> Would it be theoretically possible to learn war from the internet, the same way you can learn programming? Watch some Youtube videos? Practice with your mates?

> My intuition is that no, soldiering involves a lot of learning-by-doing, you need hours of practice stripping and reassembling your Kalashnikov,

I think you could, to a degree. The US Army has a bunch of training manuals online, for instance. But it would definitely have to be coupled with some kind of war-game type practice where you actually try to implement what's in them and fill in the gaps.

But it's also obviously limited to the kinds of tools you'll have access to. So rifleman-type stuff, not anti-tank missiles like this.

> and amateurs will quickly get killed by professionals.

I think that's mainly a function of practice and preparation. No way an amateur will have the kind of practice and experience of a professional.

> My intuition is that no, soldiering involves a lot of learning-by-doing, you need hours of practice stripping and reassembling your Kalashnikov, and amateurs will quickly get killed by professionals.

I think this entertaining video of 2 Ex British army soldiers playing against 50 Airsoft players nicely supports your intuition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhFMjhpp7I

I think you can learn all skills off the internet. What you cant learn off videos is coping with adrenaline rush. There is this great Mike Tyson quote:

"Everyone Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth"

This was very apparent when I did martial arts. Many people with colorful belts from limited contact (for example karate) schools crumpled after receiving a couple painful hits/kicks.

There can't be a lot of learning from your mistakes. Make a mistake and dead. Or someone else makes a mistake and dead. Or even don't make a mistake and dead. Not a profession I would be good at.

The AK was designed for easy and fast maintenance the gun can be easily disassembled, cleaned and lubed in a matter of minutes, without training. If you can change a lightbulb you can “strip” an AK.

I would say that the knowledge and muscle memory can certainly be learned over YouTube with practice, but there is more to military than knowledge. There is an attitude and stress resilience. It’s one thing to know something, it’s a whole other thing to recall that during high stress scenarios. Knowledge goes out the window when the bullets fly.

So discipline is needed. High-intensity training under less than ideal circumstances can build that discipline. You can’t sweat the small things and need to focus on accomplishing the mission, absent ego and while being highly adaptable. Most military training focuses around building and reinforcing those kinds of skills.

> , you need hours of practice stripping and reassembling your Kalashnikov,

G3 took max an hour or to to learn to the point where I could do it blindfolded I think.

> and amateurs will quickly get killed by professionals.

Extremely true I think.

>Practice with your mates?

With what equipment exactly?

airsoft