Would Border Patrol or National Guard be better to join?
How about both since the National Guard has a new enlistment option now for that. I saw it on a brochure at drill.
National Guard does not deploy and will never deploy?
It's annoying because I'm in the National Guard and it really is one weekend a month and two weeks out of the year; and that's it! I was told this information when I signed up of course but now that I went through basic training and AIT I kind of wanted to do more. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. Active duty army is downsizing, National Guard and reserves are not going to deploy overseas or within the country anytime soon (years), and I'm not even sure what the marines are doing now that the war is winding down. My question is: Does anyone think that war has officially ended and there won't be any occurrences for a few decades (just like after World War 1 there was no war for decades up until 1945)? I feel like I'm not doing much being in the National Guard right now. It's paying for schooling but I don't even like school. I know a lot of people are going to ask why did I join the National Guard to begin with in the first place but I have a different mindset now than before when I first signed up to join. Anyway, do you guys think war is officially over now that we're in the new millennia? No more wars? It's completely over? All of it? Or no....?
How often does the National Guard get deployed for active duty?
I just retired from the Texas Army National Guard last year with over 30 years of service. Contrary to what others have said on this post. If you want to “Go to the sandbox”, you only have to volunteer. I was mobilized and deployed for 4 “long” (12 month) deployments with two in Iraq. I also went to Iraq for a three month tour, a 6 week visit and a month in Kuwait. This does not count a lot of time mobilized to train up, support training and prepare other units and planning. When My Boys were 10 years old, I had spent half of their lives mobilized.Your Guard unit may only deploy every three to five years, but the Soldiers are often transferred to deploying units. During the height of the war Soldiers were often deployed every other year. If you want to go. Just volunteer to join a unit that is deploying. Your MOS can determine how badly they need you, but there are a lot of generic Soldiers needed by every unit. After you do your first deployment, there is a lot less pressure to go on more deployments, but it is offered as an option.Don’t misunderstand. If the unit needs you and your specialty, they will mobilize and deploy you. It is what you agreed to in your oath.
Iraq is Smaller than Texas in Area and Population - and we can't Get it under control?
I've been making this argument for years now. Everyone acts like Iraq is so big and that's why the biggest army in the world can't get it under control. That's a lie. It's a VERY small country with a VERY small population. We can't get it under control because they don't understand democracy and probably never will.
If Texas seceeded would they actually have any military force?
In point of fact if Texas should revert to an independent republic, they would have a very powerful military force.While the National Guard is federal, it is also very much made up by Texans. Like the 1860's most of the locals will remain true to their Lone Star State. Then there is the active duty component. Estimates show that nearly 15% of the Active duty military enlisted from Texas. A significant portion of them would be released (or release themselves) to return to their home state. On top of that many, especially those who own their own quarters, from the active duty component assigned to Texas, will opt to defend their adopted state against the failing federal government.Of course that is just my extremely well educated and informed opinion. Your mileage may vary.
How many troops would it take to guard the US/Mexico border?
First, let's make something very very clear. For America to secure its southern border (or any border for that matter), the absolute primary requirement is having the national will to do so. The visible absence of such will, more than anything else, has created the porous border situation we are seeing today…or about 60 years of political and social indifference on the subject. Fact! Until Trump, each of the previous TEN U.S. Presidents (five from each party if you're counting and each for their own reasons) have visibly failed to implement immigration laws on the books since FDR. Again, fact!The consequent tsunami of illegal immigration has added more than 20M uninvited “guests" into the nation, creating enormous economic, hygenic, political and social issues that have NOT been resolved. It's a complete mess! There is, at this time, NO national consensus on the subject, no national will to end this tsunami once and for all.The previous President openly recommended that illegal aliens actually vote in the 2016 Presidential election. Fact!!! President Trump's efforts to finally enthusiastically implement immigration laws that have been in place for 70+ years is being criticized loudly by oppositional political enemies sworn to defend the very Constitution they're ignoring in the name of party politics. It is what it is. Sad but true! On those terms, deployment of serious military forces to the Mexican border will be portrayed NOT as an enforcement of U.S. national sovereignty, but as political gamesmanship.
ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, 19 yr. old (female non-violent) pre-med student. Bad idea??
There's truly no rational explanation why I'm even considering this, But, I'm considering joining the (IN) Army National Guard. I'm 19 & in my first year as a pre-med student. That means I have 4-8 years of college ahead of me if all goes as planned. I'm also a peaceful, strong-minded, stubborn, art student. Basically I'm the last person I'd ever picture in the army. I'm going to talk to a recruiter tomorrow. Here's the deal: I DON'T THINK I COULD FIGHT unless it were HERE in the States, protecting the homeland. Or even protecting other innocents. But what's going on in Iraq?! I don't know about that. In addition, I want to finish school un-interrupted! I'm terrified of dying. Definitely don't want that. & not sure I can handle a 12 month deployment. Yet, I want to be an active part of this country in more ways than politics. I don't want to be useless if something were to happen. Please anyone with true Army NG knowledge, please let me know if you think this is the worst idea ever!
What are these folks? TN state guard?
I attended a troop appreciation day today, for the Army National Guard, and there were some people directing traffic that I've never seen before. They wore the old style BDU uniform, with army insignia, but rather than having the normal patches, their uniform said "TN state guard" and they had a tennessee flag patch on their shoulder. When I asked one of them what they were, he said that the state guard is different than the national guard, but they work with them sometimes and use their facilities sometimes. They're all volunteer (not paid), and they all looked pretty old. So who are these folks, or what are they may be a better question. Are they some type of militia, or civic organization, or some type of vet association? The guy said that they're an unarmed force-multiplier of the national guard. Are they something like the Texas "minute men" that help with border security? Any ideas? I've never heard of them before. The one guy said that they were under the authority of the military department of TN, and under the command of the state Governor.