manned/unmanned squadron

from defense news:

Next year, the U.S. Army will create an experimental air cavalry squadron composed of 21 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters and eight RQ-7 Shadow UAVs. 

The Army hopes that the new arrangement will allow the service to meet the exponentially increased demand for aerial reconnaissance with fewer forces over larger areas more efficiently. 

"Unmanned aircraft have endurance and range, whereas manned aircraft have the ability to react to contacts and have better situational awareness," said Ellis Golson, director of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence's Capability Development and Integration Directorate. "We know it will work. It's just a matter of how well it will work and how we can make it even better."

cynical take:  we're too incompetent to buy a new scout helicopter.

it's actually a good idea, and worth pursuing, even if we had managed to procure our heads out of our ass.

if we can ever manage to send units outside the wire for more than a quick road trip, the persistent surveillance will certainly be useful, first and foremost to the units on the ground, right where it should be.  so kudos.  hopefully this might reduce our risk aversion somewhat and let units get outside the wire longer than a fortymile hunting trip.*

* disclosure:  of course i'm not one of those guys that's going outside the wire at all.

but that's why i don't think we should be treat all veterans and servicemembers the same.  you were in the infantry in persistent close combat?  you're my hero.  seriously.  i have nothing but love and respect for you guys.  nothing we do as a nation can return that which you have given for us.

you spent your deployments hanging out at green bean, sneaking in a little minesweeper while fixing your powerpoint slides, and you won't shut up about your combat tours when you're in the states?  shut up and color.