Ebola/National Guard - Am I confused?

[amaristella]

This story showed up on Facebook and the chit chat is that nobody can believe that we would send Guard members on a mission like that. I don't understand why we wouldn't or why it's surprising to anyone. Am I missing something here? Is it just the case that a lot of people are unaware of all the humanitarian type missions that the US participates in? Even when the situation is dangerous? Tell me if I'm missing something.

www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/obama-authorizes-national-guard-reserves-ebola-fight-n227336

[ghostmonkey]

You are asking if National Guard engineering units can be deployed? Yes, they can.

Why would they not? Did you read what the plan was for them to do?

[meltoine]

It's my understanding that the Guard gets more training in natural disaster relief and the like than active duty. Makes sense that's who they'd send.

[amaristella]

Quite the opposite. I'm surprised that it's getting so much attention or the reactions I'm seeing to the idea. I also thought that the particular news article left a lot of unanswered questions. For example, the article makes it sound like only 8 people are even supposed to be sent. Does that mean only 8 people total? Only 8 people from the Guard being sent along with a unit from another branch?

[meltoine]

Yeah, that article is worded weirdly. I read a piece yesterday that said 4,000 troops were expected to be deployed.

ETA: I think there's a perception out there that the Guard and Reserves exist to be a back up for active duty, like if active duty are all deployed or non-deployable, then they call up the reserves. Which is obviously not true. 

[amaristella]

Oct 17, 2014 20:29:03 GMT -5 Stan said:

This is like the whole point of us. I'm just pissed I can't go.

Maybe later you'll get to go? Something tells me it's not going away overnight. You may still get a chance.

[audette]

Oct 17, 2014 22:48:26 GMT -5 Stan said:

Oct 17, 2014 22:09:12 GMT -5 amaristella said:

Maybe later you'll get to go? Something tells me it's not going away overnight. You may still get a chance.

Nah, I still have an ishton of training, and I'm non-deployable until the end of it. And even if I'm doing OJT before BOLC, my unit is deployable, but I'm not.

The problem with being Guard is that I go when they have $$ to send me. :/

Hopefully the training will get done soon...