In February, the Association of the US Army (AUSA) published a new paper highlighting the urgent need for the military to bolster its wet-gap “river” crossing capabilities.
Authored by Major Aditya Iyer, the paper detailed the imperative for investing in modernization and strategic planning to prepare for potential large-scale combat operations against technologically advanced forces, particularly in light of lessons drawn from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
A Call to Modernize Our River Crossing Capabilities
In the wild, shifting battleground that’s our world today, the Army’s gearing up for a potential rumble with other superpowers—think Russia and China.
A fresh report from the military think tank examines a crucial aspect of this prep work: getting our boots and tanks over rivers and other wet obstacles without getting stuck in the mud.
It’s an old-school skill that’s roaring back into focus, because, let’s face it, our future dust-ups won’t be in the deserts or mountain caves but possibly against foes who’ve got their own heavy metal and tech to throw back at us.
We’ve been tangled up in the sand and dust for the longest time, hunting shadows. But the winds are changing.
River-crossing exercise in 2020 (Image source: DVIDS)
The dragons we might have to dance with next are playing a different tune, one that calls for a leap back to the kind of war where crossing a river might just decide the day—that or the cyberspace, but still!
This AUSA report is drumming up the chorus, saying it’s time to brush off the cobwebs from our wet-gap crossing gear.
“After two decades of counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US faces emerging threats in Russia and China,” Major Iyer wrote.
Crossing water isn’t just about getting wet—it’s about outsmarting and outmaneuvering those on the other side who are just itching to turn you back.
The report spotlights a hard truth: we’ve let this skill slide.
Back in the day, during the big WW, we were all over it. But peace got the better of us, and now we’re playing catch-up.
“The Army must be prepared for large-scale combat operations against these near-peer threats. [In particular], the US military must be prepared to conduct wet-gap crossing operations against a well-organized and technologically advanced force.”
It’s not just about throwing bridges across rivers anymore. The game has changed.
Learning from the Latest Frays
The recent scuffles in Eastern Europe show just how tricky and brutal this can get. That mess at the Siverskyi Donets River? A stark wake-up call.
“The successful Ukrainian defense of this river against one of the greatest global military powers should be concerning to the US Army as it considers the feasibility of accomplishing a wet-gap crossing operation in the current and future operating environment,” Iyer noted.
It’s not just about muscle; it’s about brains and trickery—using drones to peek and poke, making the enemy guess where you’ll hit.
The recent AUSA report isn’t just hollering for more hardware; it’s also calling for a sharper blade—smarter training, sneaky tactics, and getting our heads in the game.
We’ve got to start thinking like the cunning fox, not just the charging bull. It’s not enough to have the gear; we’ve got to know how to use it and turn it into a magic trick that leaves the other guy baffled and beaten.
A Leopard tank crossing over a branching canal via an M1074 Joint Assault Bridge System, March 8, 2024 (Image source: DVIDS)
Training is the key. You can’t just wing it when the moment comes.
The report lays it out plain: scrimping on drills today will cost us dearly tomorrow.
We need to get down and dirty, make our troops live, and breathe these crossings until they can do them blindfolded, backward, and in a storm.
Answering the Battle Cry
To wrap it up, AUSA’s latest report can be seen as a battle cry for the Army to get serious about getting wet.
As the world’s chessboard gets more complicated, being ready for anything—including a splashy dash across a river under fire—could make all the difference.
It’s about digging deep into our war chest, pulling out the old tricks, and giving them a shiny new spin.
Wet-gap crossing isn’t just a chapter from the past; it’s a crucial play in our future battle plans.
And if we’re smart, we’ll listen and get to work.
