Introduction
Dawn of the Red Arrow refers to a documentary that explores the change of the Wisconsin Guard from insecurely organized regiments into the 32nd Division at the outset of WW1. The documentary featured pictures, stories, and videos of soldiers who were fighting in the trenches. More than 15,000 National Guardsmen from Wisconsin and more than 8000 from Michigan fought together and earned the names the insignia and Les Terribles of a Red Arrow, the legacy persisting to the modern day (WisconsinGuard, 2020). The essay explores the infantry is different in today’s era versus then and how is it the same in today’s era versus then.
How infantry is Different in today’s Era versus Old Era
In today’s era, infantry uses sophisticated weapons and amour along with tactics as compared to old times when they only used a few military artillery and strategies. In addition, infantry soldiers in the old times era were aged even below 18 years, for example, a 16 years old railroad worker being included(WING-PAO, 2022). However, in today’s era, they are generally smaller, older, diverse, and most likely to be married than infantry in old days (U.S. Center for Military History, 2017). It implies that today’s infantry has embraced taking soldiers old enough to fight in ground combat than it was in ancient times when those aged below 18 years were included.
Furthermore, in the old era, the infantry was fundamentally an armed mob that was fighting in loosely planned opposing lines, under the individual commanders’ vocal direction near the soldiers’ hearing range. However, in today’s era, infantry soldiers are trained solder to serve in the field, working to defend their nation against any threats that are posed on the ground (WING-PAO, 2022). They capture, destroy, and deter enemy forces, help in reconnaissance, and assist mobilize weaponry and troops to support the mission of the ground combat force. They are well specialized to engage in a ground fight on foot as compared to the old times (World War I Centennial, 2022). In today’s era, the infantry is organized and well selected as compared to ancient times when they were loosely gathered to serve the country through governors on the national guard where businesspersons and professors answered the call to serve the nation.
How Infantry is the same in Today’s Era versus Old Times
Both today’s era and old-time infantry focused on getting a balance between heavily armed formations, which stressed firepower and capability to endure direct assaults. Both today’s and old-era infantry embraced lightly armed troops and mobile units to maneuver around the combat field swiftly to exploit tactical opportunities. Further, both eras have embraced the aspect of mobility, protection, and armament that compete and complement the balanced strategy to develop an infantry doctrine. The 32nd division comprising citizen-soldiers depicts the birth of the modern-day Wisconsin National Guard as they continue to respond to state emergencies and be deployed overseas to support the US Army and Air force as they did in ancient times (WisconsinGuard, 2020). They are continuing the legacy forged by the people behind the Red Arrow showing its impact on today’s infantry in the United States (World War I Centennial, 2022). They receive support from their communities and families as those in the first Red Arrow troops and those who are serving in today’s era.
Conclusion
The Dawn of the Red Arrow documentary reveals that there were some differences between today’s era and then the infantry. In today’s era, infantry uses sophisticated weapons and amour along with tactics as compared to old times when they only used a few military artillery and strategies. However, today’s infantry portrays the same features as old infantry. For example, the 32nd division is the birth of the modern-day Wisconsin National Guard. As they continue to respond to state emergencies and be deployed overseas to support the US Army and Air force as they did in ancient times.
References
U.S. Center for Military History. (2017). 7 ways WWI still impacts today’s army. Web.
WING-PAO. (2022). Dawn of the Red Arrow – Extended Trailer [Video]. YouTube. Web.
WisconsinGuard. (2020). Dawn of the Red Arrow – Complete Documentary – YouTube [Video]. YouTube. Web.
World War I Centennial. (2022). Dawn of the red arrow traces history Wisconsin national guard in World War I. Web.