"What the Modern Staff Officer Can Learn from a WWII" Topic

…Japanese Guerrilla.

"At times, the role of a Staff Officer seems to be the furthest you can get from the field. Posted to a command headquarters, you are responsible for the administrative, operations and logistic needs of your organisation. As a trained infantry officer, it's very different to the role I thought I'd be in when I first walked through the doors of my local Defence recruitment centre.

A successful staff officer however, relies heavily upon the lessons learnt in the field. Regardless of rank, corps or trade – all members of the Australian Army are required to spend some time out field. For most, a combination of cold (or heat), fatigue, ticks or a lack of sleep begin to frustrate you by the one to two-week mark…"
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Amicalement
Armand

The ethos of the Japanese soldier and, particularly that of the Japanese officer in WWII, is completely alien to the prevalent mentality of the Western democracies. Even the famous "Duty, Honor, Country" does not indicate the level of self-sacrifice of the Japanese. The Japanese leaders believed and indoctrinated their soldiers and sailors in a very unique vision using the ideas behind the Samurai ethos of loyalty as viewed through the warrior code of Bushido, with a heavy dose of belief in the racial superiority of the "Yamato Race," ardent nationalism, militarism, and fatalism. This powerful combination had a very dark side. It resulted in extreme cruelty to prisoners, suicidal Banzai charges, Kamikazes, and ritual seppukku among high ranking officers and simple suicide among the troops. It lead to a very intense and almost merciless war between them and the Allied powers.

In a guerilla war/insurgency the rear areas can be just a dangerous as the front at times. Especially in terrain like the jungle you may not be able to see very far, etc.

The enemy can be on top of you before you know it. And vis versa, you can be next to the enemy before they know it. If you are trained, skilled and experienced enough.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand