The Toll on the Volunteers

The Armed Forces of this country are a volunteer force. We take a lot of pride in this.

The forces we put into harms way consist of primary force, and a secondary, National Guard.

It is this secondary force that has begun to concern many in the US. Sure we have had a lack of equipment and bodies to help with natural and manmade disasters these last few years, but the governors seemed to grit their teeth and smile. But the timescape and toll have grown.

CNN.com

Several governors told a top National Guard official Sunday they are concerned about the toll the Iraq war is taking on their state forces.

The governors said they were closely monitoring deployment of their troops, worn-out equipment and how ready they would be for domestic emergencies.

Forget readiness for a third or fourth war front. How about aid in the next blizzrds or massive forest fire.

Governors also hoped to persuade Congress to reverse a step taken last year in response to Hurricane Katrina that gave the president greater power to deploy troops for problems at home, a power previously reserved for the states' top leaders.

They want a restoration of state's rights. The Republicans snipped off a major state power? Shocking!

Several governors met privately on Sunday with Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

"There's a lot of concern about the resources already employed, manpower and equipment," said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat. "How much equipment have we sent abroad, how much has returned, how much is usable?"

In Virginia, many of the 5,500 Guard members have been deployed more than once since September 11, 2001, said Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat. "Obviously, that's a problem."

...

But GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota said the administration has been listening to the governors' concerns, and has promised to better handle deployments and equipment usage so that states aren't left short-handed.

"We just want to make sure the words and the actions match up," Pawlenty said.

Blum, before closing doors for his meeting with governors, said that he came to assure them that he shared their concerns about equipment and would work with Pentagon leaders so governors' needs would be met.

"We have not delivered on equipment. We owe them better than that," he said.

Last year, governors unsuccessfully fought the change in federal law that gave President Bush the power to federalize the Guard without governors' consent. Historically, governors have maintained control in domestic emergencies, while the president's control over the Guard was reserved for overseas demands.

Now, state leaders hope to persuade congressional leaders to reverse the change.

"I have very strong concerns about how the federal government might abuse that authority," said Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat.

"Montana's constitution is very clear. We can't have folks come in who are armed," said Gov. Brian Schweitzer, D-Montana. "We're simply not going to accept it."

Ah, Tim Pawlenty...ever the apple polisher. Yeah, he'll get things fixed.

And one can only hope that the now Democratic led Congress can push back and restore the powers to the governships. I can't think o f a good reason to leave this power in the White House's hands.


But let us skip back over to our primary force, obviously inclusing the US Army.

The pressure to move forces back into the field has meant curtailing, not only time at home with family and friends, it has meant curtailing training.

Rushed by President Bush's decision to reinforce Baghdad with thousands more U.S. troops, two Army combat brigades are skipping their usual session at the Army's premier training range in California and instead are making final preparations at their home bases....

Army officials say the two brigades will be as ready as any others that deploy to Iraq, even though they will not have the benefit of training in counterinsurgency tactics at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., which has been outfitted to simulate conditions in Iraq for units that are heading there on year-long tours.

So they have to miss out on counterinsurgency training, because they have to go back to Iraq to counter the insurgency.

Wow.