As a 28 year member of the Air National Guard, I too can attest to the hard work being done both here at home and abroad to fight the war on terror. We went from “Weekend Warriors” to a 24/7 operation in a matter of hours on 9-11 and continue to this day. We have flown thousands of hours for Homeland Defense and done multiple rotations into the desert. Our personnel have been deployed all over the world and to the southern border, responded to Katrina and to wildfires and other natural disasters around the country and the world.
This is being played out throughout the Active Duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.
In addition, Air Force members are being tapped for “in lieu of” positions to augment the Army. Highly skilled, specialized Airmen are being sent over to stand guard, wash trucks, protect convoys or type paperwork, while their jobs back home get spread out over the thinned down crowd left to pick up the “slack”.
While I can’t speak to policy set at the highest levels of either the Air Force or the Army regarding tour lengths or other such things, I can sure tell we that we are busting our humps every day to fight this war and protect our homes.
I know my friend’s husband JUST left for Iraq for a one year tour of duty - and he’s active-duty Air Force. Now, I don’t know how many Air Force troops are there in comparison to other branches, but I don’t think it’s a good thing to start disparaging ANY of our military and their service!
God bless all our military men and women, and all the other non-military persons in harm’s way...
my comments were not directed at the peronnel of the air force. they were directed at the leadership and the questionable decisions and policies implimented by them. our service people are the best and brightest the world has to offer, but clinton era generals and their ego’s are the problem, not the people. hope this clears up my comments