A problem I have with the war on terror....military guys please help!! (1 Viewer)

[ProudAmerican]

I think current and former military guys/gals can help me with these questions the best.

It seems to me that the national guard is doing a very large part of the fighting in the war on terror. Is this correct?

Is it not a fact that the national guard is probably less trained than members of the Army and Marine Core?

If that is true, then it would suffice to say they are even less trained than specialized groups such as the Rangers, SEALS, etc.

So I guess where I am getting kind of pissed is that it seems to be the least trained soldiers are doing the majority of the work? am I right or wrong.

Now, anyone reading this that knows me from my posts knows I support the war on terror unconditionally. I believe its a fight we must win. I think what brought these questions to my mind was the fact that I was watching "Baghdad ER" on HBO tonight, and it seemed like everyone they brought in was a national guard member. No Marines, No Army.

and to be honest, some of the guys comming into the ER, with their kevlar removed and shirts off, dont look like they are in much better shape than me????? Now im no complete lard *** or anything.....I can run 5 miles in under an hour......but Im also no elite trained dude that thinks he could perform to his full potential in a combat situation.

I also must say this about that show. I dont do real life trauma very well. I hate blood and gore. Texas Chainsaw Massacre??? GREAT FLICK. But thats hollywood B.S. This show is real life and guys lives are being changed, and ended.
THAT SAID.. this show only reinforced my opinion that we simply must win this fight. the cowards doing this to our guys are the same cowards like al zarqawi that do it to civilians as well.

ok, end of that rant.......can anyone answer my questions?

 

[BigDog]

Question: War on terror or war on Iraq?

 

[ProudAmerican]

Question: War on terror or war on Iraq?

if you dont have any answers to the questions I asked, find somewhere else to go.

thanks

 

[::Major_Baker::]

I think current and former military guys/gals can help me with these questions the best.

It seems to me that the national guard is doing a very large part of the fighting in the war on terror. Is this correct?

Is it not a fact that the national guard is probably less trained than members of the Army and Marine Core?

If that is true, then it would suffice to say they are even less trained than specialized groups such as the Rangers, SEALS, etc.

So I guess where I am getting kind of pissed is that it seems to be the least trained soldiers are doing the majority of the work? am I right or wrong.

Now, anyone reading this that knows me from my posts knows I support the war on terror unconditionally. I believe its a fight we must win. I think what brought these questions to my mind was the fact that I was watching "Baghdad ER" on HBO tonight, and it seemed like everyone they brought in was a national guard member. No Marines, No Army.

and to be honest, some of the guys comming into the ER, with their kevlar removed and shirts off, dont look like they are in much better shape than me????? Now im no complete lard *** or anything.....I can run 5 miles in under an hour......but Im also no elite trained dude that thinks he could perform to his full potential in a combat situation.

I also must say this about that show. I dont do real life trauma very well. I hate blood and gore. Texas Chainsaw Massacre??? GREAT FLICK. But thats hollywood B.S. This show is real life and guys lives are being changed, and ended.
THAT SAID.. this show only reinforced my opinion that we simply must win this fight. the cowards doing this to our guys are the same cowards like al zarqawi that do it to civilians as well.

ok, end of that rant.......can anyone answer my questions?

This is nothing new. National Guard was also used in WW2, Korea, and many others.
The difference is that in Iraq, which is widely considered guerilla warfare, anyone is vulnerable, including support units, because ambush and destroying supply lines are both important guerilla tactics, especially when fighting a superior force.

So to you it may look like more national guard are getting hurt, which I cannot confirm, but perhaps it has to do with the fact that the guerillas are hitting units that might not normally see intense combat were they in another theatre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Guard#History

 

[ProudAmerican]

This is nothing new. National Guard was also used in WW2, Korea, and many others.
The difference is that in Iraq, which is widely considered guerilla warfare, anyone is vulnerable, including support units, because ambush and destroying supply lines are both important guerilla tactics, especially when fighting a superior force.

So to you it may look like more national guard are getting hurt, which I cannot confirm, but perhaps it has to do with the fact that the guerillas are hitting units that might not normally see intense combat were they in another theatre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Guard#History

thanks for the response.

as far as what it looks like to me.....I must admit, I only got my opinion based on that one show on television.....so I definately havent researched it much. I just know that 90% of the guys comming into that hospital on that show were national guard guys.

 

[oldreliable67]

It seems to me that the national guard is doing a very large part of the fighting in the war on terror. Is this correct?

Maybe this will help...

National Guard troops in Iraq, which once constituted half the Army's fighting force, have been dramatically reduced and could be largely phased out of major combat responsibilities next year as military officials debate their performance and what role they should play in future conflicts.
...
The Guard reached a high of 50,285 troops deployed to Iraq in March 2005, a force that included eight combat brigades and a division headquarters. Today there are 23,000 Guard members and just two combat brigades. The Guard combat force will shrink to one brigade later this year as the Pennsylvania National Guard returns home. And if the overall drawdown continues, the National Guard brigade will be the first combat unit pulled next year, according to one senior defense official.
...
The military has deployed both National Guard and Army Reserve units to Iraq. Reserve soldiers are exclusively assigned to support units, such as transportation companies or civil affairs teams. The National Guard, which reports to each state's governor unless mobilized by the federal government, provides both support and combat units.

Source.

A number of Marine Reserve units have been rotated into and out of Iraq as well.

 

[ProudAmerican]

Maybe this will help...



A number of Marine Reserve units have been rotated into and out of Iraq as well.

thanks man. that definately makes me feel better

 

[Hoot]

From an Air Force brat and a 4 year regular Army guy...

The problem I see with National Guard and Army Reserve troops is they enlisted because many have young families to support. They wanted the benefits and security and health care that military life provides. However, one weekend a month is not the same as a full time military career.

Many of these young kids in reserve and guard units had no idea they would be deployed, full time, in a situation like Iraq. A quick search showed at least 40% of troops in Iraq are from Guard units.

I do not believe the committment of reserve units, or skill, or training, can compare to full time military personel...hence, the more likelihood of incidents like Haditha.

 

[ProudAmerican]

From an Air Force brat and a 4 year regular Army guy...

The problem I see with National Guard and Army Reserve troops is they enlisted because many have young families to support. They wanted the benefits and security and health care that military life provides. However, one weekend a month is not the same as a full time military career.

Many of these young kids in reserve and guard units had no idea they would be deployed, full time, in a situation like Iraq. A quick search showed at least 40% of troops in Iraq are from Guard units.

I do not believe the committment of reserve units, or skill, or training, can compare to full time military personel...hence, the more likelihood of incidents like Haditha.

I agree completely.

and for the record, we have no idea what happened in Haditha yet. I will afford the men and women who fight for my country the same "innocent untill proven guilty" mentallity that many want us to afford the terrorists that want to kill us.

I refuse to even read an article on the topic untill a trial has been completed.

 

[BigDog]

if you dont have any answers to the questions I asked, find somewhere else to go.

thanks

It makes a difference to the answer. I believe regular active duty troopers are doing most the fighting in Iraq. The Marines quite heavily.

The war on terrorism? More the guard I think, but that effort isn't being addressed that much.

 

[oldreliable67]

Some info on Guard and Reserve unit deployments. Doesn't specify the location of the deployed units, but its pretty safe to assume that most all are in Iraq or nearby...

National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized as of June 7, 2006

This week, the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced an increase in the number of reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization, while the Navy and Coast Guard numbers decreased. The net collective result is 1,222 more reservists mobilized than last week.

At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. Total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 80,425; Navy Reserve, 4,924; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 7,315; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,168; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 364. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized, to 100,196, including both units and individual augmentees.

A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are currently mobilized, can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/d20060607ngr.pdf.

More detailed info available at defenselink.

 

[Davo The Mavo]

Old Reliable brings up a great link. The DOD is a quite informative site.

I believe that when Baghdad ER was filmed, the National Guard, Army Reserve Numbers were sitting at about 43%. I scan the DOD New Releases everyday, and it is about the same ratio of casualties as it is percentage of Guard and Reserve on the ground----generally speaking, it is no scientific study, just an observation.

I would also like to note that since Gulf War 1, activation of Guard and Reserve Forces has been at record levels for a record period of time. In many cases, such as Military Policemen, the Guard and Reserve have been activated so long they may as well be considered active duty.

The National Guard and Reserve Forces of today are not my era's Guard and Reserve. Better trained, an active role in enforcing Foreign Policy, and long periods of activation. However, I am concerned about the long term as it relates to Force Structure, and Retention. It is the numbers from DOD's own website that concern me. Each year (FY), since 9/11, the DOD has lowered the bar for recruiting and retention numbers-----they have also used realignment among the forces, such as the Blue to Green Program, where members of phased out Military Occupation Specialties in the Navy and Air Force are given the choice to cross transfer into the Army or Marines, as Renlistment and Recruitment buffers (ENRON Math).

Some of our Troops have been in Iraq for three tours already. This concerns me. Unit Rotation as opposed to individual Rotation has helped in unmeasurable ways, but it has to be getting old for some. Logistically, it seems to be a money pit-----not just the war, but the money the VA is going to need to take care of the guys and gals who are living this thing now, but are gonna need help later. God Bless Em'.