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Yeah try telling a Marine Reservist he's not a "real" Marine because he's "hiding" in the Reserves. LMAO!!! He'd eat the spleen of the person who told him that for breakfast!

Not me! However, let me illustrate some of the differences between ANG duty and other reserve forces. I was stationed on Otis AFB in Massachusetts for three years. The base had been closed for a few years, but had then been taken over by the Coast Guard and a combination of various NG and Reserve units from all the services. We were active duty running a phased array radar station known as Pave Paws (6th Missile Warning Squadron). We were called Cape Cod AFS to note we were active duty USAF on a closed base. I saw "Coasties" everyday. The Marine and Navy Reservists and Army National Guard where only there on weekends. Monday through Friday their ends of the base were ghost towns--except in the summer.

The ANG unit was the 102nd Fighter Wing. At the time they flew F-106's (now fly F-15's, some of which were scrambled on 9/11 but didn't get the order in time to make NYC). The F-106's were armed with Genie nuclear-tipped missiles. The pilots and crews were on duty 24/7, and on many occasions were scrambled over the Atlantic to escort Soviet Bear and Buffalo bombers who strayed "too close" to the USA (incidently, something the Soviets didn't allow off their coast either, but they actually shot down that KAL 007 flight in the 80's).

The point I'm trying to make is to in no way put down the service of anyone! Guardsmen, Reservist, or active duty. The media has a cultural memory of folks getting out of Vietnam service by going into the NG. Yup, back then, the NG was not at all integrated into the active duty force (IOW, before Total Force) and therefore the likelihood of being called up to Vietnam in the 1960's--in the ARMY NG--was pretty low.

The ANG has never been like that. Units are always flying doing what anyone would see as an actual active duty mission while not being on active duty. That is a difference that is NEVER highlighted in all the talk about Dubya being in the NG. during the Vietnam war. He wasn't--he was in the AIR NG! He flew F-102/6's--a very unforgiving aircraft in the same conditions any active duty pilot would fly.

In one of the articles I read it said he actually did volunteer for what was called "Palace Guard" which would have meant a flying tour in Vietnam. But he didn't have enough stick time yet to qualify.

The article goes on to state that W. went to the commander of the 147th on his own just prior to his graduation from college seeking one of the pilot slots.

The commander also noted that he was one of the few willing to donate 13 months of time needed for the basic flight school.

You are correct two about the Convair F-102 and F-106 aircraft being unforgiving. If ever there was an aircraft that was a potential "Widow Maker" these were it.

The F-15's that launched from Otis ANG Base on 9/11 were 5 minutes from catching up to United Flight 93 when the passengers decided to take matters into their own hands.