what do you think about nationalguardsmen having to go to iraq?

Question

prior to 9-11 national guards soldiers were here in america to provide help and relief for national disasters ,invasions of america, riots and simmilar things.

keep in mind the guard doesnt have a choice if they stay here or go over seas, and as an army national guardsman myself i know a lot of the history and i am aware that as the first line of defense we do go over seas, this was merely a question to c what different peoples opinions were

well i'll tell you that when i joined up, they were advertising as an elite force that trains with the active army (which we did) then we train every month in the us until we are called upon to go over seas or to a natural disaster. i knew what i was getting into, and as far as nationalguardsmen getting rank faster!? i wish! the national guard has a slot system, there can only be a certain number of a specific rank. and all those old guys that joined up to just sit on there asses (the guys theoldman was talkin about) are holding all the slots for the higher ranks so its pretty much a standstill any where after corporal

Answer 1

the national guard division from Oklahoma served with honor overseas during ww2 this isn't the first time they've fought on foreign soul for their country

Answer 2

You shouldn't worry about things like riots and disasters here on the home front--- the present administration is making every effort fo provide plenty of United Nations Troops for THAT JOB !!! As a matter of fact they ARE being slowly but surely built up in numbers within the borders of the United States !! And, they would probably be a lot better at quelling things like riots and the like because THEY wouldn't have near the problem of shooting an American citizen as the National Guardsmen would !!!!

Answer 3

I agree with JW, also, I have not seen any mention of the fact that the Clinton Presidency cut our Nations Military by 1/3. It will take years to rebuild. I disagree that National Guardsmen are substandard. That is crap. I hope that everyone takes a good hard look at 08' Presidential Candidates and understands that we need a leader with a Strong understanding of Military mandates and principals. The Guard should strictly enforce our boundaries. They are our first defence, other than our personal right to bear arms. We need to rebuild our defences and focus on our country to the best of our ability, However, there are religions that want to sabotage our way of life simply because we are a free nation.
When poverty and substandard economical conditions continue for 100's of generations, they can only learn to hate, So as a world power I think we should focus more on humanitarian rights than on war. But we can not be lackadaisical and allow terrorism to grow and feed on ignorance.

Answer 4

theoldman needs to do his homework.

True, Reagen nationalized some units for duty to central america but they do not remain under federal control. This has been hammered out under the NDA of 1916 and its revisions in 1933 unlike what theoldman says. The National Guard became what it is because of McNamara and his wide expansion of the NDA by calling up some 235k guard troops for Vietnam.

The first call up of National Guard was in 1952 by LBJ due to the USS Pueblo for the curious.

The National Guard is a separate entity from the standing army, always has been and still is today.

The National Guard does an admirable job of their assigned duties. However, with two wars in Afghan and Iraq, they are stretched thin. Not only the soldiers themselves but their families, jobs and businesses they leave behind.

It is all even more disturbing when considering Bush's whereabouts in the Air National Guard are...dubious, at best. Bush demands so much of them when he himself couldnt be bothered.

And we all know that Cheney took every deferment possible to avoid serving in Vietnam.

Answer 5

BS. The National Guard was Federalized during Regans presidency and ever since have been part and parcel of the military orgainization not seperate from Federal under State Control.
Teh states not being able to keep spending tax money to keep guard units up to snuff and full of mostly worthless lifers just playing soldiers and awaiting retirement gladly gave away an unneeded expense to gov.
the guard gave up being the guard a long time ago.
Its ranks until redently filled with regular line soldiers who were told they had to get out of full time militiary becaue they were no longer up to grade, most are still that way, and stateres with connections to buisness etc awaiting retirement.
Most guard units got their volunters from boys and older men who did not want to be real soldiers, militarymen who cojuld get rank quicker in guard than in regular for retiremnt.
They used to be the worst of the worse and at least today they may get to play and learn somethng about real military by having to ern their keep.

Answer 6

The National Guard is a Reserve Component of the US Army.

Their sole reason for existence is to go to war. When they are not needed for war they are available for 'other missions.'

You should have gotten a hint that the National Guard is not merely a civil assistance organization if you had noticed all of the tanks, jet fighters, artillery etc that the National Guard has.

Answer 7

The National Guard is and has always been at the forefront of national defense. Do a google search on the guard, you'll be amazed.

Answer 8

The blogbaba thinks nationalguardsmen should have went to New Orleans, the week prior to Kitrina, they have no business being in Iraq. They should be guarding this nation, the U.S., not fighting in the Middle East. We have combat troops in the regular services for overseas duty. National Guard uints should serve in the nation they guard.

Answer 9

it's all part of bush's plan to destroy america. seriously - there weren't enough national guard around to help with Katrina. And, it's a total betrayal of the people who sign up for the guard.

Answer 10

I think God Bless them my hubby is National Guard deployed to Iraq right now....but we may have a problem if they are all in Iraq when we have a crisis in the states....