With 34 years of service as a C-130 pilot, my father spent 6 in active duty in Vietnam and as an instructor, then 6 as a full-time “technician” with the Missouri Air National Guard (being activated in the early 80’s to enter one war zone that I do not have all of the details on), and 22 years as a full-time “technician” in the Texas Air National Guard (activated for two tours in Desert Storm and playing a support role in Operation Just Cause). My brother is a navigator and my best friend a pilot in “traditional” roles in the Texas Air National Guard, and both have been activated for what I believe will be their 6th deployments into the Middle East (UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, etc). Despite what Bush bashers claim, the National Guard is NOT a way to avoid deployment, whether full-time or a “weekend warrior”. In fact, my best friend’s father served in Vietnam after being activated from the Texas Air National Guard in the early 70’s...so it didn’t apply then either.
As for State Guard organizations, many states have them and they also serve an important role. They assist in local disasters and relief efforts. Think of them like the civil air patrol. Volunteers that give of their time to serve others. In Texas, their motto is “Texan’s serving Texans” (http://www.txsg.state.tx.us/txsg_web_site_002.htm).
Don’t let Kerr’s misrepresentation of his service tarnish any of these organizations.
How about coming down for Major Egeler's California Fried Chicken?:
CA State Guard is nothing but old guys playing soldier. God bless them, but let's be honest: This isn't something you're going to see on CNN. To them, eleventeen-star Briagdier General Kerr is Ike Eisenhower.