Provocative comment of the day: What the hell is up with the 82nd Airborne?

Posted over the weekend by “Hardtobelieve,” who will be buying drinks at the Fort Bragg club tonite.

The 82nd has problems. Big ones. Probably the best commander that the 82nd has had in the last 15 years has been LTG (P) Rodriguez, although on the family side, it was one of the worst environments. The 82nd is a closed society and you either play their game or you are voted off the island. The problem with the 82nd is that they spend far too much time reading their own history and not enough time paying attention to the world as we know it right now.

The problem these days is that its incestuous nature is close to putting Paratroopers at risk. Not all voices are heard at the 82nd. What is going to be very interesting to watch is when all of the players are on the same post: JSOC, USASOC, 18th ABN Corps, 82nd, AND FORSCOM. Some of those relationships (and feuds) go back at least ten years. It will be interesting to see how they work through things when everyone has to share toys. The tableau will be complete once a replacement for Helmick is named. If it is the name that has been rumored, then hold on because the fireworks will be splendid. Glad that I have a front row seat. The popcorn is popping right now.