593 - The efficiency of parachutists

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Evi Charitidou

A significant parameter for achieving a goal is the swift implementation of an appropriate strategy. However, rapidity of a mission is not that important as much as its effectiveness is. Because the most important thing is not phase change on the battleground, but whether the change is definite and able to subvert the data both locally and globally. The choice of parachutists to carry out this kind of missions is not accidental. It combines the dynamics of the air space and the combativity of men. It allows the strategic headquarters to transfer selected army at critical points without having to overcome typical problems of transferring regular army. The use of a lighter system broadens the strategic frame, since the deployment is not gradual any longer. However, it requires a special training of men, because they always face new situations. Even though the preparation on the ground is important for the mission to be successful, what is more important is the response of the parachutists. For, by nature the unexpected element at extreme situations is always expected.

Usually, experts of regular army consider that parachutists are not ideal for confronting the opponent on a field in a long term battle. For, the experts have developed various relations with the local factors and keep the relevant conventional contacts. Somehow they know every aspect of the problem and have found a relevant balance of the situation. In time they end up and they become experts of the past with no future. Stability of the problem does not allow existence of a solution. They know everything that cannot change, but they do not know what can change. Each of their moves affect diverse sectors and the next idea of this analysis is that ‘the best we can do is nothing’. For the experts of linear analysis, the use of parachutists is dangerous.

In reality and especially in non-conventional wars, strategy dynamically promotes the use of parachutists. The non-linear analysis of the data and the lateral thinking allowed by the selected group of army, offer possibilities that may exceed the limits of the utopia even of the experts. Parachutists function in a dynamic present dynamically transformed into future. They constantly create new situations that sideline the experts. Situations that have not changed for years now can be shaped in few days. Tension and pressure of the parachutists’ dynamics break regular limits of the problem. Thus, confrontation is radically different. They are not trying to directly solve the specific problem. By a different logic, one evolving beyond the scope of grand strategy, they create dynamic models by breaking the fixed points. They are not looking for security; they generate dangers. For, only extreme situations and only these and their dynamic evaluation offer the frame of solutions. Especially in strategy, problems contain their solutions. The problem is not the solution, but it bears the solution. The efficiency of parachutists comes from the dissolution of data and the achievement of utopic goals. For, everything is possible as long as we think it.