The US Army is trying to make the best of a bad situation. With so many divisions going through peacekeeping duty in the Balkans, the generals are admitting that this experience is producing the next generation of "combat experienced" leaders. But many veterans with combat experience feel that the peacekeeping operations, even though they involve a lot of patrolling, will teach the wrong lessons. The restraints required for peacekeeping can prove fatal in combat, where shooting first is a lifesaving characteristic. US units spend less time "peacekeeping" than other NATO troops, and some of that time is spent on combat training. The rest is spent providing additional security for U.S. bases.