COMMENTARY: Fighting a different war Published July 7, 2010 By Master Sgt. Jodi Hatfield First Sergeant, 419th Operations Group HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UTAH -- Warfare has changed significantly over the years and, fortunately for nations and individuals alike, the number of casualties is decreasing. With more than 2,000 land engagements during the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg endured mass casualties. From July 1 through July 3, 1863 Union Soldiers lost 23,053 out of approximately 88,000 men and Confederate Soldiers lost 28,063 out of approximately 75,000 men. There was an overall casualty rate of 31 percent of all the men engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg did not the end the Civil War, and it only lasted three days. Still it is considered a great battle of the war. This may be hard to grasp in comparison to the battles we have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to CNN.com, as of June 28, 2010 there have been 1,868 casualties in Afghanistan since 2001 and 4,729 deaths in Iraq since 2003. During the Battle of Gettysburg more men fought and died than in any other battle before or after in North America. The traditions of the past are carried on through today, although we are fighting a different war. We no longer march troops to the battlefield, line up and charge toward one another on horse or on foot armed with muskets. Today's fight is extremely unconventional and our weapons are far more advanced and more lethal than in the days of the Civil War. One would think with more power and bigger bombs we would have more casualties. But our forces and military tactics have changed and we are highly trained in many areas of expertise. Our troops do not stand on a line waiting to charge the opposing forces like in the past. Modern day war tactics include technology and intelligence gathering, which give us information on the whereabouts of the enemy forces or key personnel. The skills most enlisted personnel hold in today's military once belonged to officers in the days of the Civil War. The Profession of Arms is a career approximately one percent of the United States population chooses to embark upon. Throughout history there have been brief periods during war when more Americans served in the Armed Forces. They are men and women from all nationalities, income levels and backgrounds. They train daily in preparation to use their skills in the defense of the nation and democracy around the world. Practice does make perfect when it comes to staying alive. Playing in exercises helps military members sharpen their skills and broaden their knowledge, reducing the number of casualties during the frequent and recurring deployments. The military forces are better educated, trained and equipped than ever before. Enlisted personnel - the backbone of the military and all its operations - make up more than 82 percent of the military force. Many are formally educated from state and private colleges. This dynamic alone has changed the enlisted perspective over time. The Profession of Arms is a job some have chosen to make a career. They carry the traditions of the past to the war fighter of today. There were more than 51,000 deaths in the Battle of Gettysburg in three days in comparison with just under 6,600 deaths from 2001 to 2010 in both Afghanistan and Iraq. We have come a long way in how we engage the enemy, continuously becoming more efficient and precise. The fight for democracy is constantly evolving and the military as a whole must be able to adapt and overcome to maintain our way of life while ensuring military superiority. Nonetheless, we have not forgotten where we have come from. Regardless of how well trained and educated the forces are, lives are being put on the line by a 100 percent volunteer force of men and women who serve to keep our land free. The tradition of honor and the legacy of those left behind will never be forgotten.