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Questions for a military volunteer? (Patreon)

Published:
2023-06-21 22:00:23
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Edit: Thanks for all the questions! We just finished the interview, and it turned into over two hours in two separate sessions. I'll get the first one posted promptly; I think you guys will really enjoy them!

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On Friday I'm going to be interviewing a fellow who fought in Iraq with the US military, and then with the Peshmerga a few years ago and recently in Ukraine. Anything particular questions or topics you would like to have me ask him about?

Comments

niffirg11

Whats the most obscure/weird small arm you’ve seen fielded in combat?

Lord Bacon

When it comes to the weapons you choose to use in combat (and especially what loadouts do and don't work) how does your experience compare to the advice often provided by internet influencers and forums such as ARFCOM? How accurate is their advice, really?

Beef Supreme

What are some misconceptions people have about military weapons? For example: features the average person thinks a military gun needs but really aren't important or vice versa

Bill Brockman

What surprised him about the Russians.

firetower

We've seen a variety of firearms shown off if pictures from Ukraine from the Mosin to bullpup prototypes. Would the average man on the ground see much variety in firearms used or is this simply social media highlighting the extreme outliers?

Will Sanders

Both the Peshmerga and the Ukrainians have made large rifles and machine guns in the 14.5mm Soviet cartridge, seems to be a reoccurring idea. How effective are these and how do they compare to the American Barret and M2HB in terms of mission profile and effectiveness?

Beef Supreme

What is the most important tool or piece of equipment a soldier can have in the field that is not a weapon?

Hunter Oates

What piece or level of “civilian” camping gear would increase preparedness and effectiveness in the field that is not already issued (if any)?

Les Winner

What do you think about the training quality of the Pesh and Ukrainian troops? On par with their respective enemy's? Or are they better or worse?

Isaac Botkin

What are the unexpected similarities between these disparate armies, and the biggest differences.

Adam Schindler

Compare and contrast the differences in fighting an enemy with and without effective indirect fire artillery support. Did any differences or similarities surprise you, and if so what?

firetower

Also is there any feeling in Ukraine that certain groups are arming them just to test their equipment and claim it as battle proven?

Chairman

Is Sabaton the soundtrack to your life?

Erik Boraas

How practical are slings in real use? I see a lot of videos of guys putting their rifles down to sneak up on a position to throw grenades then snatch the rifle on the run back.

zspikez

Whether high tech gear is an asset or just dead weight (or an actual liability).

Dwight Brunner

How does supply (ammo, rations, equipment) compare between being a US service member and a foreign military volunteer? Do most folks seem to appreciate foreign volunteers?

Infin1ty

In regards to the war in Ukraine, is the technological superiority of the Ukrainians really as massive as it seems? It seems like the Russians are doing what they do best and just throwing their massive manpower at the problem but still having difficulties because their weapons, tactics, and logistics are a complete shitshow.

firetower
>>111238534

My guess is probably something either navigational or sustainment based like a map or cold weather gear.

ERB2

Since the U.S. was the “invader” during the Iraq war and Ukraine was the “invaded” in the current war, what effect if any does the cause of the war have during the conflict?

Stephen A Batzer

How effective is artillery against infantry in trenches?

Tim Black

How would you counter the cheap COTS drone/quadcopter threat in both a uniformed and non-uniformed force?

Juan Cisneros

Given your extensive combat experience, what would your ideal rifle setup be? Type of rifle, caliber and barrel length, optic, accessories, etc.

Zangor

Ask about the food.

Martin Morehouse

Comparing US, Peshmerga, and Ukraine, are supporting fires such as machine guns or artillery planned and used to enhance manuever elements, or are they informal?

Tim The Enchanter

Are they actively using close air support or able to communicate with the limited fighter/attack aircraft?

Robert Johnston

Do you believe that Ukrainian commanders are using the foreign fighters effectively?

notorious sath
>>111240981

Seconding this - who had the best food, and what troubles were had in getting it? Rations or local cuisine/equivalents, etc.?

Mr. Burd

If you got to talk to someone who could actually implement changes, what lessons learned would you try to convey to them?

Regulus

What is your opinion of the efficacy of 5.56, especially against armored opponents - have any myths or misconceptions been clearly dispelled?

AlexP

To which extent did you actually see enemy fighters in combat ? I feel like we’re very spoiled by war video games and even training where we have big nice cardboard targets. Tons of combat footage available on the internet these days, but unless it’s very close range, troops seem to direct fire in the general direction of the supposed enemy and suppress more than anything.

Paul Johnston

On a much lighter note following your time in Northern Iraq where would you recommend visiting there on holiday? I was there late last year and really enjoyed Erbil.

James Steed

With the wide range of weapons, calibers, etc. in use in Ukraine (and I'm guessing Iraq too), how difficult was it to stay supplied?

nick cooper

What were the different fractions of their time: on the front line vs. else ware in the general combat area vs rear echelon/R and R etc. between the 3 services?

nick cooper

How was the language barrier with other units and locals?

Aaron Stevens

The asymmetric warfare that we are seeing using cheap radio controlled drones to disable or destroy armor and infantry concentrations seems to be one of the primary methods of engagement, especially in ambush. Are small, unmanned drones as dominating of a force on the battlefield as they appear to be in the videos we all see released daily or is the primary method of engagement conventional urban/rural conflict with infantry skirmishes and other conventional tactics?

David T Klein

What do you wish you’d known before arriving in-country?

David T Klein

what misconceptions or erroneous assumptions by those of us back in the world do you wish you could dispel, or that are particularly unhelpful?

David T Klein

With a large portion of the fighting being city defense by irregular forces, have you been hampered in logistics, communications, planning, and so forth, that more conventional forces have become experts at?

Jonathan Birkeland

What sort of training (marksmanship, medical training or other field craft, etc) or gear (weapons, field gear, radios, etc) did you wish you had before you saw combat?

Chris Alexander

What, if any, roadblocks do the U.S government throw up to prevent or make it difficult for you to serve militarily outside U.S. command?

Brian

What made you go back to the fight? 2x over...

Lucas

.308 vs 5.56. Choose only one. Also, what’s your favorite field meal.

simon eppstein

are there any doctrine differences in each of the forces you joined in regard to use of your weapon’s safety or muzzle sweep / safely pointed direction?

Jim Thompson

What is the strangest weapons you ran across in the various areas you were stationed.

The barbecube

Is it difficult to maintain relationships with friends / loved ones back home?

Minion

Was there anything (not directly weapon related) which you regret not bringing with you, as in personal basics etc?

Mart Boo

I'm interested in the camaraderie between the fellow and his respective peers in the field.

Matthew Smith

Many Ukrainian have been seen with picatiny rails(presumably zenitco upgrades) on their AK's. Is this usually done at their own expense or does the Ukrainian government provide these upgraded

Timothy Conklin

Favorite individually assigned weapon?

TJ

I´d be curious about field food in different countries, best/worst experiences?

Richard Griffith

I'd like to know his thoughts on how the available small arms affected tatics of the various forces he has fought with and against.

Nathaniel Wright

What piece of equipment surprised you when you were issued it?

jtfrogblast

With him having most recently been in Ukraine, it'd be interesting to know if there's any rhyme or reason to the use of colored tape and spray-painted marking for infantry and vehicle IFF. Are there are any specific meanings to the various colors and/or symbols? I have seen some suggestions that certain tape colors are for certain types of units, for example, yellow for regular forces, blue for SOF and/or international legion, etc.

Ryan Sponauer

What idea/thought/belief he had prior to Ukraine about anything related to small arm use that he has since switched his stance on.

Charles Meigh

What differences are there in the three theaters for what logistics you were supported with, food, drink, medical supplies, ammo, "luxuries" (e.g. cigs if they smoke), etc.?

Snake Plissken

I learned from several interviews with mercenaries of all nations in the German media that many mercenaries in Ukraine never received the pay they were promised. What were his experiences in this regard in the various theaters and what was the motivation for getting involved there in the first place?

Haris122

Building up on the question on what surprised him about the Russians, who were the primary enemy combatants your guest faced in each theater he served, and what was his impressions of said enemies as far as how capable and in what ways, they were.

Doug G

What were the differences of you going in to the conflict zones and coming out of them?

John Kettner

Was it harder going into the conflict zone, or adjusting to being at home when you got out of the conflict zone

Joe Barrett

What was the biggest distinguishing difference difference between the Peshmerga and Ukrainian soldiers you fought alongside, be it military or cultural?

J WL

What kind of improvised/field modifications did you come across on small arms in your time? Anything from a taped/hose-clamped flashlight, to something that required machining on the gun, and everything in-between. And did you use any modifications yourself?

Luís Moreira

Is it true that there was booze smuggling to Iraq in shampoo bottles?

Jeff King

What is the best Toyota hilux load out? How many variants did he see used?

Carl T

How do the differences in supply lines and logistics affect day to day combat and the battefronts?

Austin Blake Reimer

What gear or equipment modifications did you adopt from the locals or opposition forces on your deployments?