Thanks for pointing this out. It’s fixed.

But just as Airman Rheiner was honored for heroism, another JTAC died not long ago alongside 2 Army Soldiers in an IED incident in Afghanistan.

In doing so, SSG Timothy Davis joined many thousands of Army Soldiers and Marines that have died there and in Iraq heroically serving…and don’t forget the countless thousands more who have been maimed both physically and mentally. The Air Force total deaths attributed to Afghanistan is 35 according to icasualties.org. Of those 35, 19 were non-hostile and 14 involved helicopter crashes (3 hostile). Seven Airmen deaths were attributed to IEDs and hostile small arms fire.

Without a doubt, the Army and Marine totals would be much higher were it not for the superb efforts of Airman providing close air support…and this includes those JTACs humping on the ground alongside infantry and special ops brothers. For that, Soldiers/Marines are eternally greatful…but the Army provides helicopter close combat attack support, as well, and has suffered far greater casualties in the air.

So it is disheartening to think that billions of procurement, construction, operations and support, and salary dollars go to Airmen who are not as much in harm’s way, nor do they deploy as frequently for long durations in harm’s way as do Soldiers and Marines.

In coming tough budget years, we already know that the Army’s SOLE major procurement program, FCS will get slashed in size/scope. We have already seen the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter get slashed despite the fact that it would cost 1/7th the price of a F-35A, and 1/12th the price of a F-22 that has never served in war. Yet we know the ARH would be used everyday in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

In addition the Army is offered the false choice of either resetting due to worn out current equipment or modernizing for current and future wars. They claim there isn’t enough money for both and for badly needed force structure increases to lessen the Army’s multiple deployment nightmare. Yet other services do not face such a choice…created by the very selfless service that has worn out so much equipment and career Soldier lives.

So forgive me if I don’t get all choked up in recognition of Gutenberg’s accomplishments…because believe it or not, technology works on the ground, too. In addition, technology on the ground (and in aircraft controlled by ground forces)saves Soldier lives that should be worth every bit as much as an Airman or Sailor life.

Judging by the fatality and maiming injury count, reset requirements, and deployment burden, it seems clear to me where much more technology, procurement, construction, salary, and force structure dollars should be going. But will it??