[RebelBanker]

I agree with your second point, but will contest your first. My old National Guard infantry brigade (3rd of the 29th) trained at JRTC on a regular basis and consistently ranked in the middle or (usually) top third of the units that went there. This included mostly active army units.

The "need for extensive additional training prior to deployment" has been a constant argument by active army advocates against the Guard. Usually, this is followed by a request to cut combat arms units in the Guard and increase them in the active Army.

[mark502inf]

My old National Guard infantry brigade (3rd of the 29th)

The Blue & Gray; proud unit--landed at Normandy on D-Day and fought all the way across Europe. At the risk of raising a ruckus, the 29th is arguably the best division in the National Guard.