Article on ARNG Mobilization Policy

[matthew.ritchie]

Please read the article linked here (http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2007/04/041707-Mob_policy.aspx). It discusses the Secretary of Defense policy on all reserve component mobilizations (to include the Army National Guard).

It also mentions how that there are fewer than half the total number of mobilized reserve component service members today as there was in 2005.

[toooldforocs]

Sir,

I just read that article about Guard mobilizations. I thought it was kind of comical to read that the Assistant Secretary of Defense said that Guard units would have 5 years dwell time after a deployment, on the same day that my National Guard Brigade gets an alert order, a mere 23 months after coming off of federal orders. We are being told that we would only be mobilized for a total of 12 months on Title 10 orders, including 60 to 90 days at a mob station. Then the remainder of time spent in theater. What they are not telling the public is that we will be mobilized at home station about 90 days prior to that mobilization date on Title 32 orders, effectivley extening out tours to 15 months. Do we really believe that once we get there that they will not extend out tours? Not really. Once on Title 10 orders we cease to be National Guard troops, we fall under the MACOM that we are attached to, if that MACOM gets extended, do you think they are going to let the Force protection soldiers go home? I am not trying to be a killjoy or anything like that, I am just recalling history, and history tends to repeat itself.

[matthew.ritchie]

Sir,

I just read that article about Guard mobilizations. I thought it was kind of comical to read that the Assistant Secretary of Defense said that Guard units would have 5 years dwell time after a deployment, on the same day that my National Guard Brigade gets an alert order, a mere 23 months after coming off of federal orders. We are being told that we would only be mobilized for a total of 12 months on Title 10 orders, including 60 to 90 days at a mob station. Then the remainder of time spent in theater. What they are not telling the public is that we will be mobilized at home station about 90 days prior to that mobilization date on Title 32 orders, effectivley extening out tours to 15 months. Do we really believe that once we get there that they will not extend out tours? Not really. Once on Title 10 orders we cease to be National Guard troops, we fall under the MACOM that we are attached to, if that MACOM gets extended, do you think they are going to let the Force protection soldiers go home? I am not trying to be a killjoy or anything like that, I am just recalling history, and history tends to repeat itself.

Your concerns are valid, but perhaps in a few points you overstate the case. The SecDef policy is 12 months mobilization -- not 12 months in theater, but 12 months mobilization. The vast majority of individual mobilization tasks will take place pre-mobilization, on drill status. Please note that your actual mobilization orders will allow 30 days after REFRAD to allow you to take accrued leave (which is totally in the Soldier's best financial interests).