Posted on 09/11/2004 4:36:41 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
ANCHORAGE--An Alaska Army National Guard unit is among dozens nationwide called to involuntary active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, state military officials said Friday.
It's the first time an infantry unit from Alaska has been pressed into federal involuntary service since World War II, officials said.
"This is an important, historic event," said Lt. Col. Mike Bridges, deputy commander of 207th Infantry Group, which oversees the unit called.
"We've had units and individuals from the Alaska National Guard serve in Iraq and Afghanistan and Kuwait previously, but not infantry units," said Major Mike Haller, a Guard spokesman.
About 130 Juneau-based soldiers from the group's 297th Infantry have a month or so to gather at Fort Richardson near Anchorage before they depart to their assignment, Bridges said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news-miner.com ...
The other states are listed in a confidential memo from the Pentagon, and Haller said Alaska officials were not at liberty to name them. Pentagon officials could not be reached late Friday evening to identify the other states.
In response to the call-up, Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski formally mobilized the soldiers to their tour of duty, which is expected to last as much as 18 months.
"The president has asked and I've concurred with the involuntary call-up of a portion of our Alaska Army National Guard troops for duty in the global war on terror," Murkowski said. "We're extremely proud of their selfless service in our communities, throughout our state, and not to America, in this time of need."
Bridges said the Alaska soldiers will join units from Hawaii for up to five months of "very heavy duty combat" training somewhere in the United States. Then they'll head to their overseas assignments.
"These are our families, our neighbors, our friends," Murkowski said. "They go forward with our thoughts and prayers and with the knowledge that Alaskans across the state await their safe return."
Godspeed.
A draft is not so far in the distant future. If we have to send the Alaska Guard to the desert, things must be getting thin.
We can bring more people into service simply by raising the pay. There's no need for a draft yet.
The Air Force and Navy both are overstaffed. They are encouraging those in (not so) critical career fields to cross into the Army. They are getting many takers.
I have heard, but cannot confirm, that the Army and Marines are on pace for recruitment.
No need for the draft. But, I will re-state, the left is using this issue to scare draft-aged voters.
Agreed. Thanks for putting it into words today. It's all part of the catalog of Democrat politicization of the war.
I believe it does. Per this statement (called to involuntary active duty)
Glad to see these guys are ~finally~ serving their country.
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/sarcasm
These are NG and RES troops.
Not related to the original post, but, to be fair, a very small number of ex-military (they thought) have been called back. Mainly intel and crypto linguists.
But, they were still under contract.
'Bout like the Democrats.
Just tell her who is proposing and trying to get a draft in place.
Then give her the names and the "D" that follows.
I did.
Thank you.
A little late to respond to this thread, but it should be noted that these call ups are replacement units for other units that have served their 18 months and are coming home. I know our local 3664th is due home soon.
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