[DugwayDuke]

"After returning to active duty, I saw the Louisiana Guard unit (151st Infantry?) go AWOL from Ft. Hood during Desert Shield, and the Georgia Guard's 48th Infantry have to be rotated back through NTC 'cause they couldn't pass after the first two months of train-up."

That's something I'd like to know more about. I've heard different versions of those stories. Care to share more?

I heard the unit at Hood was screwed over pretty good and got fed up. I know that sounds like no big deal to some active duty types but guard units can be picky about such things.

I also heard that it was pre-ordained that the La unit was going to fail their rotation.

You may remember that the Pentagon was rather insistent that no roundout units would deploy to the gulf. Congress had to pass a law even to get them called up. I also remember reading prior to the gulf, an article in Army essentially saying that the Army would fight all wars in the future without the guard.

I could expand on the above but I'd like to hear your opinion.

[wku man]

Well, I could go on at length about why the round out brigade concept is a very bad idea, based on both first hand and other experience, but I won't bore you and the other good folks on this thread. I do know, from folks who observed the Louisiana Guard debacle, that they weren't even ready for train-up, that their tactical skills from the squad level up to battalion were so lacking they should have had a train-up for their train-up. Again, based on what I've heard from folks who observed the situation, the Louisiana boys didn't like the food, the barracks up in North Fort Hood (open bay style w/ no privacy whatsoever), or the fact that they had to train longer than eight hours a day. Boo-hoo!

No, they weren't screwed over. Those who went AWOL couldn't deal with the demands of their service obligation (IOW, once they're called up, they're "in the Army now", and their part-time attitudes and sensitivities won't fly), and they didn't like the way Regular Army types looked down on them. Again, boo-hoo. Of course RA looks down on the reserve components...they're part timers trying to play full-time Army in the full-timers' backyard. Guardsmen have to work harder to prove themselves to those who live the life full-time. Hope I'm not stepping on any toes by saying that.

From what I hear from former OPFOR guys at NTC, the Georgia brigade had a good attitude toward the training, but just lacked basic skills that they needed to have before starting a rotation there.

From my own observations as a former squad leader in the scout platoon of the 2-123 Armor (KyARNG), and a trainer/evaluator at Camp Shelby (while assigned to 1st Cav), Guard units just do not have enough training time, nor do they have the expertise and sometimes even the professionalism to maintain the tactical skills necessary for cavalry, mech and armored units. I understand the Guard support and artillery units deployed to the Gulf did a great job, and I cannot vouch for light infantry Guard units. But the DoA would do well to convert it's heavy divisions and brigades to something else, and expand the heavy capabilities of RA divisions (maybe bring back 2d Armor/24th Mech, etc?). After all, Regualr Army units train a heckuva lot more often, and even they aren't always proficient. But there are politics involved, so that ain't gonna happen. Heck, Guard units should at least spend their field weekends working on squad/crew skills, and save the company and battalion maneuver stuff for summer camp. After all, how's a Cav troop/mech company going to survive if it's individual crews can't reload it's Bradley TOW launchers in under two minutes, or call for fire properly?

Sorry for the length, but this subject is a minor pet peeve of mine. Be good.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!