Our military is a strong and proud body. Our country's finest men and women serve in a military that is superior to any in the world. The military branches though are just like sports teams: everyone has a favorite. Either you're in that branch, you know someone in that branch, you've heard stories through the grapevine about a particular branch, your favorite movie/book is about a certain branch...the list goes on as to why someone thinks the Navy is better than the Marines, etc. While the National Guard isn't a branch per se, it is a component of the military and one that doesn't seem to have many fans in the stands.
Stonewall will be the first to tell you that when he was selected for National Guard instead of active duty right out of college, he didn't exactly jump for joy. After all, most of the glory stories, fiction and non-fiction, involve active duty. And I think a great many Americans think active duty is the "real Army," while National Guard is for those who just can't cut it otherwise.
They would be wrong.
The greatest military in the world began with the National Guard. At the time it was called the Militia and was responsible for protecting the colonies. The National Guard is the oldest component of the US military and even pre-dates the founding of the United States of America having celebrated it 370th birthday on December 13, 2006. (And if history isn't you're forte, that would mean it was the National Guard that won us the Revolutionary War, hence the independence of America and brand new country.) You can't have a strong house able to withstand the rains and winds if you don't have a strong foundation. The National Guard is our military's foundation. Our superiority was built on those who protect the homefront.
Its also important to remember that while our Guardsmen stand ready for a national disaster, they also deploy overseas. During WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc., the National Guard has been called upon to go all over the world. Our entire military is comprised of the best trained soldiers and overseas they all stand and fight side-by-side protecting the same country that all vowed to protect and honor.
As for Stonewall, he was sent to Katrina with his National Guard unit following OBC. He was also hand-picked out of hundreds of soldiers, active-duty included, for a deployment with Special Forces. A honor he probably wouldn't have recieved if he had been active duty and already going overseas with another unit. Now he gets requests from newly commissioned officers to join his NG unit, as well as requests from older enlisted soldiers who want to transfer to his unit because they want to serve under him.
The National Guard will probably continue to be one of the least cheered on "teams" of the military. I can't even think of one hollywood movie that revolves around the National Guard. For those of you out there that smirk and turn your nose up at the National Guard, just remember, that when the "real Army" is deployed (and even when they're not), its the National Guard that's here at home protecting your ass.
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32 comments:
This was a great moral boost for this National Guard wife...sometimes I can just hear the "jokes" when I tell someone my husband is in the guard.
I think that was wonderful! BUT! Let's not forget that they ANG tend to make themselves out to more than what they are! Maybe if they just toned it down a bit and didn't try to make it out like they are active duty they wouldn't have the reputation they have? Active duty is working 24/7 and have to stand tall in any conditions. And live under constant rules and instruction. They don't get to go home overnight or catch the latest movie that just came out, or have the ability to go to family functions like birthday party's and graduations. No they are deployed around the world and at home (just not there home) and they don't work just one weekend a month.
God Bless ALL that serve!
Anon~
Thanks for reading and commenting, but you are very mistaken about the ANG. They work just as hard as active duty soldiers and they too are deployed all over the world. In fact, a very large portion of PAANG just left for deployment in Iraq and all of the other states have sent their ANG soldiers around the world. There are also many ANG soldiers that while they are considered NG, they serve full-time. My husband is one of them. Everyday he puts on his uniform and goes to the base and works for the ANG, 24/7. Like many active duty wives, I've been awoken in the middle of the night because he's receiving a telephone call from the Army or my husband has had to miss a family event because of the NG. As for other ANG soldiers, their "one weekend a month" isn't an arrive on Saturday and leave on Sunday kind of deal. Many times for them the weekend starts on Thursday and doesn't end until 9:00PM on Sunday. While their civilian employers must give them time off for the NG, many require them to use their vacation time or their employer won't pay them for that time, which is legal, but it doesn't make it easy for these soldiers. Since they are NG they don't accrue leave like active duty, yet they use all their vacation time from their civilian careers, working for the Army, so no vacation time with their families. You try working 2 jobs and having to constantly explain to your one boss why you have to miss so much work for your second job. As for family functions, my husband and I will be married 2 years in March and we will not have spent a single anniversary together. He will miss the birth of his first child as well as all the firsts that many civilian fathers get to witness. I know other NG soldiers who will be missing these events, as well as having missed hundreds of other family events.
You obviously have no experience with the ANG because if you did, you would know you are 100% completely wrong. And it's because of people like you, that the ANG has the attitude that you feel they need to tone down. And on top of that, I know ANG soldiers who are better trained and could run circles in a PT test around your active duty soldiers.
Thanks for this! I am an ANG wife, and it can be so challenging having to switch back and forth from "civilian life" to "army life".
Thanks again for this awesome post.
I'm an ARNG fiancee soon to be wife and I wanted to say thank you for this blog. The men and women in the ARNG are looked down upon and seen as "weekend warriors" but so many are being deployed VOLUNTARILY and non-voluntarily overseas but they are suppose to keep the home front safe. In 93 we had a horrible flood where I'm from and who was to the rescue? not the Army, not the Navy, not the Marines or Coast Guard, it was the Army National Guard who not only deploys overseas but helps with disaster relief as well. My fiance is in AIT right now and he has been training with regular active Army and they do the exact same things as active. ARNG guys are mixed with active Army guys and the only time they can tell the difference is when they get asked whether they are Army, reserves, or ARNG. So thank you for this post. HOOAH!
I know I'm extremely late in reading this, but I'm glad you posted it! One thing that ticks me off is when people call them weekend warriors. They do just as much as full time soldiers. My husband has already had 3 deployments, and next year will be the 4th!! There isn't no weekends to it!!
But anyways, great job =}
I was so happy to find this blog!
Let me just say that my husband signed up almost a year ago and he has been gone a lot more than just a weekend here and there. At the end of this month he is leaving for a year!
When he is home, he is at his other job. We have been trying to go out and spend time together before he leaves and he is exhausted! He even fell asleep at the baseball game!
I'm pretty sure the only time it is really "one weekend a month" is up until you sign your name on the dotted line!
If anyone has some advice on how to handle the time apart I would so appreciate it. My husband just joined ANG and he leaves in August for 4 months and I'm so happy for him but all I want to do is cry cuz he will be gone. I feel pathetic. I'm usually quite independent but all of a sudden I got this feeling of panic like who is gonna cook dinner and hook me up with tp when i run out. What is my roll in all this?
The national guard is a joke. This article opened up my eyes it is the guard protecting the homeland, now i am afraid.
5/7 Anon~
You think the NG is a joke, yet you had no idea until reading this post that it was the NG that was "protecting the homeland?" How intelligent you must be to be able to make the assumption you do without even knowing the Guard's most basic function.
And next time you want to bash any branch/component of the military, grow some balls and use a real name instead of being a coward and hiding behind "Anonymous."
Thanks for reading, please, don't come back again :)
why do you consider the national guard a joke?they deploy before full time army.they are the first ones in combat.my husband joined a little over a year ago.hes been gone alot more than weekends.i am very proud of him i consider him and all ANG heroes,as well as all of our military soldiers.no matter what branch.
The majority of national guard units are a joke, whether they deploy or not. Most soldiers are overweight, unable to pass the minimum score required on an APFT. Most received their rank through the good ole boy system that the guard is infamous for. Most guard soldiers are unemployed, or bounce from job to job. Those that are employed do not have careers, just jobs, such as stocking shelves at Pep Boys. It always amazed me to see alleged senior NCO's in the guard that were overweight, out of shape. When you talked to them it only took a few moments to realize that they need the guard to feel important about themselves because in the real world they are non factors. I base my comments after interacting with soldiers from various states national guard units, so my experience isn't generic to just one state's unit. Poll your loved one's unit (don't just rely on asking him, he will lie) once and find out for yourself how many meet height and weight, and what the AVERAGE score on the APFT is, also find out how many actually have careers in the real world.
Most Recent Anon~
Like all the other Anonymous commentors before you, I don't give a s#!t what you think.. If your comment is based on fact, as you like to claim, then you should not be so afraid to post a comment using your real name rather than hiding like a pussy behind the name "Anonymous."
I have a little experiment for you - I bet if you ask blog writers they will tell you that Anonymous commenters are, on average, cowardly assholes.
I don't need your opinion on National Guardsmen. Next time keep it to yourself because, overweight or not, they have more balls (even the women) than you'll ever have.
AWESOME post! And way to keep it classy when responding to anon!
I'm a wife of a deployed ANG..and he kicks ass! He as well as his unit are all buff men and women in Iraq! They put up with all the comments and BS Jokes with ease, they dont give a damn what anyone thinks, they are over there doing their jobs and just trien to make it day to day to come home safely! Anyone who jokes or talks shit bout them,just have no idea how hard it is, to go back and forth tween home and their posts..thats total BS bout one weekend a month, since my husband has been in he has had @ least 2 weeks a month every month busy right up until 3 months b4 he deployed. He is doing another deployment...I have a close friend in what he calls "The Real Army" (As a joke) who deployed for 13 months and came home 5 times during that deployment.He had a shorter deployment and had way more down time...But My husband came home for 12 days and thats it! He works his ass off and im proud of him! Im not hate'n on the "Real Army" im just saying my hubby and his unit work just as hard if not harder then anyone else! And people should really just respect everyone the same and quit judging people..thats one of the reasons there is so much Hate in the world these days, no one bothers to find the truth before they open their mouths! Which is why i have the best fav quote ever "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, some just stink worse then others"!
My name is Lora Lea & I am proudly married to my ANG soldier who is ACTIVE and DEPLOYED for the 2nd time. He has been in the NG for 22 years. He also has been EMPLOYED FULL TIME as a FIREFIGHTER and a PARAMEDIC saving sorry asses like Anon for the past 15 years. He has served the state of Florida in 5 Hurricane State of Emergencys & Florida Wildfires. ALL of his men are in top shape & all, including my Husband, could easily clean the floor with a coward such as yourself...Anon. I support ALL of this Great country's military. I have a nephew in the Navy, 2 nephews in the Army & one of my sons will be going into the Marines. Now Anon, why dont you take your hateful heart (because you cant support anyone other than yourself...if you can even do that) & go make up your own blog about your useless opinions. Which all of our Heros (men & women) put thier neck on the line every day so hosebags like yourself has the right to demean them...without being arrested, shot on site or put into prison for the rest of your life. Thanks to all branches of our military we can sleep in peace.
I appreciate all the work every service man and woman does. However, here's the thing that NG spouses lack: DISCRETION. The constant updates on what their weekend warrior is doing, the false sense of keeping the home fires burning the 48 hours a month that their spouse is gone. Where in the actual military world, we go months, sometimes years without seeing our husbands. Hell, I can't even tell you where mine is right now. But ask a NG wife what mediocrity her husband has achieved lately, and they'll give you an earfull. It's insensitive, tacky, and unwarranted. While the lot of you NG wives keep himming and hawing to the whole world about what a great serviceman your husband is, us real military wives are maintaining a quiet, composed, and vigilant watch over our immediate families in the COMPLETE ABSENCE of our loved ones. Thanks for the service, but remember their are others out their making real sacrifices all while doing so more discreetly and dignified.
Stop referring to yourself as "army wife" as well. It's insulting to actual women who struggle to keep everything in balance while their husbands are out there fighting full time in undisclosed locations. Shame on you and your unwarranted self-importance.
So Anon, I see you are still a coward...why not use a "Real Army Wife" name. You are a disgusting example of a "Real Army Wife". For you to put down other wives, no matter what their husbands do for our Country is a joke. Do you really think you are so much better than the rest of us? Give me a break. You are not dealing with your "Army life" in silence & with dignity. Gee, Im pretty sure that during my Husband's 12 MONTH deployment I am here trying to balance my life, children, house, work, etc....just the same as YOU. Shame goes to you for not being a grown woman & acknowleding others for their lives. The moment you try to make other people feel bad for their lives just makes you a sad human being. I would never tell any person on earth that what they are going through is less important then what I am dealing with. I pray that one day you are less judgemental. If you are a true Patriot you would not minimize any Soldier that is out risking their lives for the good of OUR country. I AM A PROUD ARMY WIFE. I will continue to call myself an ARMY Wife. I will continue to support my nieces who are married to my nephews who are living on Army bases. I will continue to support my ARMY National Guard little sisters whose husbands are OVERSEAS. They are DEPLOYED in WAR ZONES & throughout the WORLD. Do I make fun of other wives because their husbands havent been deployed yet, their husbands dont wear that patch on their right arm, their husbands dont leave their duty stations on US soil? No, I support ALL of our soldiers, their wives/girlfriends/fiances & their families. I am a PROUD US Citizen, a PROUD Patriot that flies our American Flag everyday, who PROUDLY shares her love & support to people I dont know,just to make their time apart from their loved one a tiny bit bearable. Take your hatred & close minded self and grow up. Learn how to be sympathetic & empathetic to others. You could do so much more good on this earth supporting others & not putting them down. Good Luck
Dear ProudADNGWife,
Thank you!! You rock! Thank you to your husband for his service and to you for your service as an Army wife :)
Dear 7/17/10 Anon~
I'm confused...you call your comment you being "quiet and composed"? Honey, you may be a "real" army wife, but at least we "fake" army wives know the definitions of those words and you most definitely are not those things. Maybe you should look up the word "discretion" and come back when you know how to use it properly. Apparently, you don't read much because if you did you would know that my husband has, so far, served two tours overseas, plus one here in the US in his short time in the Army. Yes, the Army, not just National Guard. Plus, thousands of other National Guardsmen have joined him as being among those who have served overseas.
YOU, my dear, are a disgrace too all military wives and proud American citizens with your attitude.
By the way, you don't like what I call myself, stop wasting your time reading my blog and spreading nastiness in my comments section. Don't let the proverbial door hit you in the fat ass on the way out.
Buh-bye now.
Lots of love,
(ARMY) WIFE
PS. Is it easy being a coward and hiding behind the name "Anonymous?" Are you this much of a pussy in real life or just on blogs that belong to real Army wives like myself?
Wow...
My husband is in the Army; my brother is in the Reserves (which people tend to throw in with the "insert joke here" group).
Both will spend this year fighting overseas.
As a milspouse of an active duty guy, there are definite challenges and huge differences than the experiences I would have with a husband that mostly lived in the civilian world. (The fact that they can show up unannounced to check my house for cleanliness, claiming it's my husband's "room inspection", being a typical frustration.)
However, seeing my brother go through the Reserves option, I have a lot of respect for anyone balancing between military and civilian lives. He works as a mechanic during the week and as a medic attached to a marine unit during the time spent training.
One person I love is watching the skies over Iran; another will be trying to save lives on the ground in Afghanistan.
To those wives (and they know who they are) who try to create drama and play up their "army wife" status- get off your power trip. The fact that YOUR HUSBAND is in the army doesn't make YOU a martyr. Quit bitching.
Much love!
C
Great post! I am the wife of a 21 year Army Reserve/ANG/ARNG veteran and no one can tell me that men who can do the same job just as well as active duty guys but on one weekend a month and a few weeks in the summer are a joke!
And another thing. My husband has never deployed in the CONUS. He has, however, deployed 7 times overseas.
Each situation - active or guard/reserves - has its challenges, but we're on the same team, aren't we?!
To all those who think that the National Guard is not the "Real" Army; when our husbands are deployed and being shot at, are the bullets any less "real"? What about the National Guard soldiers who have given their lives, do you not consider them "real" soldiers either?
One person was correct in that many NG soldiers don't have the best careers outside the military. Ever stop and think WHY? It can be very hard to maintain a career when you have to take time off all the time for what is NOT just "one weekend a month". AT, PMT, ASI schools, deployments, tend to make an employer rethink your career. Sure, it's illegal to fire someone for being in the military, that doesn't mean they can't come up with any other reason they want.
And to the "Real" Army wife who posted as anonymous; You do realize, don't you, that NG soldiers are also deployed to combat zones? That their wives also go months, years without seeing them? When the "Real" Army is not deployed, they are home with you and the Army is their day to day job. How is that any different from an NG soldier with a regular job? They also go through the same basic training, and are held to the same fitness standards as AD.
So to all the previous and future posters who think the National Guard is a joke, tell us all, are the deployments, birthdays missed, bullets shot, and lives given, a JOKE to you?
-Tawnee, proud ARMY wife.
I'm shocked at some of these negative comments about the National Guard. Since 9/11, virtually every unit of the National Guard—a force the size of the entire active Army—has served on active duty for one or more of the deployments at home or abroad. Multiple deployments for many people in my circle. The National Guard is half of our Army...and, because they of cost-efficiencies, they make it possible to have a strong defense. Not to mention that most Guardsman hold down FT civilian careers AND serve their country.
Hooah! This is so great. I learned stuff I did to know about out NG. I am a proud NG wife.
...I'm sorry, but I started off in the NAtional Guard and did it for 6 months.. .I went active because it is definately a joke.. I don't even consider my time in service starting until active duty... so I have seen both worlds... and the NAtional Guard doesn't compare to the Active Army..... Not by a long shot.. and when they deploy.. they kinda mess things up alot.. like not Properly PCSing vehicles that shut down in the Middle of their "missions" and we have to teach them how to tox the vehicles.... And I'm a Medic..... just saying I shouldn't know more then them... but I do admire them serving their country at all.. when most don't... but that's it
I just came across this blog. I don't understand how someone can call themselves an "ARMY WIFE" when they are going to sit there and bad mouth another Military Division. I am PROUD to be a ANG wife!!! My husband use to be Active Duty Army as well, and I supported him then and I support him now that he is ANG.
ANON that wrote on July 17th, 2010...shame on you. It should not matter what part of the military any person is in. You should respect them and their wife. You are not a true Army Wife if you do not support other branches and divisions as well!
My husband comes and goes more now in the ANG than he ever did while he was in the Active Duty, PLUS he works a civilian job as well.
You stated in your July 17th, 2010 statement.."Thanks for the service, but remember their are others out their making real sacrifices all while doing so more discreetly and dignified." First, please start using the correct "there" in your sentences and second, here is the definition for "DISCREETLY" - judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature.
You are no where close to being a "dicreet" Army Wife, so shut the heck up and start being one. Our husbands as ANG fight just as well as yours, PLUS have civilian stuff they have to worry about. We come to this site for support from other Military/Army/ANG Wives, not to read your posts on how "low" our husbands are. You do not see any of us talking badly about the Army, do you know why? BECAUSE WE SUPPORT THE ARMY AS WELL AS THE OTHER BRANCHES!!! Because we are true Army Wives, we have respect for the men and women fighting for our country no matter what branch they are in!
To prove another point, even though I don't need to prove any point to you....The National Guard, the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation's longest-enduring institutions, celebrated its 370th birthday on December 13, 2006!
Last, but not least, God Bless ALL the men and women fighting for our freedom and safety. God Bless the Army, Marines, Air Force, Army National Guard, Navy, Coast Guard, ALL OF OUR ARMED FORCES. God Bless all of your husbands, brothers, sisters, wives, etc keep them safe...even yours ANON, because I support what your husband does.
**Proud National Guard Army Wife**
Yes, some members of the national Guard are lazy, overweight, unemployed and down right just pieces of s**t. Heres the thing. THATS NOT EVERY SOLIDER IN THE NG! Take myself for example. I've never scored below a 300 on a PT test. Quilfy expert on my weapons system. Honor Guard, deployed, the whole nine yards. Guess what, Im not the only squared away solider in the NG, but i can tell you this. While i was at MOB, ive seen some pretty messed up ACTIVE DUTY Soliders too. Over weight, lazy, down right pieces of s**t, just as worse as any other ate up solider in the national guard. Not every active duty solider is all high speed and squared away, and not every NG soldier is ate up and lazy. No, National guard units dont deploy as often as active duty, but when called, we responded. FORGIEN AND DOMESTIC!! So while your husbands are "HOOAH, HOOAH!!" over seas, and your life is so busy "being so hard, cause my husbands active duty,", youve got NG wives whose husbands are getting actived at a moments notice to responses like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, tsunamis, etc. Doesnt matter if they are getting married that day, or kids birthday party, big major promotion at a job, When called, they responded, to help sorry little low-life "my lifes better than yours cause my husbands active duty"(cry me a f'n river) attitude having, Active duty wives, and other people alike. No, not every unit in the National Guard unit/solider is as sweet as the 82rd Airborn, but not every active duty unit/solider is an all Captian America.
And here is an image about what deplyment life can be for a NG unit, for the few snoty prep "Active duty wives" who get to skype, talk on the phone, and have commuication with their "Super Active Duty Husbands" who cant quilfy on weapons and pass a PT Test like I can. Without complaint, I slept on a little cot, in a 8 capcity tent, with 12 other soliders on a COB for 8 months with no eletricity, no running water, no cell phone, no VIOPS, no Skype, nothing. 8 months theses NG wives feared the worse until a piece of paper showed up in their mail box, just hoping that DoD Stamped letter wasnt a death letter, while these BAMF Active duty units got wireless access to their computers and xboxes, talking on the phone, living in luxuary barracks, maybe once a week run a mission. Oh, im not done. Once back from deployment, have to go back to the same crappy economy, same crappy job they have, to deal with the same piece of s**T people who take freedom for granted, who dont have to lay awake at night hating their self cause "it should have been my truck the IED hit, not my buddies." Oh yes, stuff like that happens to National Guard soliders too. Any NG Soliders blood is just as RED and any other Active duty Soldier. No, NG doesnt always deal with that kind of stuff, but a few do. A few NG units go through worse than active duty, and sometimes vise versa So take one in the back end for all of those who think its all peacey in the NG during deployment. I encourage you to watch Baghdad ER, notice the men and women whos lives and limbs were lost, and pay attention to what componet they are in. Some of you will be surprised. Im not talking up the NG, im not saying every unit in NG is amazingly great, ive seen poorly trained NG soliders and even active duty soliders, but seen greatly trained on both ends as well. Just saying that there are some NG soliders that do work when deployed or just on a drill weekend. They can work just as hard as any other active duty solider can. As being on Honor Guard, I've buried all types of soliders. Active Duty, Nation Guard, Reserves, Medics, Cooks, Infantrey, even chaplins, Offices, Privates, young and old. Doesnt matter. We all fight for the same cause, blood has been shed from every componet. And if you your someone thats never served at least and can sit here and tell me that a loss of an Active Dutys soliders life is more meaningful than a NG soliders life or any other life for that matter, than I hope someone plants a bomb at the edge of your driveway and blows you up, makes CNN headlines, so I can come to your grave site, and pour the mighty yellow liqud of freedom, aka urinate, all over your senseless, meaningless grave, and hope that by some chance, it flows thru the dirt and into a puntrued hole in your casket and lands on your face. Proud of all the soliders that wear the uniform, Active duty, Reserves, NG. Doesnt matter.
I'm in the guard and trust me it's a joke they have lower standards then active. there's a reason extra large uniforms were introduced that was to the guard! I've been in many units and seen no integrity only people who want to get paid and look forward to being away from there signifcant other for a break. Thats the guard I believe you been seeing the dog and pony show DON'T BE DECIEVED BY IT. Trust me
7/10 Anon~
I can only assume you are one of the ones that need those extra large uniforms since it's apparent you don't give a sh*t. Well do those of us that do care a favor and just get out, so good officers and soldiers don't have to put up with your negative attitude while trying to do their jobs while sacrificing their time away from their families and civilian jobs.
Each time I used to always check blog posts within the first hours in the break of day, because I like to get information increasingly more.
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