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This stuff is confusing even to those of us in the Guard. We normally think of it as "status" and it can change from day to day. We are normally in Title 32 status, paid by the Feds to undertake training, and are limited to training only, though some operational benefits may incidentally accrue. We can be in Title 32 status and be "in Federal service" but still under the Governor's chain of command - this is the status of NG troops who were present in airports after 11 Sept. We can voluntarily accept Title 10 orders and often do (must be in Title 10 status for overseas training, for instance). We can be "mobilized" and this is the status most people call "Federalized" or 'activated" and there are three levels of mobilization - partial (currently mobilized Guard units are mobilized under "partial mobilization" authority of Congress), full and total. Finally, we can be in State Active Duty Status - paid by the state.

Where did you get the idea National Guard troops would attack the Minutemen?

Link, sorry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_Act_of_1903

"The National Defense Act of 1916 is, with the exception of the United States Constitution, the most important piece of legislation in the history of the National Guard. It transformed the militia from individual state forces into a Reserve Component of the U.S. Army - and made the term "National Guard" mandatory. " - Source Wikipedia -Militia Act of 1903

Could I correct some misapprehensions about the Guard here? Not trying to start anything, would just like to see accurate information. Article I section 8 clause 15 of the US Constitution says "To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;". Its one of the powers of Congress. Posse Comitatus (the prohibition on domestic law enforcement) cannot apply to the National Guard (militia) by this provision. Not only can the Guard be called up to enforce the law, its one of the Constitutional reasons for its existence.

You'd be surprised by how many Guard members will gladly volunteer for a 30, 60 or 90 day tour doing something like this. Many now count on rotational deployments and make a pretty good living form volunteering to cover active duty shortfalls, either here or overseas. We call them "Guard bums", but the term is not meant as a pejorative, just a descriptor. When on actual State active duty (paid by the state - usually for wild fires, floods, etc) members get the same pay and have medical coverage for line of duty injuries under L&I or some other state worker insurance scheme. When in Title 32 USC status (normal day-to-day for fulltime Guard, drill or annual training for traditional Guard members) Guardsmen are paid by the Federal government and are covered if injured.

Excerpt from my posts on this subject in other threads:
Some actual information: The National Guard is composed of two parts, the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard. Most states and territories have units of both. The National Guard is what the US Constitution refers to in Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 and 16 as the militia. The name National Guard came about by subsequent legislation. Day to day the National Guard is governed by the provisions of Title 32 of the United States Code and its chain of command is through a state officer known (in most cases) as The Adjutant General to the Governor. This is a difference between the Guard and the active duty forces and the Reserve forces (Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy and Marine Corp Reserves). Active duty and Reserves are governed under Title 10 of the US Code and the chain of command runs through the Secretary of Defense to the President. The Posse Comitatus act applies to Title 10 forces and generally prevents the use of title 10 forces in domestic law enforcement. There are exceptions and there are provisions for suspension as has been detailed elsewhere.

Most states have entered into an agreement called EMAC that allows states to support one another in times of emergency (most NG troops supported the Katrina effort under EMAC, once some of the bugs got worked out). I noted one poster suggested states call out their Guard units themselves. Here's the deal with the Guard - day-to-day, we're cheap - small full time force, large numbers who are only paid for drill once a month and a couple of weeks a year normally. The last few years haven't been normal, and the Guard is expensive when in full time Federal service in large numbers (such as airports after Sept 11). Most states can't afford to have the Guard on extended duty on their own nickel (even wildfire support, flood relief, etc usually is reimbursed to the states after disaster declarations open the taps on Federal money).

The elegant thing about having the Guard on the borders is that when the rotation of a unit is complete, and its members go back to their civilian lives they are completely free to talk of their experiences in a way that active duty forces may not be. Also citizen soldiers and citizen airmen are politically tuned to their communities and nation, and understand we should not be there to harass law abiding citizens or to be pawns in the internal politics of Federal agencies.

The best thing the FReeper community could do at this point is to support vocally, through Congressional delegations and this forum, passage of the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006 (Introduced in House) HR 5200 and S 2658 (Introduced in the Senate) now coming up in the House to give the National Guard a seat at the JCS table, and preserve the independence of the Guard.

You said:
"the Governors could have activated the NG at any time, but didn't" - ravingnutter
and
"Any Governor of a border state could send them to the border to reverse the breakdown in law along the border." - El Gato

Both are true, but its not quite that simple. While ANG and ARNG troops report through a chain of command to the Governor when not mobilized, they are still paid by the Federal government. States only contribute around 25% of the cost of facilities maintenance. Once called into State service (State Active Duty - SAD) the state must pay an equivalent salary and reimburse the Feds for the cost of Federal resources used and equipment borrowed. The Guard is cheap day-to-day with a small fulltime force and a large force that drills once a month and a couple of weeks per year. No state could afford to have the Guard on extended state duty for long - even wildfires and flood relief is usually reimbursed to the states after a Federal disaster declaration.

If its true President Bush will order National Guard troops to the border, the Feds will be paying.

The AF is selling its soul for the F-22 and JSF. They are paying those bills on the back of the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve and their own manpower. IMHO, there is something seriously wrong with the senior leadership of the AF. They are betraying the trust of the Captains and Majors, Staff Sergeants and Master Sergeants that are doing the work of defending the nation. In the process they are turning their backs on the legitimate needs of the Army and Marines for short haul airlift.

One way to start getting things back on track (again, IMHO, that's all) is to pass the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006 (Introduced in House) HR 5200 and S 2658 (Introduced in the Senate) as soon as possible.

Rational thought, I like it!

I've noted some National Guard cheap shots here, (i.e. - "Will they be there to escort illegals?" and "Will they be there to keep tabs on the Minutemen?"). I'll take it as simply the result of being misinformed about the Guard or an opportunity to make a "cute" remark. I'm not interested in a flame war.
Some actual information: The National Guard is composed of two parts, the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard. Most states and territories have units of both. The National Guard is what the US Constitution refers to in Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 and 16 as the militia. The name National Guard came about by subsequent legislation. Day to day the National Guard is governed by the provisions of Title 32 of the United States Code and its chain of command is through a state officer known (in most cases) as The Adjutant General to the Governor. This is a difference between the Guard and the active duty forces and the Reserve forces (Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy and Marine Corp Reserves). Active duty and Reserves are governed under Title 10 of the US Code and the chain of command runs through the Secretary of Defense to the President. The Posse Comitatus act applies to Title 10 forces and generally prevents the use of title 10 forces in domestic law enforcement. There are exceptions and there are provisions for suspension as has been detailed elsewhere.

Most states have entered into an agreement called EMAC that allows states to support one another in times of emergency (most NG troops supported the Katrina effort under EMAC, once some of the bugs got worked out). I noted one poster suggested states call out their Guard units themselves. Here's the deal with the Guard - day-to-day, we're cheap - small full time force, large numbers who are only paid for drill once a month and a couple of weeks a year normally. The last few years haven't been normal, and the Guard is expensive when in full time Federal service in large numbers (such as airports after Sept 11). Most states can't afford to have the Guard on extended duty on their own nickel (even wildfire support, flood relief, etc usually is reimbursed to the states after disaster declarations open the taps on Federal money).

The elegant thing about having the Guard on the borders is that when the rotation of a unit is complete, and its members go back to their civilian lives they are completely free to talk of their experiences in a way that active duty forces may not be. Also citizen soldiers and citizen airmen are politically tuned to their communities and nation, and understand we should not be there to harass law abiding citizens or to be pawns in the internal politics of Federal agencies.

The best thing the FReeper community could do at this point is to support vocally, through Congressional delegations and this forum, passage of legislation now coming up in the House to give the National Guard a seat at the JCS table, and preserve the independence of the Guard.

Classic technique.

Hostage negotiations, buying a car, etc. Never commit the highest authority to an absolute position. You've got nowhere to go if they tell you to take a leap. If Karzai tells Secretary Rice there's nothing he can do, she invokes the diplomatic equivalent of "I'll tell Dad."

I also wondered about that sentence.

Could it mean the English soccer hooligans inspire fear and they (neo-nazis) want to emulate them?
Its probably a poorly edited translation of a longer statement and maybe not in its original context. Curious, though.

Tallguy said:
"it will be mostly an air/naval strike"
Thereby avoiding:
"...one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia..."

Haiku post - very cool