In the spirit of “if you want a new idea, read an old book,” the same folks who brought you Swift boats and John Forbes Kerry’s Purple Hearts are now preparing to trot out a new riverine patrol capability:

At this time next year, about 200 sailors will fill up small boats, man .50-caliber machine guns and watch for trouble along the waterways of Baghdad.

“We’ve got sailors lining up at the door,” Capt. Michael L. Jordan, commodore of the riverine force, said during an interview at his half-finished headquarters. “The problem is, we’ve got no experience to draw from.” The Navy has not seen this type of action since the Vietnam War, so it is calling river veterans, the Marine Corps and the special warfare community for advice. The chosen sailors will undergo eight months of training, including combat first aid and grunt infantry at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The riverine force is part of the Navy’s effort to become a bigger player in global efforts against terrorists and insurgents. Policing and protecting the shallow brown and green waters in hot spots now is the responsibility of the Marine Corps and special forces.

The riverine group will consist of three squadrons and roughly 900 sailors, including the 200 initially deployed, and support staff. Each unit will have 16 boats, most likely 30- to 40-foot crafts capable of cruising as fast as 40 knots. The craft will be similar to those used by Marines and special forces.

The Navy’s last widespread riverine force patrolled during the Vietnam War along the Mekong Delta and its rivers and canals. The hastily assembled riverine corps came together in 1965.

Well, at least no one’s talking about these guys becoming some kind of naval infantry. Because we’ve already got one of those. It’s ver nice.

And so long as they stay in the boat, they won’t get their boots all muddy and get mistaken for sojers.

Couldn’t have that.

So, remember guys: Stay in the boat.

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I know, I know: It looks like fun ashore. Still.

Stay in the boat.