Call To Duty Puts Some Families In Crisis -- Guard says bankruptcy caused by length of activation

Dayton Daily News | March 25, 2002 | Timothy R. Gaffney

[rangermedicswife]

I agree with you 100% that they deserve our support.
Beyond moral support, what can we do?
Establish a fund, supported by donations, at the state level to augment NG pay?

And maybe spread some of that generosity around to their active-duty counterparts? I won't deny that a lot of us active-duty families are doing just fine financially (getting paid about half what our civilian counterparts make, but getting along fine just the same). But remember ... there are thousands of lower-ranking enlisted families who supplement their incomes with food stamps as a way of life.

Maybe some of the hundreds of millions of dollars collected in the 9-11 funds could have been spread out to supplement pay for troops that have been activated. These families have been deeply affected too. Don't get me wrong ... my heart still grieves for those families who were most directly affected by the attacks of 9-11 ... but $1.5 MILLION per family does seem a bit extreme by most standards.

[lkside]

I don't recall that becoming a Dr., a Dentist or an RN had OBLIGATED you to becoming a military officer! OH.... you mean they signed up for "extra" money, and now they have to do what they signed up for? They were looking for an easy ride on the taxpayer's wallet by doing some easy weekend duty.... and it ended up more.. just as they know well BEFORE they signed on the dotted line!

[lkside]

Me?.... a RAT? ....hardly! I am a combat veteran, doing 2 tours between '67-71. I fully support those in the military who are there doing their job. I have no respect for those sitting there whining about "having" to be there, when the ONLY reason they are there, is that they VOLUNTEERED for reserve duty. They knew exactly what "could" happen BEFORE they signed on the dotted line. Now, they are unhappy with it! ....do your dang job and quit sniveling!

[fogarty]

Another thing to consider also is the issue whether National Guard troops should be used to conduct combat missions overseas at all. This is NOT a WWII type event, not yet anyway. The original intent of National Guard units was to protect the homeland and assist the STATE governments. It appears to me that Bush's promise of eliminating the endless cycle of deploying National Guard troops to foreign soil was not kept.

[doug from upland]

I appreciate your service. I didn't call you a RAT.

If we can give money to illegals to pop out babies, we can certainly find a way to help those on active duty through hard times. I don't know what form that will take but hope lenders and debt holders will work with them so they do not have to declare bankruptcy. That was my point. I didn't see them as sniveling whiners.

[VA Advogado]

I feel bad for the guys stuck at the local airports doing nothing but watching all day. Hard to justify a $50,000 pay cut to serve your country doing that.

[HiJinx]

Same sort of thing happening here...a company(?) of infantry from the CANG has deployed to our installation to provide security...
Which means they are our new gate guards.
They're checking and clearing all vehicles entering the post.
Many are E-3/E-4 lower enlisteds, making less than 20K per year while activated, and had to leave jobs where they were making at least twice that.

[ColdSteelTalon]

The Guard is being totally misused, They are supposed to be a reserve used to repel an invasion. The Government really needs to ramp up active duty.

But I think they are afraid that support for the war on terrorism will dwindle if they re-institute the draft. Just about everyone I talk to says that they need to start the draft again to properly make sure that we have enough soldiers to fight this war everywhere.

[dakine]

Your #4, well said...they enjoy all the benefits, now is time to hold up their end of the bargain...