The Untold Benefit of the Iraq Conflict

I think this should be apparent

The United States military is one of the most combat-experienced militaries in history. Virtually every officer of the line has led Soldiers and Marines on daily combat missions. Sergeants and Junior Staff NCOs have come up through the ranks not in garrison or on training exercises but in combat. Virtually every U.S. Rifle Platoon has something the Russian and Chinese military do not--experience in a gun fight."

But it is largely not talked about!!

Tip of the hat to Instapundit

Three other thoughts

This is very spread out especially among National Guard Units

We have had all things considering healthy re enlistment rates

Third much of this was not direct combat action alone. We have countless people that were for all purpose Mayors of big cities in the worst of possible circumstances. I predict we are going to have a hell of a lot of people that will enter public service that are TRAINED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX