Russia crippled by lack of NCOs

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Russia crippled by lack of NCOs

Wed, 03/09/2022 - 14:06
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The Russian army’s lack of noncommissioned officers is seriously hampering its efforts to swiftly conquer Ukraine, says a local veteran who saw action in the Middle East.

NCOs are the glue that hold fighting forces together and ensure the supply chain is maintained, said Creighton Holub, who grew up in Wallis and graduated from Sealy High School in 1998 before joining the Army.

“Russia’s logistics chain is horrible,” Holub said. “In the U.S. Army, sergeants are the ones that make everything go. They’re the backbone of the Army. In the Navy, petty officers fulfill that role.”

Holub, who saw service after being deployed overseas during U.S. engagements, is no longer serving and said he doesn’t have any insider information about the European crisis. However, like many veterans, he keenly is following Russia’s march into neighboring Ukraine, which is being met by stiff resistance.

Holub believes the Russian military is lacking one component that provides a strong backbone for American forces — the distributed leadership provided by NCOs. Without that leader in the field making sure tanks and trucks can be refueled, and soldiers are fed, there’s little chance of success.

“Russia doesn’t have NCOs making things happen. That’s been good for the Ukrainians,” Holub said.

In the chain of command, NCOs still follow orders from officers.

When you get to the war zone, “street smarts” is what keeps you alive, Holub said. That’s where NCOs and support personnel both play key roles, he added.

Holub said many of the U.S. veterans he knows — especially combat soldiers — have reached out to those in logistics positions from their own days in the military and expressed regrets for not giving them enough respect.

“I’ve seen a lot of infantry guys apologizing to cooks and other support people,” Holub said.

When the conflict in Ukraine began two weeks ago, many — including Holub — wondered if Russia was just flexing its military muscles but planned to stop short of a full-blown war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Russians and Ukrainians are one people, and has said he is trying to root out fascists, a claim most world leaders find hard to believe. Efforts at negotiating ceasefires have also fallen short, with reports of civilian casualties.

“I really wish ‘thoughts and prayers’ did something more for the people in the Ukraine. They’re in a tough spot,” he said.

The U.S. and its NATO allies so far have resisted calls to institute a no-fly zone over Ukraine for fear it could start World War III with Russia, which is a nuclear power.

However, many Western nations are supplying arms to Ukraine through third parties.

Holub and his fellow veterans are curious to see what other measures the U.S. will take to try to bring the conflict to an end. As the war ramps up, what Holub and his colleagues find disturbing is the comparison between combat and sports many seem to make, he said.

“War is not a sport,” Holub said. “For most men, football was the biggest challenge to their physical endurance. Combat is a whole other level.

“Football is difficult, but there’s no land mines or shell holes in the stadium. If you lose the Super Bowl, everyone on your team is still breathing the next day.”

Holub also shared concerns about how watching news coverage of the war might affect veterans, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Help is out there,” he said. “Any veteran who is having a problem should visit www.va.gov.”

The website provides direction to a 24-hour crisis support line for veterans.

Holub also encourages service members to tell their stories.

“You have to do it in a way that’s right for you, but you should tell your wife and kids all the neat things you got to do,” he said, noting that positive memories provide a good starting point.

“If you look at the number of Americans who served in World War II versus those who have served since 9/11 – it’s a much smaller percentage,” he said. “Most people don’t have a clue what happened over there because we haven’t told them. And if we don’t tell them, no one is going to tell the stories of our buddies that didn’t come back.”

Holub also expressed gratitude for the way Vietnam-era veterans stepped up to help those returning from the Middle East.

“If it hadn’t been for them, I can’t imagine how we would have been treated,” he added. “They made a bigger sacrifice than anybody in America. When they came home, everyone was against them.”