Tag: National Guard

The rising cost of being in the National Guard: Reservists and guardsmen are twice as likely to be hungry as other American groups

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Civil unrest and pandemic deployments have led to extreme food insecurity among National Guard and Reserves

National Guard and reserve soldiers are having trouble feeding their families due to a year of record deployments.

Hunger among Guard members and reservists is more than double the national rate, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from mid-April through early June.

They report more food insecurity than nearly any other group, regardless of household income, education, age or race. Nearly one in five Guard members report sometimes or often not having enough to eat. And a third of those with a spouse serving in the National Guard or reserves report not having enough to eat. The numbers are even more troubling for National Guard and reserve families with children. Continue reading.

Aggressive Tactics by National Guard, Ordered to Appease Trump, Wounded the Military, Too

New York Times logoSome members of the D.C. Guard — comprising more than 60 percent people of color — have not told family they were part of the crackdown. Guard leadership, concerned about public opposition, even warned against buying food from vendors.

WASHINGTON — A white National Guard commander called the standoff in Lafayette Square “the Alamo,” implying that the White House was under siege. Black members of the D.C. Guard objected to turning on their neighbors. Army leaders told pilots to “flood the box with everything we have” as two helicopters buzzed protestersin the streets.

The National Guard is now engaged in an investigation of the havoc a week ago Monday in downtown Washington, similar to after-the-fact examinations more common to battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. There will be questions, interviews and competing narratives.

But on one point everyone is agreed: The first days of June, a calamitous period for the Trump presidency, have been a debacle for the National Guard. Continue reading.

‘What I saw was just absolutely wrong’: National Guardsmen struggle with their role in controlling protests

POLITICO spoke to 10 National Guardsmen who have taken part in the protest response across the country since the killing of George Floyd while in police custody.

Pvt. Si’Kenya Lynch, a member of the D.C. National Guard, was on duty at Lafayette Square near the White House last Monday when U.S. Park Police cleared the area of protesters ahead of President Donald Trump’s now-infamous photo op.

Lynch said she supports the protests, and that her brother was among the demonstrators on the other side of the line, adding that “he coughed a lot” due to the tear gas fired into the crowd.

“I was happy to see him out there … to walk for me when I couldn’t,” she said, adding that if she hadn’t been activated as a citizen-soldier, she would have been among the protesters “to support the people, and I wanted to support what was right.” Continue reading.

‘Hard stop’: States could lose National Guard virus workers

The Trump administration’s order ends deployments on June 24, just one day before thousands would qualify for education and retirement benefits.

More than 40,000 National Guard members currently helping states test residents for the coronavirus and trace the spread of infections will face a “hard stop” on their deployments on June 24 — just one day shy of many members becoming eligible for key federal benefits, according to a senior FEMA official.

The official outlined the Trump administration’s plans on an interagency call on May 12, an audio version of which was obtained by POLITICO. The official also acknowledged during the call that the June 24 deadline means that thousands of members who first deployed in late March will find themselves with only 89 days of duty credit, one short of the 90-day threshold for qualifying for early retirement and education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI bill.

The looming loss of crucial frontline workers, along with questions about whether the administration is shortchanging first responders, would require a delicate messaging strategy, the official — representing FEMA’s New England region — told dozens of colleagues on the interagency call. Continue reading.

House Veterans Affairs Division discusses National Guard, MDVA response to COVID-19

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Tuesday during a remote hearing, the House Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Division received updates on COVID-19 from the Minnesota National Guard and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and approved three pieces of legislation.

“I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the soldiers of our National Guard for their efforts in the COVID-19 response and to the workers in our Veterans Homes who continue to deliver the care residents deserve,” said Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), the division chair. “We’re all working hard to adapt and respond to the struggles presented by COVID-19 and we’re lucky to have qualified, dedicated Minnesotans serving in critical roles to help keep Minnesotans – including the heroes who have served our nation – safe and healthy.” Continue reading “House Veterans Affairs Division discusses National Guard, MDVA response to COVID-19”

The administration’s rationale for urgent border action doesn’t hold up

The following article by Philip Bump was posted on the Washington Post website April 4, 2018:

A U.S. Border Patrol team uses a dog in a search for undocumented immigrants near the U.S.-Mexico border Dec. 9, 2015. (John Moore/Getty Images)

There was no indication on Wednesday of last week that the White House was about to send National Guard troops to the border with Mexico to crack down on immigrants entering the country illegally. Over the weekend, though, President Trump suddenly started hammering on immigration as a central priority, leading to the administration’s vague, then concrete, announcement about strengthening the southern border.

At the daily press briefing on Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen outlined the administration’s proposal. After she did so, a reporter asked a key question: Why now? Continue reading “The administration’s rationale for urgent border action doesn’t hold up”

AP Exclusive: DHS Weighed Nat Guard for Immigration Roundups

On February 17, 2017, an article by Garance Burke wrote an article with the above title that was posted on the Associated Press website.  Here are the first 2 paragraphs, click the link below to go to their site for the complete article:

The White House distanced itself Friday from a Department of Homeland Security draft proposal to use the National Guard to round up unauthorized immigrants, but lawmakers said the document offers insight into the Trump administration’s internal efforts to enact its promised crackdown on illegal immigration.

Administration officials said the proposal, which called for mobilizing up to 100,000 troops in 11 states, was rejected, and would not be part of plans to carry out President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policy.

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