Conference repair::reserve_forces

    Re .0:
    
    While I've never been in combat either as a regular or reserve,
    I do remember reading a commentary about Marine Corps Reserves during
    the Korean War written by a regular Marine.
    
    He observed that the Reserves did as well or better than their regular
    counterparts except when they took casualties. The problem was that
    reserve units are usually like a family and everybody knows everybody
    pretty well. When there is a casualty, it's like losing a family
    member and morale sometimes suffers.
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    I was assigned to the 423rd Military Police Company in Hempstead,
    New York. The reserve center was bombed one tuesday night about 2100
    hours by a terrorist group. They also bombed a center somewhere in the
    central US. My unit went on alert and I was the first one at the center
    because I lived right accross the street.  
    
    We maintained a vigil for four days because of no alarm system and an
    unsecure building. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to
    the unit. Now they have real life experience in physical security.
    
    Don

    Re .0:
    
    I forgot to mention that the decision not to use the Reserves/National
    Guard except as absolutely necessary (like during the Pueblo Crisis
    in 1969) was made as early as 1964 by the Johnson Administration
    for political reasons.
    
    You can debate that either way but one problem that plagued the
    US throughout that whole time period was the constant need for
    retraining personnel because of the high turnover rate associated
    with draftees. The Reserves/National Guard had lots of people with
    critical skills but the politicians decided it wasn't good policy
    to employ them.
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    
      The 3rd battalion 197th Field Artillery out of Portsmouth NH just
    celebrated its 20th renuion of it's return from Vietnam. It was
    the only Guard/Reserve Artillery unit to go to Vietnam as far as
    I know.
      Approximately 400 members went, 6 didn't come back. Talking with
    some of the old timers that still wear their unit insignia from
    RVN, it seems that the biggest problem was replacements from
    Regular Army attached to Guard firing batteries. 
      
      

    
    Reserves have always played a large role in US conflicts of all sizes.
    Many of the combat troops in WWI, WWII and Korea started out in the 
    National Guard.  During the Vietnam war there were Guard units
    activated from all over the US who served honorably.  I, like many of
    you, have served in active duty and National Guard combat units and,
    quite frankly, found the Guardsmen to be more proficient than the
    regular Army units.  That's because the Guard had worked and trained
    as a unit for a long time while the regulars were mostly thrown
    together from basic and MOS training.  This was especially true during
    Vietnam where US troops were rotated out after their "tour of duty"
    and replacement took place on a continuing large scale basis.  Guard
    units rotated as units, not individuals.
    
    The reserve forces (including the Guard) of the US are an integral part
    of our military strategy and play an increasingly important role.  Many
    National Guard units are considered to be "first committed", not backup
    or replacements, and have preplanned missions in the event of conflict
    in their designated areas of responsibility, world-wide.  It's much
    more efficient to strengthen the reserve forces than to maintain a
    large standing army.  Over 50% of the artillery assets of the US Army are 
    found in the National Guard.
    
    Len
    
    
        

        
        
        We never quite made it during the Falklands war, but the RNR was 
        put on  1 days  notice of call up. I was on my way to Gibraltar in 
        a minesweeper at the time and, thankfully we went no further south 
        than that. Nobody fancied crossing the South Atlantic in a 400 ton 
        wooden ship built in 1953!!!!
        
        Ed  
        RNR

    Ed,
    
    What were your thoughts during the trip to Gibralter? Did you notice
    any changes in your character or that of your colleagues? How did
    you feel when you knew you would not be going into battle?
    

        
        
        RE.7
        
        RELIEF!
        
        I didn't fancy crossing the South Atlantic in a 400 ton wooden 
        minesweeper of 1953 vintage. Luckily, the Navy realised that our 
        ship was not really suitable for the trip and took up from trade a 
        group of deep sea trawlers. The RN manned these. Several RNR seaman 
        officers did go to the Falklands because they were minesweeping 
        specialists but they didn't send any humble engineers like me.
        
        Ed

    Re .0:
    
    I guess the closest I got to combat was during the Grenada Operation
    and the destruction of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, even though they
    never did activate us (you'll recall the two events occurred pretty
    close to each other).
    
    I had just started a new job, been reunited with my family after
    living away because of the new job, affiliated with a new Naval
    Reserve unit, and moved into a new house - all more or less at the same
    time.
    
    I'll never forget the expression on people's faces in my unit (maybe
    they noticed it on mine too) during that time period. Suddenly
    the Navy became really serious business. People started checking
    their SGLI (Servicemen's Group Life Insurance) coverage, made sure
    their service record was up to date with regard to dependents, started
    checking with employers about re-employment rights if they were
    called up, and so forth.
    
    Fortunately, we didn't have to go but it was a sobering experience.
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    This note was moved as I did put in the wrong place.
    Anyone believe it was a deliberate mistake...no, ho hum.
    	++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    
    I was watching the news last week and heard about a UDR soldier
    that was killed. It dawned on me that there are part-timers in Northern
    Ireland actually doing what we practise ie putting their lives on
    the line. 
    This may come across as me being a bit naive, but a shudder went
    down my back at the realisation. 
    Practising tactics, adventure training etc are great fun and it's
    nice to be paid for it as well. But when the powers that be decide
    that it's my turn to go out, if they ever do, I am going to be SH*T
    scared.  That, I guess, is where all the training comes into it's
    own and that made me feel a little better, not a lot.
    
    I'm not commenting on the rights and wrongs of the troubles, merely
    the fact that people are being killed for being part-time soldiers
    etc, like you and I are.
    
    Dave
    

		
    Dave

    Well Dave, since you want a seperate topic 8-).
    
    The UDR is a reserve force, but it is a reserve force in a troubled
    area. That I think is the key. I draw paralells in my mind with the
    Israeli reserve, although I'm not sure how 'voluntary' their service
    is. The UDR is voluntary isn't it? If so, these lads know what the
    odds are when they sign up. It is tragic, but so is the entire sit-
    uation in NI. It takes a lot more 'guts' to sign up when you know
    that you will face armed resistance every time you 'train'. A much
    different situation than a US reservist/guardsman being sent to Central
    America on a road building mission and being attacked. On the other
    hand, that UDR trooper could just as easily been killed while not on
    duty. Is one more tragic than the other?
    
    Bob Mc

    Being a reservist in the USAFR I was sent to Panama during December 89. 
    All I can say is that I was scared when I was flew in to Panama and
    was glad to leave.  When I returned home I was glad I did my job, but
    I hope I never have to do it again.  Lucky I didn't see any action or
    see anyone get hurt.

    Hello,
    
       Back in summer of 90 I said "I hope I never see action again".  Well
    I went to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey during desert sheild and
    desert storm operation.  I've been through two scub attacks (Saudi and 
    Israel).  The only thing I was scared of was not knowning if chemical
    warheads were being used in those missiles.  During both attacks we
    were sent to a bomb shelter which we stayed in about four hours.
    
    Tom
    USAF(RES)

     
    HELLO,
      
        I'M NEW TO THE WAYS OF THE NOTE FILES AND HOW THEY WORK,SO PLEASE
    BARE WITH ME.
        I NEVER SERVED IN COMBAT WITH A NG\AR UNIT. I DID SEE A LITTLE WITH
    THE REGULAR ARMY FORCES. COMBAT, EMOTIONALY I THINK WOULD PROBABLY BE
    THE SAME IF YOU WERE RESERVE OR REGULAR. I REMEMBER A KID FROM D.C.
    WHO JOINED FULL TIME ARMY AFTER DESERT SHIELD. HE REPORTED TO US ON JAN
    20, 3 DAYS AFTER THE FESTIVITIES. HE WAS SCARED, I MEAN REALLY SCARED.
    HE CAME OUT OF A NATIONAL GUARD UNIT, AND HE WAS GREEN. HE HAD ALOT TO
    LEARN IN TWO WEEKS. HE DID HIS BEST, MY HATS OFF TO THE KID.  THREE
    DAYS BEFORE THE OFFICIAL GROUND WAR WE AIR ASSAULTED 30 MILES INTO IRAQ
    AND CAPTURED OVER 500 IRAQI PERSONAL CALLED 5\48 IRAQI BORDER GUARD. HE
    DID HIS JOB WELL. ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE GROUND OFFENSIVE, WE INVOLVED
    IN A HELECOPTER CRASH. NO ONE KILLED, JUST ALOT OF SHAKEN UP PEOPLE.
     WE BORDERED ANOTHER BLACKHAWK AND FLEW 130 MILES INTO IRAQ, WE CUT OFF
    ALL RETREATING REPUBLICAN GUARD UNITS, AT LEAST WHAT WAS LEFT OFF THEM.
        THE WAR WAS TOUGH ON THIS KID FROM D.C. BUT IT WAS TOUGH ALL OVER.
    WE SEEN ENOUGH COMBAT TO LAST US A LIFE TIME. NOT ALOT BUT ENOUGH.
      IT DEFINATELY EFFECTED US ALL WHO SERVED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AND
    NOT EASILY EXPLAINED.
    
     SCOTT    11B1P
         101ST ABN DIV (SWA) SEPT 10, 89 TO APRIL 90.
         CIVILIAN 17 MARCH 92.
         FOOLISH AGAIN 31 MARCH 92.
         MASS NG. 26TH YANKEE DIV 
                               "FOLLOW ME"