ROTC: War talks helpful
By MATT BRAMANTI
News Writer
While American forces prepared for an almost certain bombardment and invasion of Iraq, Notre Dame ROTC officials applauded the war debate and expressed confidence in the U.S. military and its leadership. Commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force units characterized the debate over the impending war as generally fair and intelligent.
Capt. Jim Shelton, commander of the Navy ROTC unit, says the debate underscores the value of informed free speech.
"Listening to what knowledgeable people think is always good," Shelton said. "We live in a free republic, and part of its greatness is that people can express their opinions."
Col. Mark Gehri, who commands the Air Force ROTC detachment, agreed, noting the academic nature of the discussions at Notre Dame.
"It's been a collegial, honest and academic debate," Gehri said. "My hat is off to the Kroc Institute [for International Peace Studies]."
The Army ROTC battalion's commander, Lt. Col. David Mosinski, likewise praised the wide variety of opinions present. "We've seen a large number of forums across all kinds of media," Mosinski said.
The officers declined to comment on their personal opinions regarding military action in Iraq, citing Defense Department policy. "My job is to do what the President tells me," Shelton said.
With the possibility of a long occupation and rebuilding of Iraq, there have been questions about whether graduating seniors might soon find themselves deployed in the Iraqi desert. The officers downplayed that likelihood, explaining that graduates continue on to further training before they are ready for deployment. Fresh Army graduates would train for four months or longer before they would be sent overseas, Mosinski said.
"It could be possible that some would leave and go to a surface ship immediately," but that is very unlikely, Shelton said. "For the first two years, the risks of deploying are low," Gehri said.
The commanders also discussed the recent focus on non-conventional weapons, including chemical and biological agents. Iraq is thought to have retained stores of VX, sarin and mustard gases, as well as anthrax spores and botulinum toxin. Mosinski said his cadets receive basic instruction on the concepts surrounding nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, including reacting to threats and the use of protective gear such as gas masks.
"We focus on the basic soldier skills," Mosinski said. "The more detailed training comes later."
The officers said that the U.S. military is ready to meet the challenge of a war in Iraq, and praised the contributions of the students in their charge.
"Historically, Notre Dame ROTC graduates have done well in comparison to their peers," Mosinski said. "We just have an excellent program here."
The men were optimistic about the prospect of a quick victory against Saddam Hussein's regime. Gehri, who commanded a squadron of C-141 cargo planes immediately after the 1991 Gulf War noted the U.S.-led coalition's air superiority at that time, and he said it has improved since then.
"We have had huge technological advances," he said.
Shelton, a former nuclear submarine commander, emphasized the Navy's resolve. "
We all know we have a job to do," he said, adding that Navy personnel are "pretty bright people" with high morale.
Mosinski, a military intelligence officer and airborne ranger, stressed the Army's readiness for battle.
"Our units are trained and ready to carry out whatever missions are assigned," he said, citing previous military successes in the Gulf, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
All News Stories for Thursday, March 20, 2003
