Now this is a fine story! “It feels really weird to say my mom is in Afghanistan,” Capt. Nance [VMI '06] said.” I bet. But the family that slays together, stays together! Good luck to all of them.
“Virginia Guard mom, [VMI] Marine Corps son reunite at Kandahar Airfield”
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One of the Problems With the National Guard`
Having served in the National Guard in Virginia I well know of the problems with holding people accountable for their actions. In one unit I served, we had a Master Sergeant who we had credible evidence that he was a member of the Klan, yet we could not get rid of him. When I tried to get rid of him because of his P3 profile arguing that in a Light Infantry Unit he could not do his job I was told to rewrite the NCOER, I refused and it was rewritten by the Battalion Commander. The NCO would be alive [...]
Stray Voltage
I am really going to piss some people off with my comments today; so be it! It appears that Congress has knuckled under to the most ruthless lobbying organization in our nation, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) and are going to approve a provision that the Chief of the National Guard Bureau become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A lesser known provision calls for the Army and Air Force to appoint National Guard Officers as the Commander of Army North and Air Force North; both of which are currently commanded by a Lieutenant [...]
Gives New Meaning to Being a Five Year Man!!!!!!
Five Year men are a reality at VMI; for those who are not graduates they are Cadets who for academic, disciplinary, or other reasons do not graduate with their class and end up graduating with a class who matriculated after they did. This article in the RTD gives new meaning to the term Five Year Man. Not sure I could do what these three have done!
Something is rotten in the California National Guard
From today’s Sacramento Bee allegations of fraud and impropriety within the California Army National Guard. http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/10/3093093/massive-guard-fraud-alleged.html. I have to wonder whether the United States Property and Financial Officer (USPFO)was doing his job. The USPFO as it called in the Guard is a National Guard Officer in a Title 10 status who is responsible for the accountability of all Federal Property and Funds in each State National Guard.
"Home from Iraq, Safe and Sound"
Great news out of the Old Dominion– “The best part: Everyone came back. No Virginia Guard members were killed or injured during the 229th’s tour, Lt. Scott Campbell said. “”It’s like a miracle. It’s like a blessing to have him back,” said Jessica Downing of Roanoke, who’d come to greet her nephew, Cpl. David Downing, a 24-year-old who has twice interrupted studies at Virginia Military Institute to deploy overseas. “The 229th is based in Virginia Beach, and most of the unit’s members ended their deployment there Thursday. But 37 reservists from Western Virginia rode to Patrick Henry, where they walked [...]
1200 Guardsmen? Not So Fast…
I suppose you could say it was the thought that counted. Except thoughts don’t cut it. “The 1,200 National Guard troops President Obama is dispatching to the U.S.-Mexico border will provide intelligence, reconnaissance and other “back office” support, but one thing they won’t be doing is helping a beleaguered Border Patrol and local law enforcement nab illegal immigrants and smugglers flowing into Arizona. “Speaking at a press conference in the White House East Room Thursday, the president said the Guard won’t be on the front lines but will be offering vital support roles. “”What we find is, is that National [...]
1200 Guardsmen to the Border
“Obama to send more National Guard troops to U.S.-Mexico border:” “President Obama will deploy an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to the southern border and request $500 million in extra money for border security, according to an administration official. The decision comes as the White House is seeking Republican support for broad immigration reform this year. “The official said the new resources would provide “immediate enhancement” to the border even as the Obama administration continues to “work with Congress to fix our broken immigration system through comprehensive reform, which would provide lasting and dedicated resources by which to secure our [...]
Unfinished Business
A few random items for this beautiful May Friday. 1. Three for three: Petty Officer McCabe has been acquitted of slugging some boy-fucking murderer. Should have got a medal instead. (2004ROTCGrad, that’s for you, since I know you were wondering when we’d post on it.) 2. Speaking of slugging, I spent some quality range time today with MDL and a couple other Marines. I screwed the short barrel onto “Sluggo The 870″ and let fly a few. With 3-inch 12-gauge slugs, a few is enough. All in all a hell of a lot of fun. Doc H and I bought [...]
Kent State
Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Kent State shooting. An interesting article in the Washington Times hints at a new angle: “Now largely forgotten, the torching of the ROTC building was the true precursor to the killings at Kent State because it triggered the deployment of the National Guard to the fevered campus. “That deployment climaxed in bloodshed on the afternoon of May 4, 1970, with the guardsmen, clad in gas masks and confronted by angry, rock-throwing students, firing their M-1 rifles 67 times in 13 seconds, killing Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Knox Schroeder… “Yet [...]
