This is a thread worth tugging.
The answer might be found in pictures such as the following (note the dork sitting, appropriately, on the far left):
From http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml
The bottom line is two-pronged:
1. Pres. Bush does not have a single year in the National Guard for which he did not receive his 50 points for a good year. All his years were good years. His early years, incidentally, were active duty years. I'd be willing to bet that Pres. Bush's active duty time is little different than John Kerry's.
2. John Kerry applied for a deferment and was turned DOWN, so he then applied for the Naval RESERVES! How did he get in the RESERVES SO EASILY and into OCS so easily in time of war? Unfortunately for JfnSKerry, they activated him. And there is excellent reason to believe he missed multiple years of required drills after he received an early exit from service.
Except for some years in the late 1970's, reserve and guard members were expected to perform 4 drills (2 days) each month, plus 2 weeks (typically Monday to the following Friday) - or 12 days of training. The 48 drills + 15 membership points = 63 drill points - but was truncated to 60 points. Add to the 60 drill points the 12 active duty training points ... and you get 72 points.
72 points is what most every driller would do. They could miss 1 weekend as an excused absence and not make it up ... missing more than 1 weekend (or 4 drills) MIGHT be cause for counseling. BUT ... you needed only 50 points for the year to be counted as "GOOD" ... i.e. - creditable towards getting 20 years for retirement eligibility.
In the late 70's, thanks to Carter's gutting the military, drillers were only allowed 24 drills (1 day per month, 2 drills per day). 24 drills + 12 days active duty training + 15 membership points = 51 points. Miss more than 2 drills - no good year ...NOT GOOD if you want to get your reserve retirement (which doesn't start until you reach age 60). (Fortunately, Pres. Reagan changed this too!)
Also - a reservist can submit a waiver to omit the 12 days active duty training ... which would make a drilling year only 60 points.
Bottom line ... if President Bush had ONLY the minimums of 50 points per year, I would be only slightly worried that he did the minimums, and didn't do what most drillers did. Now, if he based his campaign on his Guard time - regardless of how many drill points he got, I would be much more worried. His record as Governor of Texas and his record for the past 3+ years is far more commendable than ANYTHING that sKerry has done.
Mike