Part-time soldiers 1/3 more likely to die in Iraq

[UpInArms]

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=national&story_id=121304a1_iraq_deaths

WASHINGTON - In a reversal of trends from past wars, part-time soldiers in the Army National Guard are about one-third more likely to be killed in Iraq than full-time active-duty soldiers serving there, a USA TODAY analysis of Pentagon statistics shows.

According to figures furnished by the military branches, the active Army has sent about 250,000 soldiers to Iraq and 622 have been killed. That works out to 1 death for every 402 soldiers who have deployed. Some 37,000 Army Guard soldiers have been sent to Iraq since the war began and 140 have died there - 1 fatality for every 264 soldiers who have served, or about a 35 percent higher death rate.

There are several reasons for the greater death rates among so-called part-time soldiers, who generally drill one weekend a month and two weeks during the summer when there's no war. The Pentagon has called up thousands of part-time troops for tours of a year or more in Iraq. Some of the most dangerous missions, including driving convoys and guarding bases and other facilities, frequently are assigned to Guard and Reserve troops. Iraqi insurgents have attacked convoys with roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades, and a Tennessee Guardsman publicly complained to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last week about the lack of armor on some vehicles.

<snip>

The elevated death rates among part-time soldiers are a significant shift from historical trends. During most wars in the last century, the full-time military, including the Air Force and Navy, took the vast majority of casualties, and their troops were much more likely to die in battle than Guardsmen and Reservists.

...more...

[Mari333]

1. Thats because all of our Guard and Reservists are in Iraq

hardly anyone left to take care of the homeland. One weekend, my ass, as they say.
No wonder their recruitment goals arent being met.
"Join the Army Reserves! Dont forget to take out a life insurance policy before Bush sends you to Iraq..."

[Paleocon]

2. Recruitment is way off and I hope it really stalls...

I'm hoping I don't get a letter recalling me to service. Can they do that?

[UpInArms]

3. are you in the IRR?

if so, the answer is "yes"

[Paleocon]

5. No, I'm not in IRR

I did 13 years of active reserves. So I didn't have any IRR time when I got out. I ETS'd in Jan 2002.

[Mari333]

4. Yes, they can. They are doing it to people now.

[yellowcanine]

6. Wouldn't have anything to do with their shitty equipment, no siree.

All of that cobbled together armor on a vehicle not designed for the extra weight so that they are are underpowered and are sitting ducks in an ambush. And don't forget those fatalities resulting from "accidents" when the top heavy vehicles roll over trying to escape enemy fire. Of course it is not a combat wound you died of so you don't even get a posthumous purple heart for your efforts. Put it on your tombstone, soldier. "I went to war with the army I had so I died."

[AllegroRondo]

7. Are the NG and Reserve forces called up

more likely to be combat units and not combat support units?

that might explain it.

[NCN007]

8. one weekend a month, 2 months a year

isnt enough time to train combat ready forces, so of course they are going to suffer more casualties than the active duty troops

[Paleocon]

9. One weekend a month, 2 WEEKS a year...

I did it for 13 years...