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[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Not Bob
So, Social Security is eating the seed corn?

It's a funny week for bilmore to roll out the "seed corn" metaphor, since that's how a lot of bloggers were talking about the Army's decision to deploy the Eleventh Armored Cavalry Regiment to Iraq. This unit is the "OPFOR" at the Fort Irwin National Training Center, and plays the role of enemy forces for exercises with other units. Phil Carter, a veteran and a journalist, quoted a LA Times story on this (see here) and said:

• Deploying the OPFOR is like eating your seed corn. This unit is responsible for training other units and raising their level of expertise and combat readiness. The 11th ACR is being replaced by a National Guard unit. That's like replacing the Dodgers with a high school baseball team. Sure, they can both play baseball and wear the uniform — but one is a whole lot more proficient and experienced at its job. The OPFOR has a reputation as a tough enemy, and that's a good thing because it forces units training at the NTC to become better themselves. By replacing this unit with National Guard troops, the Army has hurt its ability to produce good units for Iraq in the future. Suffice to say, National Guard and active units that go through Fort Irwin aren't going to get the same tough experience they would have with the Blackhorse regiment as OPFOR — and that means they'll be less ready for combat when they get to Iraq. This is a desperation measure, and I think the Army will come to regret it.