Federation GROUND force vs USA Ground force

If holograms were used, wouldn't thermal imaging only see a solid wall and not actual people?

No. Thermal sights read body heat and a hologram does not have a heat signature.

But some of them create solid walls. It would be reading the surface of the forcefield and not anything past it.

holograms + no safety protocols = killing machines.

Originally posted by Darth Truculent
No. Thermal sights read body heat and a hologram does not have a heat signature.

Thermal sights read heat radiation from any objects that produce heat. Star Trek holograms can produce heat, even though real holograms do not.

I've looked through thermal sighting and believe me it distinguishes real targets and non-targets. They see through walls and snipers are trained to identify enemy combatants from non-combatants. Plus, an M-14 or a .50 with a supressor is absolutely lethal. Death from afar with zero sound - priceless.

Originally posted by Darth Truculent
I've looked through thermal sighting and believe me it distinguishes real targets and non-targets. They see through walls and snipers are trained to identify enemy combatants from non-combatants. Plus, an M-14 or a .50 with a supressor is absolutely lethal. Death from afar with zero sound - priceless.

When Star Trek is on TV, use your thermal sighting on the TV, and you will not be able to see anyone. The people on Star Trek are completely invisible to thermal sights. 😄

Originally posted by Darth Truculent
I've looked through thermal sighting and believe me it distinguishes real targets and non-targets. They see through walls and snipers are trained to identify enemy combatants from non-combatants. Plus, an M-14 or a .50 with a supressor is absolutely lethal. Death from afar with zero sound - priceless.

star trek holograms look, act and move like real people. its not that easy to tell the difference.

I'm pretty sure thermal imaging doesn't see through walls. There was even that episode of mythbusters where the only thing that beat the thermal detector was a simple sheet of glass.

Originally posted by Darth Truculent
Plus, an M-14 or a .50 with a supressor is absolutely lethal. Death from afar with zero sound - priceless.

A man/woman or alien walking around with a tricoder is an easy target. We have superior technological advantage in Afghanistan and the Taliban seem to be doing just fine. Who ever is holding the lightsaber is the target, then the commander of the unit. Or just send up a Predator drone.

The gap in technology between the US and the Taliban and the US and the Federation doesn't seem comparable. The US is going to be trying to spot people who are hidden behind holograms and force fields with no communications. That means the Predator drone won't work, with a very possible chance of someone from the Federation taking it over.

Originally posted by Doctor-Alvis
The gap in technology between the US and the Taliban and the US and the Federation doesn't seem comparable. The US is going to be trying to spot people who are hidden behind holograms and force fields with no communications. That means the Predator drone won't work, with a very possible chance of someone from the Federation taking it over.

And with no communication or computer support (no satellites, no targeting, no guidance), the US would be limited to LOS firing or guesses. I don't know that the holograms and shields would even be necessary. 1 tricorder + 1 photon grenade = the pinpoint, total decimation of entire companies of US soldiers and tanks from miles away, regardless of terrain.

Originally posted by Acrosurge
^This.

And with no communication or computer support (no satellites, no targeting, no guidance), the US would be limited to LOS firing or guesses. I don't know that the holograms and shields would even be necessary. 1 tricorder + 1 photon grenade = the pinpoint, total decimation of entire companies of US soldiers and tanks from miles away, regardless of terrain.

there just ins't anything the US Troops can do here

The Federation is not trained to think like an independant unit. A sniper waits patiently for that one shot and when that shot is made - it is always a kill.
I have yet to read, watch or look up a battle where Federation troops fought for 18 hours straight like Mogadishu (Rangers & Delta Force). Maybe Flajuha or Tora Bora when the 82nd were pinned down and nearly overrun 3 times and survived and almost ran out of ammunition and the wounded still fought.

They simply do not have the training the Army has. God help them if they faced the Marines.

Eunno... you keep bringing the federation down to the current military's level. A sniper is pretty deadly when they can see their target and their position is always very clear to their enemy. Special Ops are pretty effective when they're not facing walls of energy or being evaporated by lasers.