Computer literacy is at no time covered while in the Army from my recent experience. It was required how ever to do a lot of those online Army classes each quarter. It would turn into entire days of people trying to figure out how to just login. Almost all admin duties from soldiers at any level has moved to a digital format and yet still often using Windows XP or the site requires running IE in a weird compatibility mode. All of this means we can quickly lose an entire day of work trying to get people to reset their passwords to do a 15min safety quiz or check if they have a dental appointment.
> What were they going to do, send paratroopers at it?
I think the balloon was flying at 60,000 feet. I'm not qualified to know if paratroopers can operate at that altitude, but it sounds tough. They'd need oxygen at the very least.
It would certainly make for a cool scene in a movie, although it seems pointless?
In military operations, HALO is also used for delivering equipment, supplies, or personnel, while HAHO is generally used exclusively for personnel. In typical HALO/HAHO insertions the troops jump from altitudes between 15,000 and 35,000 feet (4,600 and 10,700 m). Military parachutists will often reach a terminal velocity of 126 mph (203 km/h), allowing for a jump time under two minutes.
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All types of parachuting techniques are dangerous, but HALO/HAHO carry special risks. At high altitudes (greater than 22,000 feet or 6,700 metres), the partial pressure of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere is low. Oxygen is required for human respiration and lack of pressure can lead to hypoxia. Also, rapid ascent in the jump aircraft without all nitrogen flushed from the bloodstream can lead to decompression sickness, also known as caisson disease or "the bends".
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You'll note that the numbers there are much less than 60,000 feet.
The altitude here is closer to the ceiling for the U2 spy plane (famously known for being high altitude) at 70,000 or so feet.
Do Apaches fly high enough for an intercept of something flying at 60k feet? I woupd have rather called in the Space Force with an invisible F-45 or something.
Airbus Helicopters holds the record for the highest take from Mount Everest's summit, they didn't play around with anything less the highest point of earth.
But ok, a sidewinder shot from a Apache flying at the top of his ceiling should do the job as well. My personal pet theory so is, that some USAF pilot wants to become a fighter ace of aces for balloons and is using his political connections within the USAF and the Pentagon to lobby for enough balloon shoot downs to get there. Come thinking of it, maybe it is the USAF fighter pilot community launching those balloons themselves???
Something of nearly zero importance to the army. What were they going to do, send paratroopers at it?
>Second, it was quite clearly far from a wise use of military resources.
While true, I doubt this caused a significant waste of resources.
The third issue is fair.
The original source opinion piece seems better than this writeup.