The U.S. National Guard Reserves "Non-deployable"... Is this for real?

Question

My son is 35, married, 2 little children, a teacher, and has already done 4 years in the navy, honorably discharged 12 years ago. He is under Colorado law.

At this point he has taken the National Guard physical and is waiting for the general to sign his papers because he is over 34. Oh, yeah... he plans on going to officer training school, too.

I heard from more than two ladies that their husbands joined the National Guard Reserves non-deployable unit, only to be sent to Iraq, where they are now. The California National Guard does this by creating a new unit from different nearby divisions. The new unit is "deployable" and these unsuspecting newbees are sent to war for a year and can be sent back at a later time.

Is there any truth in this?

My son wants to join a non-deployable unit in case of national disasters. He wants to help out with fires, flood, hurricanes and earthquakes. The National Guard offers LARGE financial incentives, too. He is looking for an additional retirement plan. I don't think he is joining to serve in Iraq, but he will if called upon.

My concerns are his wife and children. He will be so different when he comes home. He put lots of walls up after the navy, and it wasn't during the Gulf War, it was after. He became distant, claims he doesn't remember his childhood anymore, and can't seem to find happiness within. He lost is sentinmental values, too.

I can't figure out why his wife and children aren't his priority. He is my only child. Two others died as infants. This whole thing scares the sh** out of me.

Answer 1

Yes.

Enlistment and deployment contracts have been regularly ignored over the past 4 years.

People are required to stay in after their contract expires "stop-loss", despite the fact that this makes their contract void because they never consented to the longer terms. But they cannot sue for breach of contract because of legislation that prevents such suits.

And units designated as "non-deployable" are raided to create deployable units -- which is how they get around the legal requirements.

Our laws don't matter anymore.

Answer 2

I don't understand why one would join The National Guard to specifically be Nondeployable. Or why the National Guard would waste money on a nondeployable unit.

That may or may not be true coragryph, more people need to read the fine print When you sign a contract you sign for eight years, although you may only have a 4 year active duty obligation. The remaining four will be served in some sort of reserve status.

Thanks for the current info, YES,BD and JUDGE I was beginning to think there might be a pick and play plan going around.

I kinda know how you feel, I served and didnt give much thought to what my parents where thinking. Then my son did two tours in Iraq Now I know.

Answer 3

The only non-deployable people in the service are civilians. And even civilians find themselves heading out with the troops occasionally. The armed forces have no use for non-deployable soldiers and soldiers that find themselves permanantly non-deployable end up being discharged.

As far as units go, some units mission is a stateside mission. That doesn't mean that the Army can't just uproot the unit anyway or move soldiers around to fill out other units to meet the needs of the Army.

Here's what I don't understand. The Army, as well as the other branches of service, is a war machine. It's mission is really singular in purpose, to wage war. We are not fighting a war stateside. The war, weather you agree with it or not, is in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why would someone think that the armed forces would take people that don't go anywhere.

Answer 4

There is absolutely no such thing as a non deployable unit, just units that aren't schedule or currently deployed. There are non-deployable military members, but if there was a reason for you son to be considered as such it is unlikely they are going to accept him as a re-enlistee. Anyone joining the military should realize that things can and do change according to need, manning, budget and a million other issues. All military members..active duty or reserve..should enlist only if they fully accept that there is a very real chance of being deployed for up to a year at a time. The era of Gaurd doing one weekend a month and two weeks a year is over.

Answer 5

EVERYBODY deploys. No such thing as a non deployable unit, and even if there are units that are training units/non deployable for whatever reason, they can easily send individuals off to augment a unit that is deploying.

your son is under some serious misconceptions and he should be paying attention to the news a little bit more closely.

if he joins the National Guard he WILL DEPLOY. at some point. no natural disaster needed.

The reason for the large financial incentives is because of the larg eneed they have for recruiting and retaining people.

Answer 6

One thing that you need to understand is that Soldiers, whether Active or Reserve, serve at the discretion of the Commander and Chief (George W. Bush). The State National Guard was Federalized in 1979, which means that they receive pay and allowances from the United States Government, which in turn makes the Federal Mission the higher priority for them. The Guard and reserves are the manpower backup for the Active component. If they need you, they will come and get you. IT does not matter what unit you are assigned to, if you have the MOS and the rank they need, then you are packing.
I notice this posting is from you, and not your son. I am assuming that your son already knows what he is doing and is ready to serve. You need to get in support of him and make a potential deployment easier for him instead of making it more difficult.

Answer 7

National Guard Reserves? Huh? It's either the National Guard or the Reserves. National Guard being State and Reserves being Federal.

There are non-deployable units but in reality if the Army needs you then you're going. Period.

Answer 8

The Army actually has a really cool photographer program. I would look into it if I was you. You might even think about going OCS or active duty with that MOS. But I would watch the age because you might be pushing it at 26. But nothing a waiver cant fix. Any most have loan repayment options. But again if you can get in as an officer you will make more and it will better suit your tuition loans. An enlisted soldier wont quite be able to pay those off. But look into it.

Answer 9

An individual may be "non-deployable" due to health conditions or other circumstances that it would be more of a drain on resources wherever that person is supposed to be going. A unit may be non-deployable due to a severe lack of necessary equipment, personnel, or training.

Corygryph, your answer is full of crap. While I understand you're on the opposite side of me politically, I usually let your answers slide because you normally sound fairly intelligent. This answer, however...nah, can't let it slide.

"Stop-loss" has been around since at least 1990. People understand that when they sign the contract. We have an ALL-VOLUNTEER military...nobody is forced to sign up, they do it all on their own. Hell, they sign up even understanding that they might be sent into combat, die or be maimed in a training accident, or, hell, even have their service extended beyond the terms of the contract..

Answer 10

Once he joins , he belongs to the government and can be shipped any where during a time of crisis. And I suspect the Government looks at Iraq as a crisis.