Your responses

Which candidate better understands the Guard’s interests and concerns?
Two weeks ago we asked for your responses to how President Bush and Senator Kerry stand on Iraq. Here is what you said:

In my humble opinion, the only candidate who will actively work and support the troops (as he has already demonstrated) is President George W. Bush.

Mr. Kerry is unable to decide whether he supports or demoralizes them, and that, to me, is unacceptable. He is not a man who can be relied upon during trouble.

We must have a dependable leader and commander in chief who will have the American people and the troops at heart.

Thank you,
Corina Johnson

I think both sounded good, but no one said when my son would be going home. Twelve months, to me, is too long. So other issues concern me, and Kerry doesn’t concede with them.

Thanks, a military mom,
Lucy Gelinas

(Editors’ note: Lucy Gelinas is the mother of Spc. Chris Gelinas, with Alpha Company 1-185th based in Camp Kalsu, Iraq.)

I have 16 years of military experience. They consist of four years of active duty and 12 years of National Guard.

In my view, President Bush knows the Guard’s concerns and interests. The reason why is because he is the commander in chief. And he is informed about any issues.

Joe Huizar
Support Specialist II, Information Systems

How could a man who went into the guard to “avoid” going to Vietnam, as so many did back then — and questionable whether he actually even completed this “obligation” — come even close to really comprehending what it means to put your life at risk, to put your family aside, To DO that!?

I want to ask BUSH if he has EVER done that? And, if so, for what?

Maria Z. Anaya, M.P.H.
Santa Ana California

Hello!

John Kerry understands the Guard more than George Bush, because he knows about the hardships on their families, the problems after they return home with health care, jobs, etc.

Lillie Lewis

The candidate who best understands the Guard’s interests and concerns is the one who fought in a war himself.

Maryanne Tong

How Do National Guard Troops Compare to Regular Army Units?

I agree with SFC Espinoza and SSG Tucker. Our real world experience with people in our civilian side ensures that we communicate and interact with our peers and Iraqi Nationals in a much more controlled and calm manner.

I am 51 years old and I am also a Sergeant First Class in Bravo Co 1-160 Infantry. I have worked for Xerox Corp for 26 years in the customer service side. This experience has proved invaluable working with active duty soldiers.

Sometimes, active duty soldiers can’t think outside of the box because of the way they have been taught and trained. Some soldiers went into the service right out of high school. They have never made decisions and even now some Non Commissioned Officer will make up his mind for him.

As Guard members, we face situations that require decisions right away. Heading a family, business, or the weekend soccer team keeps us sharp. We seem to be cooler in difficult situations.

We are stationed in the International Zone inside Baghdad. We provide escorts for Embassy, UN, Military and sometimes Iraqi officials. We are faced with danger every time we exit the IZ but for most of us it is “Just another day in Baghdad”.

SFC Leoncio F. Leal

Maybe you should ask J.F. Kerry. He seems to think that serving in the Guard is less honorable than going to war and committing war atrocities.

Michael Snyder

I can tell you the disadvantages of the family members left here at home.

My husband is with the 185th, but he is from the unit here in Visalia. Only a few went over and many have since returned because of medical problems they had before deploying.

Because the families here in our area are so far away from the unit family support, we are pretty much forgotten. We don’t get phone calls. In fact, the only phone call I received since this all began was when Spc. Unger passed.

I know that family support coordinators have a tough job. It is tough for us, as well, because we are out of the loop, so to speak. We don’t get informed of the meetings, and, if we did, it is so far away it would be close to impossible for us to attend.

Lisa Carr

From what I’ve read, death and casualty rates for the Guard has been proportionate to their relative numbers in Iraq. But that seems odd considering that so many Guard are much older than active duty and would not have had as much recent training.

Experience can offset some of lack of recent training, but hard to imagine 35-year-old Guardsmen able to routinely keep up with 20-somethings in 120 degree temps.

Perhaps Guard staffing was done to take advantage of their maturity in civil affairs by placing them in parts of Iraq secure enough to utilize those skills; with regular troops sent to heavier combat areas?

I suppose there could have been political considerations too, but result was appropriate.

Len Raphael