Thanks for the help.
Now, how come so much of the force in the Mid East are guardsmen? I understand why reservists were called up, but why the guardsmen? I thought they were here to "guard us" in an emergency. And God help us all if that yoyo governor of mine is coordinating our guardsmen in Iraq. I guess the pentagon can call up the guard too, but why? They are the state guard and the military has its reservists? It sounds like the revolution when each state sent its militia, and they were all under different control. I know the war is an emergency, but you know what I mean. Who's watching the homefront?
P.S. None of this is criticism. I just don't understand why so much burden is being placed on the guard.
"Now, how come so much of the force in the Mid East are guardsmen?"
Basically it comes down to the downsizing of the regular forces.
"Who's watching the homefront?"
Civilians, Dept of Homeland Security.
The Regular Army and Reserves are too small. We have been keeping a very small standing Army for quite a while. The Guard now makes up around half of our Military. AFAIK, this has been the "plan" for quite a while.