I originally asked this question as part of the story about the 26th MEU performing a successful TRAP mission in regards to the downed pilots of the F-15.
I decided that it needed its own space.
Why is it necessary to have a dedicated, service specific CSAR force?
The Marine Corps has on numerous occasions proven that it is capable of performing the mission. So has the US Navy.
I'm not discounting the work of the Air Force PJ's...Combat Controllers and the Pilots in blue that perform this mission....but when we have operations that are as far afield as we have...when a captured pilot is a valuable commodity...when whoever is closest is the best...is it really effective to have a dedicated force?
I'm not sure.
