revolving door of personnel coming in for short tours and departing as soon as stop loss and stop movement orders lift. There is a greater influx of skilled professionals of all trades with a conscripted force.

(2) There were a substantial number of Second World War and Korean War veterans in the ranks, especially in the Senior NCO and Field Grade Officer grades. Training was not detracted from by "sensitivity" and "stress cards" but devoted to preparation for combat. Simply put, the safety measures you find today, while necessary for many reasons, also take away from creating hard soldiers.

(3) A basic comparison of any year in Vietnam, say 1968-69, and Iraq, say from 2003-2004, should suffice. Take a simple look at the medal count for each time period. That should provide you with a good metric on both the intensity of the combat vis-a-vis the valor and skill of the American fighting men who earned them.

Answer 2

No offense to either group (or any branch of the military), but I would say that the Army and Marine Corps of the 90's - today. There is more intensified training done each year and therefore better trained soldiers = better fighters....or does it? The truth is that no matter how much training a man receives he may still become a coward when the time comes to put the metal in the fire. A major difference to think of is the style of fighting is different between jungle and desert. The Vietnamese had extensive tunnel networks dug, they had soldiers who were under our own command, and they knew the land. Yet our American soldiers and American trained Vietnamese managed to win the battles. I can't say that either group is better, but our modern troops definitely have the advantage in training.

Answer 3

I would tend to say, from a relatively ignorant perspective, that the latter would be better combatants. The army in Vietnam was a draft army with less training. The army in Iraq, both times, was and is a professional, volunteer army. The latter army would tend to have more training and time in service. Also, the armed forces applied the lessons that we learned in Vietnam in training the later army.

That being said. They both have done admirably under difficult circumstances.

Answer 4

the main thing you need to think about is the fact that the soldiers of today are all voluntary men and women who have had extensive training and are there because it's what they wanted to do with there lives.

The Soldiers of Vietnam (for the most part, not all of them) were men and boys who had been drafted, rushed through boot camp, and given the bare amount of training neccessary. Not to say they weren't good soldiers. they had a job to do and they did it. I am just as proud of them as I am of the ones that fight today.

But is easy to say that today's men and women are much better trained and equiped.

Answer 5

The current troops have much better technology, public support,and a relatively open battlefield. We weren't all draftees back in the 60's& we fought as well as we were permitted to by the morons in DC that tried to run the war from 13,000 miles away, while forcing us to abide by rules of engagement that sometimes changed daily. We were alittle more efficient in what we did, but both groups are worthy warriors and deserve our respect & support.

Answer 6

As a vietnam vet I would have to say that due to higher recruitment standards that todays troops are better educated, better trained, and more motivated on average because of the all voluntary military. However we did fight well....too bad the American people and government wasn't behind us.

Answer 7

Iraq

During Vietnam, even the officers were rushed through training. West Point cadets graduated in two years.

Answer 8

The Vietnamese. Many of the Iraqi soldiers were ill-trained and unmotivated.