Another example of why Guard troops have the stigma of being undisciplined, unprofessional and less capable than Active troops. Politicians can say what they want, but for soldiers to act in such a manner shows lack of professionalism. You can keep you second rate, unruly troops puerta rico
And this comes from a providence that 45% wants to remain just that, a US Territory; 45% wants to be a state; and 10% wants to be their own, separate country. And they say we can't make up our minds what to do in Iraq...
I am in the National Guard (Alaska) This just makes the Guard look worse. I just left Active Army with the 172nd Stryker Brigade. Active troops either Marine, Soldiers, Airmen or Sailors would have the fortitude to not pull something like this. Oh, by the way puerto rico, maybe we should have NOT fought the Spanish (losing us troops in the process )and let them keep control of your land.
I find it strange how everyone seems to degrade the national guard when the guard is expected to do the same job as the active duty without the same equipment, the same training (as guard members are civilians and don't train as a collective on a daily basis), funding or benefits. If you want the national guard to do the job of active duty then institute a draft and do the same thing that was done 40 years ago for that other "war", and that is send people over there for 1 year at a time. Make it non-deferrable and no exceptions (that means if your daddy is a politician you still go). And if you want to join the guard they will be more than happy to take you after your 1 year tour on active duty overseas.
Of all escape mechanisms, Death is the most efficient. ~~ H.L. Mencken
Originally posted by mmulder67: I find it strange how everyone seems to degrade the national guard when the guard is expected to do the same job as the active duty without the same equipment, the same training (as guard members are civilians and don't train as a collective on a daily basis), funding or benefits. If you want the national guard to do the job of active duty then institute a draft and do the same thing that was done 40 years ago for that other "war", and that is send people over there for 1 year at a time. Make it non-deferrable and no exceptions (that means if your daddy is a politician you still go). And if you want to join the guard they will be more than happy to take you after your 1 year tour on active duty overseas.
Yeah, good idea. Stop deploying them. How about training them to standard and kicking out the ones who don't produce. I didn't say they are useless just are not up to the same level as Active. There are some VERY GOOD Guard units such as 19th Group (S.F.) Aviation and various combat arms units JUST NOT THE puerto rican guard
Originally posted by MonkeyofMayhem: Yeah, good idea. Stop deploying them. How about training them to standard and kicking out the ones who don't produce. I didn't say they are useless just are not up to the same level as Active. There are some VERY GOOD Guard units such as 19th Group (S.F.) Aviation and various combat arms units JUST NOT THE puerto rican guard
They are trained to standard. But when your training time is limited to 1 weekend per month and 2 wks per year...it's a little tought to compare readiness with the Active Component. Then consider that mobilization train-up time has been reduced...well, you see where this is going. You're right though, we do have some excellent combat units in the NG. The Puerto Rican Guard doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation within the NG, so the article doesn't really suprise me. Judging the NG by this unit is not especially useful (IMHO).
We are not "degrading" the Guard. Just calling it as we see it, sorry man the truth hurts. Many guard units do the same job as Active just not as well. That is why there are jokes about the Guard being slackers because it is somewhat true. Hell, my own unit has many turds, but should I be like you and deny it or face the truth, fix the problem and move on by kicking out the losers, training them to standard and leading the ones who are capable.
Originally posted by MonkeyofMayhem: We are not "degrading" the Guard. Just calling it as we see it, sorry man the truth hurts. Many guard units do the same job as Active just not as well. That is why there are jokes about the Guard being slackers because it is somewhat true. Hell, my own unit has many turds, but should I be like you and deny it or face the truth, fix the problem and move on by kicking out the losers, training them to standard and leading the ones who are capable.
No the truth doesn't hurt. You need to remember that the Guard (for all intents and purposes) was tasked as it's federal mission to act as a "speed bump" while active component forces could be brought up to strength. At least that was the mission of my unit. No one expects the NG (as a whole) to perform at the level of the Active Component (if they did...they would be the Active Component).
I do not think the good soldiers of the Puerto Rican National Guard should be put down for what the Governor of PR says. Many politicians in this country oppose the war and also oppose sending their NG overseas,so I do not under stand why people got to get upset with just the Puerto Rican NG. Most of these soldier of the PR NG is ready for the federal call up just as the Guam National Guard and all the other state and territorial NG.
One difference that of the state NG and the territorial NG is that the soldiers in the states NG can vote for the person that sends them to war;but the soldiers in the territorial NG can not! But they put their life on the line none the less!
Isla Guam Tano y Chamorro Biba Guahan yan Puerto Rico National Guard
This message has been edited. Last edited by: islaguam96915,
Listen man, it is clear you don't know how mobilization works. If you think "training for deployment" means 1 weekend a month (a MUTA 4-drill) and 2 weeks per year (Annual training) is how the NG preps for War, than you are really uninformed. Let me explain it to you. HERE GOES: A MOBing unit will go title 10 (active) for about 6 months and train FULL TIME for it's wartime operations, this can take place at home staion or more than likely at a MOB station such as Camp Shelby, Miss or Camp Blanding, FL (none of this is classified info)This is IN ADDITION to drills and AT throughout the year. I know this because I am the MOB NCO for the AK Guard. I am also prior active Army Infantry with deployments to Iraq (2X) Kosovo, and Panama, So, I see both sides of the fence.
The so called "good" puerto rican soldiers are not being put down for what their gov said, the are being put down for being unprofessional and undisiciplined by their actions. Do you support them giving abigal a standing ovation for criticising the war effort? Talk about NO CLASS. puerto rico should never be a U.S State.
Originally posted by islaguam96915: I do not think the good soldiers of the Puerto Rican National Guard should be put down for what the Governor of PR says. Many politicians in this country oppose the war and also oppose sending their NG overseas,so I do not under stand why people got to get upset with just the Puerto Rican NG. Most of these soldier of the PR NG is ready for the federal call up just as the Guam National Guard and all the other state and territorial NG.
One difference that of the state NG and the territorial NG is that the soldiers in the states NG can vote for the person that sends them to war;but the soldiers in the territorial NG can not! But they put their life on the line none the less!
Isla Guam Tano y Chamorro Biba Guahan yan Puerto Rico National Guard
Can't say anything one way or the other about either National Guard units, but if Staff Sergeant Mendiola, one of my drill instructors, was a representative sample of Guamanians they are just fine with me. I have always been curious about whether it was common usage there to attach the words "and $hit" to the end of every sentence, but he certainly had a great sense of humor ... it was everything he could do to keep from cracking up just looking at our sorry selves in first phase.
My best respects to you and those of your island. I erensia, lina'la', espiriitu-ta
