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12-09-2009, 18:43

Not that many years ago AD and NG did not see eye to eye. Not at the troop level, but from Command to Command. The SF NG wanted to participate in Panama, (89), but were not asked. Select 18D, 18E were asked to go, one SF NG LTC told Ft. Bragg - "take us all or none of us". Ft. Bragg said, O.K., you can stay home.

Less than two years later, Desert Storm arrived, once again AD told NG, they could sit that one out as well.

I witnessed NG SF personnel loading duffle bags onto a bus for an MI and Water Teams deploying to Kuwait, Jan. 1991. I believe this was in part for "payback" of not putting the needs of the Army first. I can appreciate a Cdr fighting for his unit, but I also see how he failed in not supporting command.

Personal politics of two LTC Cdrs, who went to the "Q" together, both West Point "ring knockers" - (Asses), who hated each other for some unkown, stupid reason going all the way back to the academy. One AD, the other NG. So many of us felt betrayed by our own SF leaders. They had put personal interests before their teams. Some got out because of it, others went active duty.

It's been twenty years since Panama, or the heavy work loads of 7th group prior to the invasion. To some, that a "career ago" long endeavour.

It has only been because of 9/11 and following world wide missions, that the NG has been used. Finally, the AD command has a tremendous amount of respect for the NG troops. They have filled many gaps in the GWOT. NG makes up 1/3 of the total SF strength.

I served a few years in the guard. Our particular company had (8) deployments in a 12 month period. We were as busy as our fellow AD counter parts. In fact, we had it even better than the AD teams. We never got caught in that "Red, Green, Amber" rotation support crap. If you were an 18D or 18E, you stood a good chance of being gone alot if you wanted.

Now the guard is a haven for those who are tired of the endless deployments. One TM SGT recently told me, I get to see my kids more. Another has said, "maybe I can finish school", the examples are many.

As for the two LTC Cdrs., gone, forgotten by most. After all this time, I can still "smell bad decision making" from a long way out.

Whatever you choose, listen to your brothers.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

WD

12-09-2009, 18:43	#7
wet dog Guest Posts: n/a	Not that many years ago AD and NG did not see eye to eye. Not at the troop level, but from Command to Command. The SF NG wanted to participate in Panama, (89), but were not asked. Select 18D, 18E were asked to go, one SF NG LTC told Ft. Bragg - "take us all or none of us". Ft. Bragg said, O.K., you can stay home. Less than two years later, Desert Storm arrived, once again AD told NG, they could sit that one out as well. I witnessed NG SF personnel loading duffle bags onto a bus for an MI and Water Teams deploying to Kuwait, Jan. 1991. I believe this was in part for "payback" of not putting the needs of the Army first. I can appreciate a Cdr fighting for his unit, but I also see how he failed in not supporting command. Personal politics of two LTC Cdrs, who went to the "Q" together, both West Point "ring knockers" - (Asses), who hated each other for some unkown, stupid reason going all the way back to the academy. One AD, the other NG. So many of us felt betrayed by our own SF leaders. They had put personal interests before their teams. Some got out because of it, others went active duty. It's been twenty years since Panama, or the heavy work loads of 7th group prior to the invasion. To some, that a "career ago" long endeavour. It has only been because of 9/11 and following world wide missions, that the NG has been used. Finally, the AD command has a tremendous amount of respect for the NG troops. They have filled many gaps in the GWOT. NG makes up 1/3 of the total SF strength. I served a few years in the guard. Our particular company had (8) deployments in a 12 month period. We were as busy as our fellow AD counter parts. In fact, we had it even better than the AD teams. We never got caught in that "Red, Green, Amber" rotation support crap. If you were an 18D or 18E, you stood a good chance of being gone alot if you wanted. Now the guard is a haven for those who are tired of the endless deployments. One TM SGT recently told me, I get to see my kids more. Another has said, "maybe I can finish school", the examples are many. As for the two LTC Cdrs., gone, forgotten by most. After all this time, I can still "smell bad decision making" from a long way out. Whatever you choose, listen to your brothers. I'm sure you'll be fine. WD