# Ultimate Soldier Challenge (History Channel) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658 "2013-02-28T20:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/21 "2013-03-01T21:41:45Z")
Exactly. I can imagine a situation where soldier would have to use a knife against a guy with a gun (if you’re out of ammo, you can’t run away, and you have a knife), but against a guy with a knife? When does that ever happen? ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/22 "2013-03-01T22:20:45Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > 1x06 **Army** vs. Navy - Unless the Navy participant is a Seal, Army wins hands down. The average soldier will have at least some combat training; many sailors will not. I didn’t really think about this, but it dosen’t even make sense (other than the longstanding friendly rivalry between the two oldest branches, which is obviously why they’re doing it). It’s not even a fair fight. If you want to pit the army against another branch, the Marines make sense. Have the Navy and the USAF duke it out over computer terminals and greasy/radioactive engines or something. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/23 "2013-03-01T23:05:58Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Assuming the IDF guy was a run-of-the-mill assault infantry warrior, like I was, then the extent of his knife training amounted to a grand total of zilch. The way we were taught, the proper way to deal with a man wielding a knife is to shoot him. I’m pretty sure the 82nd Airborne doesn’t spend a lot of time in knife training or hand-to-hand. I saw that episode and as soon as I saw the Israeli fighting with the blade down I thought, “yup, looks like the Americans win this contest”. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/24 "2013-03-01T23:47:35Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Royal Air Force Regiment Not Special forces at all then. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/25 "2013-03-02T00:03:55Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Care to elaborate as to why there would be no active duty British special forces members on the program? > > Besides, who said they had to be active duty? UK special forces are a small cadre, involved in some politically tricky things. Anonymity is key. Have a look at googling Gibraltar and sas. They sometimes act as the executioner wing of the state. Have a gander at the role of the special forces in northern Ireland too ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/26 "2013-03-02T01:19:09Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > - former Marine I know several Marines that no longer actively serve, and they say they is no such term as its oxymoronic. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/27 "2013-03-02T05:08:49Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I know several Marines that no longer actively serve, and they say they is no such term as its oxymoronic. A neighbor who is no longer employed by the USMC. ---
**Author:** ![Patricia44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Patricia44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricia44)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/28 "2013-03-03T07:52:34Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Dunno. They don’t sound particularly imposing. First, they’re Canadian, widely regarded as the most polite people in the world. Second, they’re light. _Light_ anything sounds weak: beer, loafers, etc. Get a load of their complete name: [Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Patricia%27s_Canadian_Light_Infantry). My money would be on the marines. 😃 Thanks for the compliments guys. Here is a list of Canadian soldiers killed in combat in afghanistan since 2002. PPCLI were the first to deploy from Canada to assist American forces on the war on terrorism. I was there in 2002. I was in tora bora alongside American troops. Where you there fighting for your country? Wasn’t my war and I proudly served. What the fuck did you do? Have some respect many Canadians died there. Canadians were killed by Taliban forces, and poorly trained American pilots that dropped a bomb in a “friendly fire” situation. Fuck you guys are so awesome! [Canadian Forces casualties in Afghanistan - Wikipedia](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces_casualties_in_Afghanistan) ---
**Author:** ![Patricia44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Patricia44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricia44)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/29 "2013-03-03T08:11:51Z")
Who holds the world record for the longest shot resulting in a confirmed kill in battle? Snipers from the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry February 2002 operation anaconda 2.4 km or in American terms 1.5 miles ---
**Author:** ![Patricia44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Patricia44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricia44)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/30 "2013-03-03T08:14:21Z")
> **[Rob Furlong](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Furlong)** > > Rob Furlong (born 11 November 1976) is a Canadian former military sniper who, from March 2002 until November 2009, held the world record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in combat, at 2,430 m (2,657 yd). His record stood for over 7 years and was improved upon by Craig Harrison with a distance of 2,475 m (2,707 yd) using a L115A3 Long Range Rifle. > Born on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, on 11 November 1976. In his early life Furlong taught himself to fire a rifle ambidextrously. > Inspired by a ... Looks like a Brit broke that record in 2009 by 40 meters Americans are the best though ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/31 "2013-03-03T08:27:53Z")
Looking at the regiments page, it seems that PPCLI has not received any Battle Honour for Afghanistan nor any post Korea. Strikes me as strange, perhaps Canadians don’t have that tradition any more. ---
**Author:** ![Patricia44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Patricia44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricia44)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/32 "2013-03-03T08:33:08Z")
Battle honors take years to get. As well as medals. We r not like Americans where we get medals and badges for every little thing. PPCLI was active all around the world from Somalia, Egypt, Sierra leone, Cyprus,Kosovo,Bosnia, Croatia, congo. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/33 "2013-03-03T08:50:25Z")
> [@Patricia44](#): > > Battle honors take years to get. As well as medals. > We r not like Americans where we get medals and badges for every little thing. > PPCLI was active all around the world from Somalia, Egypt, Sierra leone, Cyprus,Kosovo,Bosnia, Croatia, congo. Etc. I sympathize with most of your posts and of no fan of jingoism, but if you wish to engage in silly nationalist insults please make some improvements when it comes to spelling, grammar, and capitalization. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/34 "2013-03-03T08:59:07Z")
I agree, though, that medal inflation has gotten to be a problem in the U.S. military. Some of those guys have so much tin on their shirts it’s a wonder they can stand up straight. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/35 "2013-03-03T09:51:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I agree, though, that medal inflation has gotten to be a problem in the U.S. military. Some of those guys have so much tin on their shirts it’s a wonder they can stand up straight. [Eisenhower](http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-UKD44INP.jpg?size=67&uid=cb66ce0a-53e6-4f82-8efb-29c41b4424e3). [David Petraeus](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/GEN_David_H_Petraeus_-_Uniform_Class_A.jpg). The latter looks like he works in that restaurant in Office Space where they reward you for the number of pieces of “flair” you can attach to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/36 "2013-03-03T10:02:20Z")
Sure, but medals for individuals are one thing. Battle honours for a Regiment are quite another and are usually given at the end of a deployment. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/37 "2013-03-03T18:41:12Z")
> [@Patricia44](#): > > Thanks for the compliments guys. Here is a list of Canadian soldiers killed in combat in afghanistan since 2002. PPCLI were the first to deploy from Canada to assist American forces on the war on terrorism. I was there in 2002. I was in tora bora alongside American troops. Where you there fighting for your country? Wasn’t my war and I proudly served. What the fuck did you do? Have some respect many Canadians died there. Canadians were killed by Taliban forces, and poorly trained American pilots that dropped a bomb in a “friendly fire” situation. Fuck you guys are so awesome! > > [Canadian Forces casualties in Afghanistan - Wikipedia](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces_casualties_in_Afghanistan) My intent was simply to make a stupid joke. Canadians = polite, Light = weak, etc. If that didn’t come across, then I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Patricia44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Patricia44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricia44)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/38 "2013-03-04T00:34:01Z")
Thank you ---
**Author:** ![jandmreece](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jandmreece](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jandmreece)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/39 "2013-03-11T04:59:08Z")
Hey Lawmonkey you dog Air Force, but while Army works a 9 to 5 I am breaking my back doing missions everyday. I have been stationed beside the Army twice and you have more people on computers and mechanics than we do. Get your story right and remember if it wasnt for USAF America wouldnt be safe at all, you think a soldier or a marine can load a assault rifle and scare a country. I promise you it wont, so next time you might wanna thank a greasy radioactive member from the AF or Navy, cause chances are they have saved your ass. AF special ops will beat everyone on here ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658/40 "2013-03-11T16:26:15Z")
> [@jandmreece](#): > > Hey Lawmonkey you dog Air Force, but while Army works a 9 to 5 I am breaking my back doing missions everyday. I have been stationed beside the Army twice and you have more people on computers and mechanics than we do. Get your story right and remember if it wasnt for USAF America wouldnt be safe at all, you think a soldier or a marine can load a assault rifle and scare a country. I promise you it wont, so next time you might wanna thank a greasy radioactive member from the AF or Navy, cause chances are they have saved your ass. AF special ops will beat everyone on here Nope, actually I don’t. Came awfully close to taking a commission in the Air Force myself. But the missions and training are vastly different between the USAF/USN and the Army/Marines, and I’m pretty damn sure that this show is not going to play to the Navy’s (or the Air Force’s) strengths, because outside of the pilots and the SEALs (and yes, the USAF para-rescue guys), those strengths would make for shit TV. It seems like they’re setting the Navy up to fail, honestly. Anyway, cheers to you for serving; I’d buy you a beer if I could. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-soldier-challenge-history-channel/651658.md?page=3)