As a prior service Air Force veteran, I'd like to thank all of those who have served as National Guard personnel over the years and supplemented and in some cases, taken over the responsibilities of AD forces.

This is not an easy job.

Those who are NG, Reserve and State Defense personnel play a vital role in helping to defend our Nation.

I plan to stop by here time to time to see what resources can be brought to bear to assist those Members who visit here.

Any suggestions or improvements to this area are welcome.

Thank you for your service.

I would like to extend my appreciation and add my support, as well.

The Reserves and the National Guard -- any augmentation of an active duty military branch -- face a lot of peer criticism. Even when I was active duty I remember talking smack, making fun and laughing. That was in the late 80's and early 90's.

Little did I know that in only 11 years I would be forced to eat my words. And I gladly do so now.

The fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan would not be the successes they are without our reserve forces. Period. I can only speak for the Army side of things, but when the metal hit the meat their training took over, they said goodbye to their loves ones, put boots in the sand and did their job. And did so quite honorably, in my humble opinion.

So I come here this morning to offer three things - while numerically sequenced, one is not more important than the other.

1. I apologize for falling into the stereotype of my active duty constituents and assuming that our reserve forces were poorly trained and a drain on the "real" military. I was wrong.

2. Thank you for service to this nation! As I stated above, we would not be in a position of victory without you and the sacrifices of yourself and your families. God speed, ladies and gentlemen.

3. If the last 6 years have taught us anything, it is the importance of our reserve forces. When I was in, the National Guard being called up for a deployment was laughable, at best. Because of this mindset, training was lacking.

NCO's, train your people. People, take your training seriously. With the turmoil of the Middle East, we cannot afford to assume anything BUT deployments forthcoming for the Reserves. Train just as seriously and diligently as you would if you were in an active duty front line unit preparing to deploy. Your life depends on it. The lives of your brothers and sisters depend on it.

Train right, train hard, train often. The days of cake-walking through a weekend drill are forever OVER. You folks are needed, and we count on you. Be tenacious toward that ideal, and stay the course of preparedness.

Finally, and once again, thank you, folks!

GOD BLESS THE USA!

Yours,

Richard
11M (1989-1993)
88M (1993-1995)

hey i have a question for anyone that could answer? i am currently in the new york army national guard and i want out to go active duty is there anyone that could tell me how to get out?

quote:

Originally posted by envo:
hey i have a question for anyone that could answer? i am currently in the new york army national guard and i want out to go active duty is there anyone that could tell me how to get out?

Go see your chain of command. None of us can tell you anything or do anything for you. It is up to your chain of command, specifically your personnel office, to get your paperwork in order.

Thanks for posting we appreciate all of your kind posts.

Thank you.