Book suggestion...

[IEDmagnet]

During a thread the other day, a few comments were made about the changes in the National Guard. I didn't take them as derogatory, and don't believe anyone would, but it has sparked this memory.

I read a book called "The Devil's Sandbox". Can't recall the author right now, and my copy has been loaned out, but the book follows the Oregon National Guard through a deployment during the Madhi Militia days. I strongly recommend this book, especially to the old timers that observed the Guard in it's days of weekend warrior and where do we pack the beer periods.

Having served in both the Active Component and Guard, and done both of my deployments as Title 10 Guard (and now my retirement) I have seen the transformation ARNG has made since September of 2001.

There are still some units that can't get there shit together, but the majority of them are stacked to the gills with Prior Service and operate as such. My last unit, B-1-118 was run by a Guard borne CO and Top that I'd have followed anywhere. The XO on the other hand was a PS Officer in the Ranger Regiment... a flipping Doctor in the civilian world that had left Active Duty and the 75th to continue college. Stayed infantry and deployed with us. Every single NCO in the company was Prior Service, and a lot of us were working our second or greater deployment as NCOs in leadership positions.

I guess my point is the Guard is no longer where you go to evade war, quite the opposite as the Guard has a monopoly on Reserve Combat Arms units. Just read the book, it'll show what these Citizen Soldiers are doing daily.

"The Devil's Sandbox" by John R. Bruning (google-fu is strong tonight)

[david1833]

You can't compare the ARNG to what it was 10 years ago. These citizen soldiers kick ass with only about 40 days training a year.

[mphellon]

As the active duty branches continue to draw down the Guard and Reserves will serve an ever increasing role in future operations.

[Purple]

This is a well thought-out initiative which began with the post-GW1 and fall of the former Soviet Union restructuring/drawdown and "Fight, Hold, Fight" strategy developments (1992-1993) which call for a smaller active force of primarily CA actively supported by a more professional Reserve (CS/CSS) and Guard (CA).

And so it goes...

Purple