Changing of the Guard: As Commitments Grow, National Guard Losing Members

[diamond14]

Changing of the Guard
As Commitments Grow, National Guard Faces Losing Members

By David Marash
ABC News

"Ten years ago, the thought that a National Guardsman or woman would be leaving their home state every few years for long-term deployments was inconceivable," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. "Today it's a reality."

But today, nearly half of the military are National Guard and reservists, and joining the National Guard is no longer a way of staying out of war. One out of every four soldiers in Iraq today is a National Guardsman, and nearly 10 percent of the U.S. troops who have died since last year's invasion were from National Guard units. When the present rotation of forces is complete, roughly 40 percent of the American soldiers in Iraq will be reserve soldiers or guardsmen.

Recruitment Numbers Down

Not only are National Guard units losing personnel they already have, they are finding it harder to attract new recruits. Maj. Richard Kaley, a recruiter for the Rhode Island National Guard, reports that ever since October the stream of Rhode Islanders signing up for the Guard has slowed. "We're about 25 percent off for the first quarter," he told Nightline.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Nightline/US/national_guard_040321-1.html


(can you say 'draft' ????_

[Florida_Geek]

1. And how many in the NG are only there because of

Stop-Loss... And will be bailing out as soon as they can.

[saigon68]

2. Draft soon

Then the super patriots who inhabit RimJob's site can join up and kill Kong (oh sorry wrong war) Rag heads.

[RamboLiberal]

7. Damn I hope they draft all those Brownshirt Young Republicans

in college first - they all look fit and ready to mount up. Bet the little buggers all get sudden knee and back injuries. :evilgrin:

[revcarol]

3. And what will we do this summer for forest fires? Still in a drought.

The Guard usually helps the fire crews, evacuates families, etc.

And in the fall, what will we do in hurricane season? Will looters of evacuated homes just run free, taking everything they want?

Fewer members, and most of many states Guard's gone to Iraq, or maybe Bush will put them in AFghanistan. What are we supposed to do in the HOMELAND when we have an emergency that needs the Guard, HUH< BUSH?

[Gloria]

5. I was thinking the same thing today.....if there is a real emergency here

then where is the Guard?

We've had two bomb scares here in Las Cruces, NM over the last two days.
With White Sands Military Base just over the mountain, the though goes through your mind that no place, even way out here in the desert, is immune.

[justgamma]

4. Iowa NG

78% of the NG here are on alert or already deployed. They have started to run the same old tv ads. You know the ones. 1 weekend a month. Do they really think people are buying this?

[Corgigal]

6. I know someone who just got out of the guard

and he knows he was lucky to get out, however inside his contract they have put in a 8 year clause for an inactive guard position. I forgot the proper name but I have never heard of anything like this before. When I was in active duty, it was normal to go inactive for 4 years but never heard of the guard acting that way.

[Demonaut]

8. they need a recruiter at free republic, let those pussies put

up or shut up

[Columbia]

9. Ah, just a few more months to go

And I'm done for good. Woohoo!