Un-Able Danger?

There was a news report in the Chicago Tribune yesterday about how the National Guard is short of vital equipment here at home because most of it was left over in Iraq. "Overall, the Guard has only 34 percent of the equipment it is supposed to have, according to Guard officials and the GAO numbers. Congress has approved about $23 billion for the Guard over the next six years, most of which will go to replace equipment. But many of the governors, as well as Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard bureau, have said it will take at least double that amount to effectively re-outfit the badly cannibalized force." Here are a few facts about the ARMY National Guard that most people don't know... Two of seven Special Forces Groups are in the Army National Guard. 50% of the Army's Infantry Battalions are in the Army National Guard. 51% of the Army's Armored Battalions are in the Army National Guard. 33% of the Army's Armored Cavalry Regiments are in the Army National Guard. 62% of the Army's Field Artillery Battalions are in the Army National Guard. 49% of the Army's Air Defense Artillery assets are in the Army National Guard. 49% of the Army's Mechanized Infantry forces are in the Army National Guard. 50% of the Army's Combat Engineers are in the Army National Guard. 59% of the Army's Medium Helicopter Companies are in the Army National Guard. It's high time that the National Guard got the same attention and respect as the 'regular' services. After all, they get sent to the same wars, serve longer tours of duty, and can just killed just as dead as any regular ARMY soldier, Marine, NAVY or Air Force member serving their country. You can find out more about the ARMY National Guard by visiting the National Guard Website