I think we've just seen the difference between National Guard/Reserve units and active duty units, i.e. the lack of a chain of command within our "weekend warriors". I'm sure the top brass of these NG units were thrilled to send their soldiers to DC, as it would look great on their next efficiency report.
The current governor of Minnesota was a sergeant major in the state NG. His lack of leadership during the riots astounded me. None of the Sergeants Major that I ever served with would have folded like Walz did.
As to DC, where in Hades was the chain of command of these Guard units? Were there not operations orders established for how they would accomplish their mission?
I was taught as a Platoon Leader, that everything my unit did or failed to do was my responsibility. I'd be raising holy hell if I was a Platoon Leader of Company CO in DC, seeing my troops getting screwed over like this.
I did it when I was on active duty. For example, I was the XO of a 40 man detachment assigned to a German antiaircraft range in Northern Germany. We were the only Americans for 200 miles. When my soldiers weren't getting their paychecks, my First Sergeant and I were working the antiquated German phone system (this was 1979 folks), to get them paid. In one instance, I caught hell for calling a Brigade Commander for help, after exhausting the chain of command. Guess what? Our soldier received his paychecks the next day, personally delivered by jeep in a 400 mile one way trip.
I caught hell again when I unofficially assumed command of my battery, after a series of eff ups from the Battery Cdr and one of our platoon leaders. During the evening meeting before the third and final day, I took 15 minutes to give explicit orders to the 4 platoon leaders and platoon sergeants of what their squads would do the following day. I knew the jobs of every crew member well, as I had taken 3 of the 4 platoons through their own platoon level evaluations.
Little did I know, the evaluation team chief heard every word, every expletive I uttered. As I left the CP and saw him, I thought, "oh crap". However, with a big smile on his face, he said, "LT, that was beautiful." We passed, though it earned me a lousy efficiency report.
I admit it, I was a PITA capable of plenty of mistakes of commission. Over time, those mistakes became fewer and far between.
I'm still a PITA, just ask my wife and kids...lol.
When you were in, it was a different time.