It's not Iran and not Afghanistan: the US forgot what the "real war" is Business Insider

He stated that in the US army, little attention was paid to training with battles with equal opponents, which causes the soldiers to be insufficiently prepared for such scenarios. Instead, they focus on the tactics of the guerrilla war, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the United States and their allies have invested huge resources and efforts.

The veteran spoke about his experience, comparing it with what he saw in Ukraine, where he joined the fighting after Russia's invasion of 2022 and remained until December last year. He emphasized the differences in the preparation and experience of hostilities between the US Army Service and the combat situation in Ukraine.

In his view, US soldiers are accustomed to having a technical advantage and numerical advantage, which does not always come true in the event of a conflict with Russia in Ukraine. He noted that the US military seeks more for the tactics of guerrilla warfare, which may not be effective in clashes with an opponent who has strong conventional forces, such as Russia or China.

Other American veterans who participated in the war in Ukraine confirm its evaluation, noting significant differences in the nature of hostilities and warfare strategies compared to experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ukraine has encountered intense attacks by Russia, creating an atmosphere of constant tension and threat to soldiers, both physically and emotionally.

Veterans also point out that the fighting in Ukraine is closer to the nature of the war during world conflicts than modern theaters of hostilities, although there are modern elements, such as the use of unmanned aircraft and rocket systems.

In general, the experience of hostilities in Ukraine emphasizes the need for the United States and their allies in NATO to review the strategy and preparation for various types of conflicts, including possible clashes with opponents who have strong traditional military forces, and summarizes the publication. Recall, on May 2, American General Ben Hodges named the main goals for ATACMS missiles. These are Russian staffs, artillery and logistics of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.