U.S. and Spanish Forces in Diwaniyah

[MARINO]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030826/capt.sge.trf60.260803155546.photo00.default-384x258.jpg
spanish legionario with a us marine patrolling in Diwaniyah at night, in the back you can see a BMR(Blindado Medio Ruedas)
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030806/capt.sge.oay71.060803082736.photo03.default-384x248.jpg
us marines with spanish legionarios
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030827/capt.sge.tvl32.270803061017.photo02.default-384x256.jpg
us marine
http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/afpji/20030827/030827162631.tow6fmil0b.jpg
a line of BMR, in Diwaniyah
http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/afpji/20030805/030805110635.b6rronru0b.jpg
spanish legionarios with us marines
http://estaticos.elmundo.es/elmundo/fotosdeldia/2003/08/28/1062103548_extras_fotos_del_dia_0.jpg
spanish nissan patrol[/url]

[MARINO]

General Caedona chief of spanish forces
http://estaticos.elmundo.es/elmundo/imagenes/2003/07/31/1059569265_0.jpg

[EvanL]

Whats with the Spanish soldiers looking so skinny?

[txajas]

... you mean in shape? :) You've been in the us too long

[MARINO]

Because here in spain we have mediterranean diet,who is healthier than american diet, with hamburguers, butter an other grass foods.so for you they are skinny but in europe, the had the perfect weight.
an other thing, is because their trining camp is in Almeria wich is very very hot.

[Mortimer]

http://estaticos.elmundo.es/elmundo/imagenes/2003/07/31/1059569265_0.jpg

"Thats a hot weapon you got there SGT....on base your safety should be on at all times...."

"This is my safety"

lol i know it doesn't really look like that scene but it just reminded me.

[MARINO]

General Cardona is the guy with hk-36e th other is a lt colonel of ingeeniers who where there to prepare the base.
but it reminds me the same. :) :)

[EvanL]

They stioll look like a slight gust of wind could blow them from here to Jalalabad. :lol:

[rafaelcb]

Whats with the Spanish soldiers looking so skinny?

Hmm.... HARD Trainig?
This description is slightly outdated, but generally valid:

The Spanish Legion (formally Spanish Foreign Legion) is part of Spain's Rapid Recation Force. The Legion formally took in foreigners who could pass selection. The Legion,however, has always been mostly Spaniards. Only about 20% of the early recruits and personnel were from other countries. This however has changed sligthly. Rumors have risen that the Legion still takes some foreigner but the main cadre are Spaniards. At one time signing up for the Legion was simple (like their French cousin). The Legion hopefull could ask any police officer or go to an Embassy, where he would then be turned over to the Legion. The recruit would be shown a film and talked to. He could then decide if this was really what he wanted. Training would thne begin for the recruit. He would then go to Ronda for a selection process. Training was brutal and some recruits were said to have died.

The Legion today is not for the weak. Training is still brutal with punishment usually being a severe beating from NCOs who run training. Training still takes place in Ronda. It is suprisingly short, usually 3-4 months long. Recruits are signed on for a 3 year contract which is as hard to get out of as the French Foreign Legion's.Rectuits now are all volunteers from Spain (maybe). Basic military skills are taught, and forced marches are the norm. Like FFL, hard marches are supposed to make or brake a soldier. The Assault course is one of the most difficult in the world. Rumor has it live ammunition is used to shoot at recruts feet and over their heads while they are trying to complete the course. Recruits which undergo E&E training, usually BOEL soldiers, should expect punishment. E&E is brutal. The men are subjected to brutal beatings and other means of "torture". While no recruit has been killed during this phase, it must be said that it is probably very close to the real thing.

for sure it is not combat rations' fault... those are excellent!
http://www.nato.int/sfor/nations/various/spanish/spanish.htm

[MARINO]

so they are skinny for you, but for us they are the normal weight, but we have also fat guys so if the wind blow them some guys will stay there with us troops

[Ratamacue]

I think he was saying that they don't look quite as buffed as the Marines.

[MARINO]

you know that spanish forces had to assure security in Nayaf, it was suppossed to be a peaceful zone, but after the bomb it will be a difficilt mission, and we only have south american forces from Guatemala, Honduras,El Salvador to help us.

[snowbear]

Whats with the Spanish soldiers looking so skinny?

Spaniards are warriors, marines are soldiers

[txajas]

They stioll look like a slight gust of wind could blow them from here to Jalalabad. :lol:

:lol: Obviously you have never seen legioners in person. These guys are as bad ass as it can get, I knew a guy who signed up for it, and I can assure you that it is a good thing he is in a controller environment because he was as close to a psychopath as you can get. Let's just say that I am grateful that I am on his side, cuz I wouldn't like to be at the business end of his job.

With that said, the Spanish training is different than the American. A strong soldier is not a better soldier (doesn't matter how buff you are, you are fighting with guns now... not swords), a FAST LEAN soldier on the other hand has a better chance of survival.

[EvanL]

Well here in Canada are soldiers are encouraged to do weight training on and off deployments. I have noticed that alot of european soldiers, especially french, italian, and spanish, tend to be alot slimmer. I have heard that this is because they dont encourage weight training as much in those armies as they do in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Germany, U.K.

[MARINO]

I've said you before, is because in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, we have Mediterranean diet, who is healthier8the healthiest in the world) than american, german, or british diet wich are too greasy

[MARINO]

an other thing is because they run everiday a longo distances (17 km) so they had the figure of a long-distance runner

[EvanL]

ACtually hombre, the healthiest diet in the world is Japanese. Thats why they live the longest. :petting:

[MARINO]

:D her in spain we have also a longo life, 89 for women, and 78 for men,
i think that, we have the longest hope of life in the world

[txajas]

an other thing is because they run everiday a longo distances (17 km) so they had the figure of a long-distance runner

I sincerelly doubt they run 17Km every day... if ever. That's like half a marathon dude!

[MARINO]

they don' run as fast as long-distance runners. i run 6,5 km every day and i'm not a legionario

[txajas]

:D her in spain we have also a longo life, 89 for women, and 78 for men,
i think that, we have the longest hope of life in the world

Well, not Japan has slightly longer life expectancy, I believe we still make it in the top 5. However, one thing is for sure.... we sure DO ENJOY life, what is the point of living a long life if you hated it? :)

[Seiyuuki]

I think Okinawa have the highest people age 100 or higher per capita in the world.

[MARINO]

nowadays japanese people had a very stressing life, so their life will probably be shorter than now.

[Seiyuuki]

Plus surveys show more and more and more are turning to fast food instead of maintaining the traditional healthy diet.

Anyway, back to the topic...U.S. and Spanish Forces in Diwaniyah are COOL!!!

[MARINO]

YEAH it hink the same. US marines are now at home and spanish forces have take the responsability of Diwaniyah and Nayaf.
one questin, Japan have sent troops in Irak? i've herad but i'm not sure

[MARINO]

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/afpji/20030830/030830083035.a4ubczd21b.jpg
exachange of responsabilities in Diwaniyah
http://servicios.diariovasco.com/pg030820/actualidad/mundo/media/200308/20/032GENE20FOT1_200.jpg
an other BMR

[Lobo]

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/afpji/20030805/030805110635.b6rronru0b.jpg

I like the caption for this picture:


A US soldier (L) stands beside Spanish soldiers at the US base in Diwaniyah, 280 kilometers south of Baghdad. The Spanish troops are hoping their Mediterranean sensitivity will lead to smooth relations with Iraqis(AFP/File/Karim Sahib)
AFP/File - Aug 06 4:30 AM

[MARINO]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030826/capt.sge.trf60.260803155546.photo00.default-384x258.jpg
i love this pic,. i've seen on TV that when spaniards an marines were doing patrols some marines went with legionarios in BMR and some legionarios went in hummes with marines. And they compare their guns, i think now legionarios and marines are good friends, but marines are now at home

[Trident-za]

Actually, 17km a day is not anything extravagant at all. Remember that this is not necessarily one single run. And, if you are in even semi-decent (by military standards) physical condition a half marathon (21.1km) is a breeze.

[MARINO]

REMEM BER THE ROMAN LEGIONAIRES WHO WALKED MORE THAN 60 KM PER DAY

[Haiw]

ye but theres a big difference between running, marching and speedmarching a certain distance...

[Lobo]

Pictures in the Spanish Defense Ministry website:

http://www.mde.es/mde/fotos/fotos1.htm

[rafaelcb]

The press office of our Ministry of Defense continues to proof its 'professionalism' with really boring pictures. The only good one is the 'Pizarro' and it is not even complete..... :bash:

[txajas]

Our Ministry of Defense continues to proof its 'professionalism' with really boring pictures. The only good one is the 'Pizarro' and it is not even complete..... :bash:

Real professional when the troops deployed have at least 2 different desert cammo patterns, some wear the Spanish desert cammo, and others wear the ol' American chocolate chip pattern, I assume we didn't have enough of our own desert uniforms so we have to borrow hand me downs from the Americans. Jeez, real profesional :(

[rafaelcb]

least 2 different desert cammo patterns, some wear the Spanish desert cammo, and others wear the ol' American chocolate chip pattern, I assume we didn't have enough of our own desert uniforms so we have to borrow hand me downs from the Americans.

This time the criticism is not justified. There are no 'hand me downs' uniforms.

People with 'chocolate chip' -> Army
People with other dessert pattern -> Marines

If you look carefully, both of them are spanish uniforms with spanish markings.

[txajas]

least 2 different desert cammo patterns, some wear the Spanish desert cammo, and others wear the ol' American chocolate chip pattern, I assume we didn't have enough of our own desert uniforms so we have to borrow hand me downs from the Americans.

This time the criticism is not justified. There are no 'hand me downs' uniforms.

People with 'chocolate chip' -> Army
People with other dessert pattern -> Marines

If you look carefully, both of them are spanish uniforms with spanish markings.

No I see one Spanish uniform carried out by some marines and some legionaires with that one too, other legionaries carry the chocolate chip pattern. So I see some people with Spanish kit, and others with American kit, but with a spanish flag sew on to it, it doesn't make it less of a hand me down. I have seen Spanish marines wearing spanish green kit, and other with American kit (again with a spanish flag on the side). Pretty sad, plus I totally disagree on putting Spanish troops under Polish control, sorry this is a ****ing insult -no offense to the Polish readers-

Besides all vehicles are painted in brigh olive green, jeez nice desert kit they got there. This is not profesional, it is just sad... we have great soldiers in Spain, but the competence of the command structure is rather questionable.

[MARINO]

i'm agree with txajas, but spanish troops in irak, are wearing BDU uniform and green uniform, they don't wear spanish marines desert uniform.
But they had1 bdu uniform, and 2 green uniforms,