In an earlier Life in Uniform column, I told you about my friend William Keller, who was a sergeant E-4 in the Air Force in Vietnam in 1970. Having served in Afghanistan, I feel some connection to Vietnam veterans. Both our wars were betrayed by our own leadership, handing the enemy the victory. Despite that grim similarity, I’m struck by what seems to me a profound difference in command’s attitude toward force protection in the two wars.

“Force pro” is the concept of the military protecting itself from possible attacks: fences, walls, or anti-vehicle ditches around bases and armor on vehicles or soldiers. It varies according to mission requirements. For example, soldiers establishing a long-term camp construct fortified fighting positions, but such measures are impractical on a brief convoy halt to refuel vehicles.