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From: drn@pinet.aip.org (donald_newcomb)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: National Guard: Not ready or sandbagged?
Message-ID: <1991Feb7.015334.3310@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 7 Feb 91 01:53:34 GMT
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From: drn@pinet.aip.org (donald_newcomb)

  There has been some recent play in the media about how the
National Guard wasn't ready for war and had to be shipped off to
Ft. Irwin to be trained before going to the PG. This has caused a
great deal of reflection about the Total Force concept and how
well it will apply in the future.  The old question, "Should the
Regular Army be strengthened at the expense of the NG?," is being
asked, once again.
  I can tell you that the higher-ups in the MS-NG were absolutely
livid! The 155th Mechanized (1st Mississippi) Infantry scored higher
than regular units in their readiness tests. They just got back from
Ft. Irwin; what was it that the Army forgot to teach them when they
were there?
  There is a lot of historical, anecdotal evidence of the
Regulars sandbagging the NG to prove that they can't do the job.
This is especially true in the dog-eat-dog world of field and
general grade officers, where the Army has often called up
reserve units and replaced their officers with Regulars or broken
the units up to use as replacements.
  What are the FACTS? Does anyone have the readiness figures for
NG roundout units? How many NG field & general grade officers
have been called up? How many left behind? What is the source of
these reports about the NG?

Please reply directly to this mailbox. I will post a synopsis of
the replies.

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| Donald R. Newcomb                   | Disclaimer: These are my opinions|
| (601) 863-2235                      | and I disclaim nothing because I |
| drn@pinet.aip.org (new)             | pay for this mailbox.            |
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