We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:37:01 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Department of Defense announced today the alert of additional replacement units for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.These units, consisting of four National Guard brigade combat teams, will deploy consistent with the Secretary of Defense's new policy of mobilizing reserve component units for a maximum of one year at any one time. These Reserve units are not scheduled to begin deployment until December 2007.They are receiving alert orders now in order to provide them the maximum time to complete their preparations.It also provides a greater measure of predictability for family members and flexibility for employers to plan... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:05:29 -0600 AFSIS - We are defending the home front. I prefer the violence be on the other side of the world, thank you. Heartless Libertarian - We expect to be used more often. We're OK with that. And our last mob wasted two months at Ft Dix. We could have done it in 12 months. Unfortunaltely we're not part of a Brigade Combat Team, so we're not going to find out any details about our next deployment until they get around to the piecemeal stuff. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58760 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58760 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:53:15 -0600 Ry-from what I understand, some of the tasks that will no longer be done post-mob are indivudual level stuff-weapons qual, driver training, etc-will be returned (rightfully so, IMO) to the responsibility of the units, with us sending folks to their home station to look over their shoulder and make sure that training is to standard. And we'll likely be running training for them during AT, doing some specific collective tasks. And the length of post-mob, pre-deployment training depends on what level the collective training goes up to, as well. We've been training company and platoon size units, mostly for convoy escort and base security missions. Infantry and armor units, going over to do different missions, are going to have a different task set and should be training up t higher echelon of collective tasks. All in all, I think this whole '12 month total mob time' bit is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Yeah, the troops aren't away from home for as long, but to make up for it, now they'll have to be used more frequently, unless you find more troops somewhere. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58736 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58736 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:42:20 -0600 I won't get in to the whole "Guard stay home Reserves deploy" deploy argument. Thats been around for a long time. I look at it both ways. If you receive Federal money, at some point you have to give the devil his due. That being said I'd love to see the national Guard with a complete combat ROE between us a Mexico...but thats just me. I will say were it not for the Guard in Bosnia, we Active and Reserves would have been stretched to the limit, especially those folks in combat support positions. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58724 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58724 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:28:48 -0600 So the Coast Guard should not have been capturing Nazi warships off Greenland and Iceland in 1942? There are Coasties deployed to Iraq right now. I understand that it'd be simpler to have the name depict the specific role, but it's just not the case. And had that been all the Guard were for, I'd not have joined. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58721 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58721 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 05:01:54 -0600 It's not that I'm behind the times... I just want the NATIONAL Guard to do just that- GUARD my nation. I just believe that the Reserve should backing up the regular Army, not the Guard. Just like the Coast Guard guards our water, I believe the National Guard should guard our land. (yeah. that's coming from a Reservist's family.)\\ That being said... please do come back safe, RTO, and please comment here again. The Castle needs a new Man in the 'Stan! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58714 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58714 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:52:08 -0600 RTO. You take care of yourself, man. Come back in one piece; of sound mind, body, and spirit(and as many others as you think you can help, please). HL. How bad, if you can say, is the refresher going to be? How many corners are being cut, and will those cuts really impact the survival skills(like lifesaving, and such). Cultural acclimitization seems to me to be an on the ground thing anyway. I'm sure you're happy to be movin' on, but you being a Friend of The Castle we knew people were in good hands. I hope your replacement is as dedicated. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58711 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58711 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:30:17 -0600 BTW-that one year total mobilization time means they'll only actually be in theater for 9-10 months. Here in AC/RC land, we're still trying to figure out how to jam what used to be 84 days worth of training into 45. Some of it will get done during weekend drills, and it looks like we'll pretty much take over and run their AT immediately prior to the mob time, but collective stuff at much higher than squad level is really tough for them to do. We'll see. Of course, I'll be out of here before this takes effect. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58701 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58701 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:18:57 -0600 AF Sister; You're about a century behind the times. Since 1903 and the Dick Act and 1914 and teh National Guard Act, we've had the Federal mission as a reserve component of the Army (or Air Force). I'm writing from Kabul and a member of the 45th. I've been told that they won't be making us, currently deployed, go on this one, but I'm starting to think about volunteering. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58692 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58692 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:20:04 -0600 I wondered if we might not hear from you two on the subject. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58690 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58690 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:06:17 -0600 Yeah, the 76th. Them's local boys around here. They've taken pride in being one of the first NG units sent to Iraq and are, according to channel 56, a little mixed feeling about this deployment. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58686 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58686 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:54:32 -0600 I really don't like NG being sent abroad. They're supposed to be our hometown defenders. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58685 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/dod_announces_t.html#comment-58685 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:40:02 -0600