Why are Australians considered better, tougher soldiers than Americans ?

Question

More disciplined as, without the "loud mouthed" all show attitudes of the yanks !

Answer 1

As one US general said during WW-2 when asked by General MacArthur about what he needed to fight in Papua New Guinea, offering him a brigade or more of US army troops, the general said, "Give me a battalion of Australians and I will get the job done". The US soldiers were poorly trained and had not seen combat whilst the Australians were far better trained and had seen combat and were better despite the poor quality of their equipment.

The average Australian soldier is better trained and is taught better tactics, and when led by competent officers, are a formidable force. The troops are taught to conserve their ammunition whilst US troops are taught to use their "firepower" and are very wasteful with ammunitions.

I would bet on an Australian SAS troop compared with a Green Beret platoon or a Navy SEAL team anytime.
Similarly, I would put my money on a squad of ordinary Australian soldiers compared with a "Recon Marines" or an Army Ranger squad.

Answer 2

Australian soldiers are renowned for their bravery under fire in conflicts from the Boer war, WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam and peacekeeping missions since then. They are valued more than the typical US soldier as, apart from some in Vietnam, every Australian soldier is a volunteer, who undergoes significant training and development before the battlefield. In Vietnam, whole battalions were replaced, unlike the US system of individual replacements. This allowed the Australian troops to have a higher cohesion and combat ability as there were no 'new meat' to worry about.

The belief about being undisciplined is a fallacy. As a free and equal society it is encouraged for the soldiers to speak up and provide an alternative plan if they feel uncomfortable. This is very similar to the way special forces are trained. Australian soldiers have been acknowledged for their industriousness, ingenuity and natural cunning. During WWI and WWII there were a lot of sldiers from the rural areas who were excellent horsemen and sharpshooters. This has increased the legend. There has also been a lot less drug taking in the Australian Army.

The US soldier and the Australian digger are both well trained and motivated soldiers, but the US Army relies very heavily upon munitions and technology to overcome the enemy, whereas the Australian army is taught superior tactics as the Australian goverment is too stingy with cash for either firepower or high tech. This is slowly changing with the acquisition of M1 Abrams Tanks, Joint strike fighters and the most lethal diesel submarines in the world which have surprised many US seamen on operations.

Answer 3

I have had the privilege of having worked alongside Diggers. They were infantrymen and tankers. They were great! They lacked what we Americans would call good military discipline but they were amazing fighters. They just would not quit, period. As far as loud mouthed, well, everyone thinks that they are the **** from time to time and like to brag a little. The proof is can you say that you did it? Any chucklehead can say 'well I would've' but few can say 'I did'.

In comparison I'd say that in certain aspects the Aussies ARE superior to MOST average US soldiers. In other aspects US soldiers are superior. That being said however does not make them (the Aussies) or us (the Americans) better then one another. I am glad that Australia is our ally and am smart enough and humble enough not to say I am better then any Aussie.

Answer 4

Odd... why would one even want to compare the two... except to stir up trouble? Seems to me we fought along side the Australians in the South Pacific. We seemed to get along fine. I guess we may have pulled each other's fat out of the fire on occasion.

When a man's life is on the line, he doesn't care who's there to help him, how pretty the guy's uniform is, what his accent is, how prettily he marches.

The only kind of person who would want to draw the distinction is a young kid who's never been in combat and doesn't know what's important, or a drunk in a bar spoiling for a fight.

Answer 5

Probably because Australia was originally a penal colony so there's a good chance a majority of them descended from criminals so heinous that they were transported to an island to keep them from the rest of society.
As prisoners they learned to obey orders and keep their mouths shut. Some may call that discipline. They may very well be tougher since they always have to watch their back, be careful when they drop the soap in the showers, and stuff like that. And boxing kangaroos in their spare time probably helps.

Answer 6

Because, if you as a fighting man are never put to the test, you can say whatever you want concerning what you would be like if you ever were actually deployed to an area that wasn't a side note to the real conflict.

Answer 7

The only true comment similar to this is that the Australian forces in Vietnam used better tactics. I can hardly believe that Australian soldiers are better than American soldiers....................

Answer 8

Put me in a room with about 6 of them and I'll show you an attitude Wayne baby.

Answer 9

Not sure where you heard that LIE, but I would pit myself against any 20 ausie soldiers at any time and kick the mess outta them, and I'm in my 60's!!!! 1st.Sgt. 7th Special Forces (Ret.) Vietnam, 67-70

Answer 10

Go back to your sisters room and keep pulling the heads off her barbies, this Y/A section is for mature people with an I.Q. of higher than their age.