Texas National Guard prepares for support on the border

To: surely_you_jest

What I mean is, between in-processing, out-processing, various other Annual Tour requirements, being in-briefed, doing an out-brief with their replacement, etc, etc, how much time does this leave to actually perform duties - five or six days? Maybe?

Your wonderment is extremely well placed and I don't have a reliable answer, just yet. I can tell you the media almost never gets anything right about the Guard. :-) And, since you're retired Air Force, I can tell you that an Air National Guardsman has all the training requirements of the regular Air Force and only about 40 days a year to squeeze them in. Thus, your well-founded "I wonder hows."

It is all I can do to hold back from speculating the heck about how I think this is going to be done in Texas. If I knew how much the federal government will pay, i.e., Title 32 Active Guard/Reserve status, I could explain away your concerns, and mine.

I tend to think the core will be very similar to, and mostly likely an expansion of, the Guard's Drug Interdiction Program. Those people work fulltime (AGR) with federal agencies, then return to their home units for weekend drills and annual training. Drill status Guardmen might be rotated into a fulltime cadre. Rumors, reliable or not, will start floating my way over the next few days, I imagine. :-)

One benefit for Texas is Houston's conversion to Predators (30) will most likely get itself accelerated.

This is going to be something of an open joke amongst uniformed personnel of all services.

No. It will not. The general tasking handed to the Guard has been done by Texas for nearly fifteen years. For staff and cadre, this is nothing new. It is an opportunity to do more than they've done.

Back to waiting for them rumors to start floating my way . . .

21 posted on 05/16/2006 4:11:50 PM PDT by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

Racehorse, FWIW, I found the DoD press release on the Guard role here - http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/20060516_5145.html

Made it a separate FR posting here - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1633387/posts

22 posted on 05/16/2006 4:29:32 PM PDT by surely_you_jest

To: surely_you_jest

Your timing is wonderful. :-)

I just happen to be watching the briefing via C-SPAN and RealPlayer. I'll visit the FR post when I've watched it all.

Thanks.

23 posted on 05/16/2006 4:33:46 PM PDT by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

To: Eaker; Flyer; thackney

My Dad used to work at Camp Mabry ping.

24 posted on 05/16/2006 4:35:44 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)

To: humblegunner

Where did he work? :-)

25 posted on 05/16/2006 4:41:45 PM PDT by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

Where did he work? :-)

On the base. He was a short Colonel then.

Made the drive from Elgin every day and worked the ranch in the afternoons.

He's a tough old guy.

26 posted on 05/16/2006 5:02:25 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)

To: humblegunner

"He's a tough old guy.'

I bet he is!

I retired from all this in 1995. Watching the guys and gals come and go, and now this, stirs the memories and makes me wish I could still have a hand in.

Guess I'll just have to limp along on rumors and such.

Take care. Say hello to your Dad and tell him there's always a need for volunteers at the museum. A big need.

27 posted on 05/16/2006 5:10:07 PM PDT by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

Say hello to your Dad and tell him there's always a need for volunteers at the museum.

I'll tell him! He's one of my best buddies.

28 posted on 05/16/2006 5:30:12 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)

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