Special Report

In a recent survey conducted by the University of Alabama Knight Community Journalism Fellows, 420 members of the Alabama National Guard shared their thoughts on everything from why they joined the Guard to meals-ready-to-eat. Those surveyed were given the option to share any closing thoughts they might have. Below, and on the next few pages, are the sentiments the soldiers penned.

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I wonder what ever happened to my drill sergeant Smith. He was one ass kicker. I wish I was young again. I came up through the ranks and look where I am today. I’ve been all over the world, most of the U.S.

Balancing current life situations and the Alabama National Guard is very difficult. At most times I tend to believe that the unit is more concerned about their well- being than my own. Personally I choose to put myself first. If I were to make the decision to join or not to again, I would choose not to. I would like to see more positive stories about American troops.

The Guard is a great way for patriotic citizens to acquire skills for life and serve their and their country’s interest.

Our enemies will not show us mercy. Why do we continue to show them endless mercy? I fight/serve for the freedom and liberty of my wife and kids. Who fights for you?

On MREs, Country Captain Chicken is a morale killer. We should Berlin airlift them to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Trust me, they’ll surrender.

Until I joined the Guard I felt that active duty and the Reserves only cared about their numbers, never the soldier. The Guard cares about me and my family.

It is easy to balance everyday life for me because it all starts with my relationship with Jesus Christ. After that, all else follows. I have no worries about what the military brings because it is in God’s hands.

Too much to say. Salient points include the differences in methodology, perception and doctrine between Guard members and active duty. Same can be said with respect to Guard and civilians who have never served in any capacity.

Soldiers from Iraq have no legal standpoint in regard to divorce or custody issues when they return from Iraq. They often get screwed by the Alabama judicial system. I think that soldiers should have more rights when they return home instead of former spouses being able to basically do whatever they want and then receive favoritism from the Alabama judicial system.

The Alabama National Guard is an excellent opportunity for people who want to make a difference in their country and state; you get to help the needy during storm disasters and protect the ones you love when the nation is under attack.

Alabama Guard is one of the most-called state groups throughout history. It’s Southern and national pride all rolled into one.

A lot of people joke about the National Guard being just weekend warriors. I thought this way myself at one time, until I was activated for Desert Storm/Shield. I saw another side to the National Guard, one where a team of comrades worked diligently together to achieve a mission. I played sports all my life, but I have never been more proud or had more honor than when we came back from Desert Storm victorious.

Go to Iraq and talk to those guys and gals.

Active Army may see us as “weekend warriors,” but we are right there with them overseas. We play a huge role in the protection of our country as well as our states.

One aspect of the Guard here is that employees as well as teachers respect the Guard and the members. Being a member can allow you to advance in civilian life. Helps you build a good resume. Provides you with discipline and character.

I was deployed with the Army to Iraq, but not with the Guard.

The National Guard is an exciting program in which to be involved. I am noticing a new breed of soldiers that are motivated to serve their community selflessly and willing to sacrifice the things that are most dear to people for the sake of keeping them dear. The Alabama Army Guard has strengthened my knowledge and work skills, allowed me to gain an aviation career, help others in the military and other countries.

Need more combat simulation training.

The Bama Guard has some distinguished units, such as the 167th Mechanized Infantry, one of the few units that has their Civil War regimental tab. The 4th Alabama served with this unit and it still has great pride and lineage. These stories from these units deserve to be told to bring back the “esprit de corps” spirit that used to keep the Alabama Guard strong.

I am tired of hearing people complain about our food. It is some of the healthiest food I’ve ever had. And it is plentiful.

Physical fitness — we need to be ready and this is where it all begins. I work 14-hour days working on cars. Every day I hit the gym, or run, sometimes twice a day. I attend my son’s ball games, daughter’s dance recitals and take my wife out. Americans need to pick up the pace on education, pay more attention to their work ethic and common morals and help those struggling or lacking understanding.

I love it, just wish people would respect the combat units more, and wives would be there when you get home, and people would join for reasons besides college. Pride needs to be pushed back in.

With work and family time, it is hard to make time for good physical fitness.

I’ve seen a lot of soldiers lose their jobs and marriages by serving in the National Guard. In my case, while serving on active duty for six months, my daughter was getting used to me not being there. This is hard on me being a single parent. It’s not a good feeling when a kid says, “Dad I don’t want you to go away.”

The Guard is spread too thin. And the pay is not good. The ones that are in the clique are getting promoted, leaving the hard workers behind.

It is a great way to pay for school if your family cannot afford to send you. Nobody ever signs up wanting to fight or go off to war. However, there is that chance. We as a team of “brothers and sisters” stand ready for whatever may be thrown our way. I think in my case it was to be a part of something bigger, an organization that takes pride in serving our communities, homeland, our nation. So I’m proud to be in an Army of One, the Army National Guard.

When the deployment call is received, you drop everything. You are given only days to make certain arrangements for your family and kids. It is a tremendous amount of stress suddenly placed on your spouse and family. Certain employers find loopholes to prevent from carrying you on family insurance or pay. When you return to your civilian job, you are behind on retirement, etc.

You take a family man out of his (comfortable) environment and put him in a war zone and watch him adapt and overcome adversity. That’s what being in the Army National Guard means!

This Army National Guard has a long and distinguished history. It is the oldest brand of military. The Guard has fought in every conflict since its existence. The public awareness needs to be raised about the mission of the Guard and more details ought to be given. The Guard is tradition and family.

I keep a simple journal on day-to-day missions and events.

My only fear of being deployed is not being able to pay my bills due to the decrease in pay. I know my family will be taken care of.

There are too many things I feel about my Guard career and experience to be reflected in a few lines. Times have been good and times have been real bad, not unlike anywhere else a person would be. I think if I had to do it again, then I would not!

I am a recent transfer from Maryland National Guard; I know little about Alabama. So far, the Guard community is great.

My issue is that the Guard gets deployed the same (or more) as the active duty, plus when we come home we still have to do hurricane and storm stuff. But when the active duty retires, they get their retirement starting the very next month, but we have to wait until we’re 60 years of age. We do all the same work but without the benefits, and spend a lot more time away from home. The Guard also expects you to drop everything you’re doing to come to drill but gives you grief when you have to miss drill because of work. Yes, it’s the law that my job has to let me off for drill but that doesn’t make it any easier. They (my job) gave me a whole year off and had to save my slot so the other guys at work had to pick up the slack. So when I get home and have to take this day or that day for drill, summer camp or schools, they have to pick up the slack again. This creates hardships and animosity for them. I fly EMS helicopters for a living. We run a 24-hour operation and our schedule conflicts with drill at times. Well, if I miss drill, I get grief from the Guard, but if I miss work the EMS helicopter goes uncovered and it could cost someone their LIFE. The Guard expects you to sacrifice every aspect of your life but doesn’t want to be flexible themselves. The unit I’m in now asked me to join because of what I did for a living, but now all of a sudden it’s a problem. I’m tired of it. I have 16 months left until I get my 20 years. Then I am definitely retiring. If I was not so close to retirement, I would have already quit.

As Guard members, we in this unit did not receive the awards and decorations we were entitled to. For me, I received one air medal for over 500-plus combat flight hours and one certificate of achievement. This was usually the case for the ones I served with.

The Guard gets lots of publicity as it is. Only problem, it seems they get and give most of the negative within the media. They get equipment and then misuse it. That was before the current actions. It is changing and for the good. But it still has a long way to go!

Take a whole career from start to finish and show some of the many things that a Guard member has experienced. It will present a full aspect of what a new recruit might experience. For me, the last 24 months have been some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences that I will probably have in my whole life.

The National Guard often gets treated like a second- class citizen within the Army. Retirement age should be lowered and a National Guard soldier should not have to serve more than one combat tour into any one theater of operations.

Alabama Guard is the best in the nation.

I believe the Guard is stretched too thin in regard to its constant deployment. I do not believe the Guard and reserve forces are being utilized in the fashion they are meant to be and are often treated unfairly. Also, I don’t like that the military can arbitrarily change a soldier’s MOS and can pull an individual soldier from his/her unit to deploy with another.

Give us more money.

The way the Guard is being deployed recently puts a strain on the family. You are gone for longer than anyone other than active duty and sometimes longer. Your income goes down, due to most guys making none in civilian. When you do re-deploy home and have medical or other difficulties, you’re ignored. Seems like they use you for what they want and throw you away. My kids will not join!

Tell the story of the soldier fighting in Iraq without all the death and destruction. Let people know that they may be fighting in a war but that their mind is still on family and friends. Tell the public that! Don’t spill over to the war, but capture the brotherhood of the situation, the support from family and the strength of the Alabama National Guard and their love for their country.

I have volunteered to deploy five times and have been told five times because I am (AGR) Active Guard and Reserve (that I can’t go.) It seems since I am active duty I am not good enough to deploy. I am really upset that they will take my part-time command sergeant major but not me because I am too vital to unit operations, HA HA. I know the CSM (Command Sergeant Major) is more important than me. Why is it that just because I am active I can’t deploy? I have been through the same training as everyone else. Also they took my entire unit nearly and left me behind. I would have liked to deploy with the Alabama soldiers I have spent 10 years with. They have told me I can deploy, but I will have to find a job somewhere else. Part-time soldiers are covered by the Soldiers and Sailors Act but not me. They will allow me to come back and work, but it could be anywhere in the state. We (AGRs) are held to a different standard and that is not the Army way. A soldier is a soldier no matter what his duty assignment is. I don’t really want to stir up trouble, but this is dumb.

Guard members are typically looked down upon by active duty. They think we are not well-trained, out of shape and not as professional as they are. Once they get to serve with us in combat, they realize this is not true. Plus, being a citizen soldier, Guard members are typically much more well-rounded soldiers than active duty, i.e. police officers, carpenters, electricians, businessmen, teachers, salesmen, paramedics. We bring much more to the table than just being a soldier.

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