Why using the National Guard to guard airports is wrong

2banana ^ | not yet | 2banana

[2banana]

Dear Editor,

Over the past several weeks, a huge number of National Guard troops have been "called up" to be used as "Homeland Defense" through out America. What Homeland defense means is that these troops will be mostly guarding economic targets (airports, train stations, oil refineries, etc.) for up to two years.

This is a wrong policy for several reasons:

1. This is not what they volunteered to do. The men and women who have volunteered to join the National Guard understand that they may be called up in times of war or national/state crisis. The infantry expected to called up to fight as infantry. The armor expect to be called up to fight in tanks. No one joined to be called up as a long term glorified security guard.

2. This is not what they have been trained to do. Using troops who have been trained to kill and destroy the enemy to protect an airport may lead to unintentional consequences. Yes, they may be "retrained" but this in not why they volunteered nor why they joined particular units.

2. Pay. Most National Guard troops make a significant higher salary in their civilian jobs than in their National Guard jobs. Most soldiers will take a large pay cut in this call up (50-70% being the average). Add on top of this, many will lose their excellent company health plans and replace it the terrible military health care system. Guard soldiers understand that in times of war they would need to sacrifice, but in a few months we are going to have many soldiers and their families losing their houses and literally being forced on welfare and food stamps in order to protect what is essentially private property.

3. Using these soldiers to fight this war "on the cheap". All of these economic targets that the Guard is protecting could hire their own comparable civilian security in a relatively short time. However, this would cost money. Civilian guards and police get benefits like decent pay, overtime, 401k plans, time off to see their family, etc. Active and Guard soldiers get none of this plus the taxpayer is picking up the tab. Is there anything wrong with having the airlines, airports and the people who fly pay for their own security?

4. The lose of discipline. All these factors will destroy the discipline of many units. A private (E-3) makes about $1,800 a month in pay (with family dependents). The cop and security guard right next to him (doing the same job) are making double this salary with better benefits (plus they get to see their family every night). Now imagine this soldier puts up with this for a year, losing his house, not seeing his family (now in a cheap apartment in a bad section of town), wondering if his daughter didn't suffer much in the two hour drive and three hour wait to see an army doctor for her medical treatments. Do you think he may be tempted to go AWOL, take bribes, steal, turn to alcohol, etc? Would you?

We should use the National Guard for its intended purpose. Guarding private property is not that purpose. This should be a short term mission until civilian security is brought up to speed.

Regards,

[deport]

• United States Code
  • TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
    • Subtitle A - General Military Law
      • PART II - PERSONNEL
        • CHAPTER 31 - ENLISTMENTS

  US Code as of: 01/23/00

  Sec. 502. Enlistment oath: who may administer

  
  Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:
  ''I, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I
  will support and defend the Constitution of the United States
  against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true
  faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders
  of the President of the United States and the orders of the
  officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the
  Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.''

  This oath may be taken before any commissioned officer of any armed force.

[2banana]

See above link #3 to what our Senators are proposing (make the Guard into a long term security force)

[7thson]

I agree with you. And a word for all other Freepers. When you are in the airports and see the NG, give them a thumbs up, a salute, anything to let them know that you appreciate them being there. My wife and I did this past weekeng.

[Protagoras]

See above link #3 to what our Senators are proposing (make the Guard into a long term security force)

Politicions are notorious for having bad ideas. It would be legitimate for them to stay as long as we need them to provide for our security in this crisis, IMO.

This will not be a long term. The idea will be defeated, IMO.

[Dave S]

Some of us are curious as to whether you, personally, are in the National Guard? This is the first complaint I've seen in any media about the NG being upset over being asked to defend the US. Perhaps for those who signed up for weekend fun and games and extra income, see this as too onerous?

Sounds like you want the miltary to have a choice in what duties they perform. I think combat in Irag is worthy of me but guarding my fellow citizens at O'Hare airport is not.

Airports, water supplies and other such facilities are most often public facilities run by governmental entities for the benefit of our citizens.

[l0newolf]

And if they do...we pick up the tab as taxpayers? Right now the feds are already handing out money hand over fist to all corporate comers. So shifting the burden of "homeland defense" to private business would only redirect the money flow and cost more. As well it is much better to bring troops into the public and private domain so we all get the message. It is called martial law. Get used to it.

Does the term 'corporate fascism" ring any bells here? After all, isn't Afghanistan really only about an oil pipeline? This isn't a war on terrorism, it's a war for globalism.

[2banana]

I have seen some estimates of this conflict taking up to 10 years (just look at how long Israel or the Russians have been battling terrorists for starters)

[Flint]

It is a military unit. When you sign up you know what the terms are. They answer to the Commander In Chief through the state governors.

When we had a draft, people used the NG to get out of regular military service. Go to monthy meetings, have fun, get paid, go home.

We are now at war. Some of that war will take place on our Homeland. That is why they have been on the government dole for how ever long they have been taking my tax money as "pay". The party is over and it is time for them to earn their keep.

[RussianBear716]

Your first point about the President ordering those of certain religious beliefs to be rounded up is just nonsense and doesn't warrant any response.

Your second point, well yes it may be disappointing to have signed up to ride around in a tank, but if your handed a rifle and told to guard this airport, thats what you do. I think its called following orders? After all, cooks and company clerks in WWII were handed rifles and told to fight when the situation called for it. I don't think any of them said, I just signed up to be a cook. That would have been something called insubordination, I think. Doesn't that lead to court martial?

[2banana]

Sounds like you want the miltary to have a choice in what duties they perform. I think combat in Irag is worthy of me but guarding my fellow citizens at O'Hare airport is not.

Maybe we should have them help out in the fall harvest too.

Airports, water supplies and other such facilities are most often public facilities run by governmental entities for the benefit of our citizens.

So is the fall harvest. Read my entire letter. Now think who the hell is going to volunteer or re-up in the future. It is nice that you can sit in your civilian job and think the people in the military should give up everything to protect private property while you give up nothing.

[Paratroop]

The guys I have spoken with actually volunteered for this, they were not ordered to do so.

And the units that are doing this are not on the hot list to be activated for over-seas service. Yes, they are soldiers, but their units are not up to speed to fight in a war, so why not use them.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

How quick they forget.

[Ditto]

Guarding private property is not that purpose.

I recall quite vividly the NG 'guarding' banks, gun stores, liquor stores, gas stations and numerous other private enterprises from looters and arsonists during the riots in the 60s. They even formed up at times and stood down or broke-up mobs in the streets and ran emergency calls with the local police who were stretched way beyond capacity. That, BTW was during the height of the Vietnam War, and very few guard units were ever called for duty there. Was that wrong to use them to support law enforcement then? If so, what the hell is the purpose of having an armed militia? We don’t need to arm people just to fill sandbags or deliver meals during a disaster. The Salvation Army can do that.

And if you think airports are just ‘private property’ (most aren’t) I suggest you look up the terms ‘infrastructure’ and ‘general welfare.’ The NG, as opposed to the military reserves, are intended to supplement state and local authorities in time of need. They are not being ‘Nationalized” (i.e. called up by the President) but have been activated by their state Governors to supplement local law enforcement at a time of need. That's what they are for, and what they signed on for. As to ‘pay differentials’ between their civilian jobs and what they will get full-time in the guard: Did you express this concern when they accepted their regular checks and benefits for the occasional weekend duty or summer camp, or is it only a concern now that all the investment in training and maintaining the guard is being called upon in a time of need?

[Protagoras]

It is nice that you can sit in your civilian job and think the people in the military should give up everything to protect private property while you give up nothing.

Your posts get more shrill as the thread continues. Now you deride anyone who is not in the service as unworthy to expect the military to do their job.

In case you haven't noticed, this is a country of PRIVATE PROPERTY.

I'll bet you are a real popular guy in your unit. A cry baby who should never have signed up. Tell all this to the other soldiers in your unit and see if they agree with you or question your integrity as a soldier.

You signed up for reasons other than a desire to serve your country and now you have cold feet when you have to follow orders. That what it sounds like to me anyway.

Anything less than battle with the enemy is beneath you it seems. That attitude alone would preclude you from ever being any use in a real battle. You don't pick and choose what orders you will follow and end up as anything other than a problem.

Please don't re-up for any reason.

[Protagoras]

I have seen some estimates of this conflict taking up to 10 years (just look at how long Israel or the Russians have been battling terrorists for starters)

Thankfully you won't be in the service that long. One more day is too much for you to be in dishonoring our fine soldiers with your presence.

When you finally get out then I guess you won't have anything to say either.

[HoweverComma]

Those who simply man the ramparts and watch for the enemy's approach serve just as much as the man on the sharp end of the spear.

[Sweet Hour of Prayer]

I wonder why they don't make airport security a department within the U.S. Airforce? These guys run airports all over the world. Granted it's for military operations but I think they're a natural to assume the responsibility for security regarding airports and U.S airways. Just a thought.

[deport]

A little more on the mission of the National Guard.....

Under the Constitutional “dual role” as both a Federal and State force, a frequent and significant role of the National Guard is to support state and local governments. When an event occurs that overwhelms the capabilities of the local authorities, the ARNG is frequently called on to assist. In FY98, local governments requested emergency support 308 times to assist victims of natural disasters such as fires, hurricanes, floods, droughts, ice storms, and tornadoes. In response the ARNG provided 374,115 soldier mandays to reduce the suffering of affected civilian populations by providing security, power, heat, water, transportation, food, shelter and emergency engineering support.

The ARNG routinely performs missions that allow ARNG units to integrate required training to support local authorities. Under the Innovative Readiness Training program, the ARNG provided in excess of 205,000 mandays to improve schools and recreation facilities, build and maintain roads, administer immunizations and provide medical care to under-served populations. For example, in California the ARNG led an effort to construct access roads to the U.S.Mexican border to assist the Border Patrol in dealing with the influx of illegal aliens and illicit narcotics. In Alaska the ARNG headed a joint 5-year project to construct a 15-mile road between two villages on Annette Island, normally accessible only by boat. In Maine, Oregon, and Alaska, medical exercises provided under-served populations with inoculations and other routine medical and dental services.

Under a program designed to assist in the “war on drugs,” ARNG soldiers provided 552,543 mandays of support to local law enforcement and Drug Enforcement Agency efforts to combat the flow of illegal narcotics into and across the United States. To assist Border Patrol and Drug Enforcement Agency officials, ARNG soldiers manned checkpoints, transported, secured, and destroyed confiscated contraband, and helped locate cultivated crops of marijuana.

And from the ANG

State Mission

When Air National Guard units are not mobilized or under Federal control, they report to the governor of their respective state, territory (Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands) or the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. Each of the 54 National Guard organizations is supervised by the Adjutant General of the state or territory. Under State law, the Air National Guard provides protection of life, property and preserves peace, order and public safety. These missions are accomplished through emergency relief support during natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and forest fires; search and rescue operations; support to civil defense authorities; maintenance of vital public services and counterdrug operations.

[Protagoras]

Those who simply man the ramparts and watch for the enemy's approach serve just as much as the man on the sharp end of the spear.

Well said.

[HoweverComma]

Glad you liked it.

I've known people who did 20-30 years of silo-sitting in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and similar garden spots. It was dull, tiring work--but it kept the Godless Atheistic Communist Horde from deciding to try a first strike. They sacrificed a lot of opportunities for a "normal" life for a number of reasons--and for each individual, that reason was both absolutely unique and absolutely correct, even if it wasn't the same as the next guy's. In some ways, it was probably harder--because they couldn't SEE how they contributed to defending freedom, unlike that soldier manning an OP in the Fulda Gap. It was just tending this big thingie inside an even bigger hole in the ground.