Regarding the Ambush ‘Debate’: VIDEO

Regarding this post: *Facepalm*: re-complicating counter-ambush drills:

Here is a video of s soldier going forward, alone, into enemy machine-gun fire. Thankfully, it was not at closer range/more accurate. Here is what he said about the incident:

“I got a hit a total of 4 times. My helmet cam died and I made it down the mountain on my own. I was also hit in the side of my helmet and my eye pro was shot off of my face. We were doing overwatch on the village to recon and gather intel. I was point heading down the face of the hill with the LT. when we got hit. the rest of the squad was pinned down by machine gun fire. I didn’t start the video until a few mins into the firefight for obvious reasons. I came out into the open to draw fire so my squad could get to safety.”

“A round struck the tube by my hand of the 203 grenade launcher which knocked it out of my hands. When I picked the rifle back up it was still functional but the grenade launcher tube had a nice sized 7.62 cal bullet hole in it and was rendered useless. ” 

So: have a drill, that everyone does. No random sua sponte activity by individuals. The squad could have broken contact, assaulted (not a good idea down that slope unless they could suppress the enemy), or called for fire support/close air support. I have not idea of the situation other than was in the video. Random heroic stuff by individuals potentiality put that squad in a very difficult position with a man wounded on the forward slope, pinned by enemy machine-gun fire.

Why?

Because….

Max