Look sharp, be sharp, and be able to back it up. At the moment, Afghanistan can back it up. Now for the rest of it.

Class time:

* Hygiene
* Uniforms
* Drill & Ceremony, which includes:
* * Command recognition
* * Military courtesy
* * Building cohesive units that can interact for effective combat
* * Leading potential and existing leaders in becoming good leaders
* * Instruction for instructors in proper instructing

A lot of it is an Eliza Dolittle thing, true, but it is important. A nation that hopes to become a player in the international arena must be able to impress its associates with it's militaries. Backwoodsmen who know how to fight is a start, but they will be unable to accomplish this. They will win the war, but remain the dirty, uneducated undesirables of the world.

There are many people in the U.S. who hole their own militaries with contempt. It’s the ferocious watchdog syndrome, where the dog is nice to have when it’s dark and lonesome, or when there is a burglar in the house, but they tend to prefer him tied out back whenever guests over. He’s nice to have -- it’s just that he’s not exactly a show-dog (with extended periods of peace, however, this is not necessarily the case).

In reality, there’s more to the military than spit-shine and brass, and there’s more to the individual soldier than a tight haircut and sharp uniform. These are only the basics.

Then there are the tricks of the trade. Technology has advanced since the 80s and 90s, so training in modern tactics an weaponry would also come into play. He looks good in dress blues, but can he pick his way through a minefield, and fieldstrip a 50 cal without shooting himself with the spring guide. Neat tricks, but can he also wade through the blood to take over a machine gun nest that has been hit -- and can he read the range card for that nest and get that position working again?

Dan