Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Texas National Guard hit by string of suicides as border mission expands: report
New York Post ^ | December 24, 2021 4:01pm | Mark Moore

Posted on 12/24/2021 5:01:03 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

Four Texas National Guard troops have died in suspected suicides since October as the force rapidly expands to carry out Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to guard the Lone Star State’s border with Mexico, according to a report.

An investigation by the Army Times published Thursday found that to meet Abbott’s troop quotas as part of Operation Lone Star, the Guard has resorted to involuntarily activating soldiers from across Texas.

The report cited interviews with family members, Guard troops and official documents.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Featherston, the Texas Army National Guard’s senior enlisted leader from May 2020 until his retirement Nov. 30, questioned the purpose of the mission and the effects the involuntary call-ups are having on soldiers.

“The [Texas Military Department]’s leadership has lost focus on what matters most, and that’s the soldier,” Featherston told the Army Times. “Their inability to focus on the individual soldiers’ needs has cost several lives, and until they [focus], more tragedies will continue to happen.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Mexico; News/Current Events; US: Arizona; US: California; US: New Mexico; US: New York; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: anthonyfauci; arizona; border; california; covidstooges; gregabbott; jasonfeatherston; liar; markmoore; mexico; nationalguard; newmexico; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkpost; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; obamacare; operationlonestar; texas; vaccinemandates
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

1 posted on 12/24/2021 5:01:03 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Someone needs to tell the slack-jaw faggot former SgtMajor the military IS NOT about the needs of the soldier. It is about the MISSION.

4 suicides? It would be more helpful to have a discussion on raising boys to be men.


2 posted on 12/24/2021 5:11:21 PM PST by Salvavida (Even now, come Lord Jesus!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salvavida

“Someone needs to tell the slack-jaw faggot former SgtMajor the military IS NOT about the needs of the soldier. It is about the MISSION.”

You might not accomplish the mission without addressing the needs of the soldier. Food water and shelter are the 3 basic needs.


3 posted on 12/24/2021 5:16:43 PM PST by Armscor38
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Salvavida

Texas Guardsmen bitching about less than two weeks notice to ship out to...the southern border? No sympathy. Suicides? Too bad, so sad.


4 posted on 12/24/2021 5:21:47 PM PST by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
Christmas, 1776


5 posted on 12/24/2021 5:24:48 PM PST by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Armscor38

No sir. This is bootcamp knowledge. The MISSION comes first.

No one said anything about missing food, water, or shelter and all such things pale in comparison.

The former SgtMajor LIED.


6 posted on 12/24/2021 5:25:05 PM PST by Salvavida (Even now, come Lord Jesus!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Salvavida

“...the military IS NOT about the needs of the soldier. It is about the MISSION.”

________________________________________

And thus, the tangible and desired results of the Kenyan’s efforts to feminize and wussify our armed forces.

Did anybody in their right mind not think this would happen when Barry began to purge the military of mission focused soldiers and officers in favor of lesbians, faggots and pussies like General Millet?


7 posted on 12/24/2021 5:35:15 PM PST by Qui is (Biden spews and Harris swallows. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Salvavida

I’ve been to boot camp and have a amateur’s knowledge of military history,. It’s very difficult to accomplish a mission w/o addressing the needs of the troops. Food, water and shelter are the most crucial and basic needs.

According to the article, many reservists were given very short notice that they were to be called up which hindered their ability to get affairs at home in order before deploying. The norm, according to the article, is to give reservists serval months notice. Of course, there are exceptions to this when responding to natural or man-made disasters.


8 posted on 12/24/2021 5:38:09 PM PST by Armscor38
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Armscor38

Days, 80 degrees, nights high 60s. Clothing would be adequate shelter. A tarp or shelter half would be enough. The troops in the DC parking garage had it a lot tougher. Distributing food and water would be a snap, logistically. If the Texas National Guard has trouble here, they’ve got huge problems.


9 posted on 12/24/2021 5:43:43 PM PST by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Salvavida
"4 suicides? It would be more helpful to have a discussion on raising boys to be men."

Two Capitol Hill Police Officers committed suicide just days after January 6th, and two others committed suicide...one in July, and the other in August. I guess we'll never know why. What factors motivated them to do so, apparently aren't important to the January 6th Committee.

10 posted on 12/24/2021 5:49:50 PM PST by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
6,500 are stationed along the border

that's about 4 soldiers per mile

seems like enough to get the job done

Even an old guy like me should be able to patrol a quarter mile boundary...

11 posted on 12/24/2021 5:50:22 PM PST by nascarnation (Let's Go Brandon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gundog

I was just using food, water and shelter as an example of the needs of troops. The person I was responding to had said that the mission comes first and I disagree in the sense that accomplishing the mission becomes very hard when needs are not addressed.

The poster’s comment which I quote below:

“Someone needs to tell the slack-jaw faggot former SgtMajor the military IS NOT about the needs of the soldier. It is about the MISSION.”

The military is very much about the needs of the soldier.


12 posted on 12/24/2021 5:51:06 PM PST by Armscor38
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Salvavida

Perhaps their National Guard service is only for the benefits. I am sure the short notice call-ups are inconvenient, but I am hard pressed to see a crisis big enough to consider suicide. How is even a major disruption of one’s schedule and priorities making it even thinkable? A loss of what? Where is the shame and dishonor? Exposure of what?


13 posted on 12/24/2021 5:55:48 PM PST by Sicvee (Sicvee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Homos have a higher suicide rate than the general population, IIRC.


14 posted on 12/24/2021 5:57:38 PM PST by Rebelbase
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Armscor38
The military is very much about the needs of the soldier.

And that’s why logistics exist. The contractors building the wall managed to have food and water for their workers. The Border Patrol works this area. Is this beyond the Texas Guard’s ability?

15 posted on 12/24/2021 5:59:01 PM PST by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Armscor38

The CURRENT military is very much about the needs of the soldier. And his or her dependents. The percentage of military personnel who are fit and deployable for combat duty must be at an all-time low. Where does trans-surgery fit in?


16 posted on 12/24/2021 6:04:12 PM PST by Sicvee (Sicvee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: gundog

A principal need of a soldier in any situation is to think their leaders at least want to win. This is one reason why modern Democrats are inherently harmful to morale.


17 posted on 12/24/2021 6:04:46 PM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

This fluffy dimwit is a prime example of what’s wrong with our military and its leadership today...

With soldiers like him, back in the 1940s, now we’d all be speaking Japanese with a little German on the west coast and German with a little Japanese on the east coast...


18 posted on 12/24/2021 6:28:22 PM PST by SuperLuminal (Where is another Sam Adams now that we desperately need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rurudyne

No kidding. I wish the illegal border crossers and those in their supply chain were as defeatist as some in the Texas Guard seem to be.


19 posted on 12/24/2021 6:31:04 PM PST by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Salvavida

The former SgtMajor LIED.

><><

The SGM is probably a REMF.


20 posted on 12/24/2021 6:34:02 PM PST by laplata
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson