A Familiar Strain Is Felt In Stateside Guard Unit

THE Washington Post ^ | September 19, 2004 | Thomas E. Ricks

[neverdem]

FORT DIX, N.J. -- The 635 soldiers of a battalion of the South Carolina National Guard scheduled to depart Sunday for a year or more in Iraq have spent their off-duty hours under a disciplinary lockdown in their barracks for the last two weeks.

The trouble began Labor Day weekend, when 13 members of the 1st Battalion of the 178th Field Artillery Regiment went AWOL, mainly to see their families again before shipping out. Then there was an ugly confrontation between members of the battalion's Alpha and Charlie batteries -- the term artillery units use instead of "companies" -- that threatened to turn into a brawl involving three dozen soldiers, and required the base police to intervene.

That prompted a barracks inspection that uncovered alcohol, resulting in the lockdown that kept soldiers in their rooms except for drills, barred even from stepping outside for a smoke, a restriction that continued with some exceptions until Sunday's scheduled deployment.

The battalion's rough-and-tumble experience at a base just off the New Jersey Turnpike reflects many of the biggest challenges, strains and stresses confronting the Guard and Reserve soldiers increasingly relied on to fight a war 7,000 miles away.

This Guard unit was put on an accelerated training schedule -- giving the soldiers about 36 hours of leave over the past two months -- because the Army needs to get fresh troops to Iraq, and there are not enough active-duty or "regular" troops to go around. Preparation has been especially intense because the Army is short-handed on military police units, so these artillerymen are being quickly re-trained to provide desperately needed security for convoys. And to fully man the unit, scores of soldiers were pulled in from different Guard outfits, some voluntarily, some on orders.

As members of the unit looked toward their tour,...

[churchillbuff]

Now if you think its great that the media decides it needs to come out and portray this """

I want the truth of the situation reported, because I believe in living -- as an individual and as a nation -- according to facts, not fantasy. And the truth is that the Guard is being strained by the burdens being placed on them. read post 35, above, apparently by a guardsman. It's not that I thhink it's "great" that the media is reporting the truth - it's that we need to know the truth, and not sugar-coat hard situations, so that we can form policy intelligently. This is a democracy, and in a democracy, the people must be told what's going on. If you'd rather not know what's going on, then you might feel more comfortable in an authoritarian country.

[churchillbuff]

I know what "BS" means, and CWO is the only poster I've encountered who - like a sufferer from terret's syndrome - uses it persistently. I'm not impressed. If you are, then I'm not impressed with you, either.

[Arkinsaw]

I absolutely agree the problem with BJ. But one thing I don't like is sending reserve or NG troops overseas for 1 year tours. Send them for 6 or even 4 months and rotate them more often. Regulars can do the 1 year tour. These folks weren't prepared for this kind of duty. Financially, physically, mentally. Let them do a 4 month tour, get some R&R at home, and they can go back again. It's very hard to prepare your family for a 1 year deployment. Most of the reserves and NG have families, mortgages etc.

My best friend is in Baghdad with the 39th Brigade Combat Team (Arkansas National Guard) deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division. He has been there 6 months and has 6 months to go. He has informed us that they are asking for volunteers to stay a few months longer. He is considering doing it, even though we here at home have suggested that 1 year is his full share.

He has three school age children and a wife and a mortgage. But he is not only not complaining, he is considering staying. Some of the bridage had been deployed to the Sinai about a year before and were not obligated to stay the full year in Iraq. Quite a few took the opportunity to leave, but some stayed in order to remain with their unit for the full deployment. These are National Guardsmen and it is very tough on them, but they have shown that they were prepared mentally and physically for this deployment. The 1st Cav has stated that the NG troops have proven just as effective as the regulars.

Don't understate the readiness and willingness of National Guard troops. In many cases they bring more to the table in experience and training than an 18 year old regular just out of training. Many of them previously served in the regular Army.

[jaykay]

THESE ARE THE AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES THAT WERE ELIMINATED DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF BILL CLINTON AND AL GORE.

OK. They have been out of office for almost 4 years. How much of these eliminated forces have been restored by their successors?

[Arkinsaw]

Now if you think its great that the media decides it needs to come out and portray this """ I want the truth of the situation reported, because I believe in living -- as an individual and as a nation -- according to facts, not fantasy. And the truth is that the Guard is being strained by the burdens being placed on them. read post 35, above, apparently by a guardsman. It's not that I thhink it's "great" that the media is reporting the truth - it's that we need to know the truth, and not sugar-coat hard situations, so that we can form policy intelligently. This is a democracy, and in a democracy, the people must be told what's going on. If you'd rather not know what's going on, then you might feel more comfortable in an authoritarian country

I hear whats going on directly from members of the 39th Brigade Combat Team in Baghdad every week and it doesn't match what is on the news every night. Now you can jump on the media's quagmire bandwagon if you want to. But I believe my pal in Baghdad more than I believe you.

[reed13k]

I will definitely concur that the reserve - strike that - NG officers and the NCOs have a lot of answering to do in regards to this issue. There was a definite lack of discipline in this crowd. Having drilled reserves for a time, I can safely state that this is easily lost in monthly drills if it is not constantly reenforced. It doesn't take much to let things start to slip and it is a much harder road heading in the other direction.

My trips to Yokota were few - spent more time in Rappongi - or at least I think that's what that haze was. ;)

[CWOJackson]

Tell me church-shill-stuff, does it get lonely being the only person on a conservative website parroting Charlie Rangle's lies? I mean I look at your BS draft threads and people just savage you terribly. Do you get the sense that perhaps that it's not just your BS they aren't buying but you as well?

But I have to give your side credit. Earlier today, while you were indisposed, there was a thread showing one of your sides latest flyer's. A scare tactic draft lie with a photo of stacked up dead U.S. servicemen. You might want to consider tracking that picture down and using it with your own scare tactic draft lie threads. Visuals add impact to the lies and I seriously doubt you would be despised any less.

[churchillbuff]

it doesn't match what is on the news every night."""

I know people in the Guard who've told me things that square with this article. Obviously different units - and different individuals - report different experiences. I'm not saying everything's the same everywhere and with everyone, but everything isn't coming up roses.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I don't honestly care what you think of me, churchillbuff.

Listen, I'm just telling you - you don't know anything about CWOJackson, and there's no reason why you should, I suppose...but you make a fool of yourself when you presume to know more about the inner workings of this war than he does.

But, snipe away. You're obviously on some kind of anti-Bush mission, and I have confidence that very, very few people on FR are listening...and the majority of them are onto you.

Me? I'm going to bed.

[reed13k]

And poor saps like me that were booted from the reserves for failure to promote are still not allowed to serve due to the restrictions. Well - just have to be a citizen soldier and buck it up.

[ProudVet77]

Please don't get me wrong about reserves or NG troops.
The only reason I worry about them is that they did not plan on being on active service this long. Many have mortagages and civilian jobs/businesses. Whereas regulars have base housing (yes I know they all don't) and their focus is being active military.
I am not trying to impune them at all. I just want the best for them. They are being asked to do more than any reserve/NG units since WWII. I hope after the election we will raise a few more combat brigades, to ease the burden on the reserves and NG.

[CWOJackson]

Have a pleasant evening.

[churchillbuff]

You seem to think it bothers me being unpopular with those freepers who can't stomach different points of view. Give me a break! If being unpopular because of my convictions was a problem for me, I wouldn't have picked the moniker I did - because Churchill was wildly unpopular during the 1930s for dissenting from the Conservative Party line on foreign policy. It takes a lot less courage for me to endure your childish rants - in fact it obviously doesn't take any "courage" at all, because you provide amusement by making yourself look foolish, because you're so inarticulate - grunting "BS" instead of offering facts and argument. Sweet dreams. I'm headed for some shut-eye.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Thank you...and I know I've told you this many times before, but thank you for your lifetime of service to our nation.

You have a good night too.

[CWOJackson]

"You seem to think it bothers me being unpopular..."

You really must be drunk tonight. What would give you such a ludicrous idea. No one in their right mind would come back day-after-day to post blatant lies about the draft, receive the response you do, keep coming back and be bothered. Indeed, I'm sure you revel in the attention you get. Some people are into it...I'm glad it works for you.

[Arkinsaw]

I know people in the Guard who've told me things that square with this article. Obviously different units - and different individuals - report different experiences. I'm not saying everything's the same everywhere and with everyone, but everything isn't coming up roses.

Didn't say it was. I can promise you that those troops over there do not like taking Najaf Cemetery over and over again. Nor do artillery guys like being put on convoy escort duty with no specific training for it.

My take on it is that its not the level of troops and its not these logistical things. We have enough troops to take Najaf Cemetery. We have enough troops to go right up to the Ali Mosque. We have enough troops to surround it and lay siege to it. We have enough troops to break down its walls and kill anyone who moves in the courtyard until they are afraid to move and starting to get thirsty. But then we pull back. We let Sadr go. We let the bad guys go to Sadr City to start trouble, we kick them around there and then let them go and a few weeks later we have to send our guys back to retake Najaf Cemetery...one....more....time.

We've got enough troops, the troops have enough equipment generally, they generally have fine morale, but we have not had the political will to put these guys down when we have them cornered.

If you have a Vietnam analogy then that is it. But even so, the media portrays it as if the casualty levels and the extent and quality of the opposition were on a Vietnam level which is very incorrect.

[CWOJackson]

What you say is so true. I would be surprised if 1% of the troops in Iraq and other theaters are "happy" to be there or don't have serious concerns. And with very few exceptions they will vent their frustration then do the job...and it's amazing how many will extend or volunteer to go back. Not because they enjoy it so much as they are commited.

Then there will always be those few who are in the service for other reasons and have no commitment to their oath.

They are sorted out and the rest keep on doing what is asked of them.

[meenie]

Priorities are the problem. Land based units do not have the support that the fly boys have. An armored infantry unit is the bulwark in Iraq but unimportant in the scale of the super power. The power to punish is more highly regarded than the power to control. With the upper echelon in the Pentagon being oriented to air power, the land forces have been allowed to deteriorate in numbers. This cannot last for long. The numbers of guard and reserves opting out should be a wake-up call. Stop-loss orders and extensions of time in service are just adding to the problem.

[Arkinsaw]

Please don't get me wrong about reserves or NG troops. The only reason I worry about them is that they did not plan on being on active service this long. Many have mortagages and civilian jobs/businesses. Whereas regulars have base housing (yes I know they all don't) and their focus is being active military. I am not trying to impune them at all. I just want the best for them. They are being asked to do more than any reserve/NG units since WWII. I hope after the election we will raise a few more combat brigades, to ease the burden on the reserves and NG.

I know. The issue is very close to me as it is the Arkansas Brigade and my blood brother involved. The level of commitment he has to it keeps me going. If I had my druthers they would be pulled out today and be back in Arkansas tomorrow. I keep checking and asking him if its worth it....he keeps saying it is....if it wasn't I would be able to tell. So until he says different I have to go with the word.

[ProudVet77]

His word is gold.
Our men are doing a great job over there, very under appreciated due to the MSM. This is one area I disagree with Rummy on, lets get more regulars. Two divisions would be plenty. Take the load off of the NG and Reserves. Actually I bet you could raise a division from the reserves and NG if you gave them a sign up bonus for a two year tour.
We have to accept we are in a long term war with both terrorists and the ChiComs.