Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

SheltieLover

(57,073 posts)
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 10:28 PM Jan 2021

'It hasn't been a good deployment' Mom describes her National Guard son's experience protecting DC

https://www.localmemphis.com/mobile/article/news/national/national-guard-us-capitol-mom-deployment-troop/65-c90329a9-bb5a-4f2f-a43c-372176499a28

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Among the men and women now serving on the front lines to protect the Nation's Capital is a Maryland National Guard member who saw combat in Afghanistan.

He also works as a police officer and has a wife and young son waiting for him to come home.

Years after fighting in the Middle East, his current deployment has him stationed at the US Capitol.

Snip

"I just got off the phone with him and he said some of the young men that he’s with don’t have enough money to buy some extra gear they might have so they’re wearing three pairs of extra socks to keep their feet warm," his mother said on Wednesday. "He went online today to order some more gear from Amazon that he’s going to have delivered to my nephew who lives in DC and then my nephew is going to walk over some of the stuff.”

Much more at link. NG says it cannot take donations. WTAF?
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'It hasn't been a good deployment' Mom describes her National Guard son's experience protecting DC (Original Post) SheltieLover Jan 2021 OP
More underpaid public servants? Possibly. But they signed up, Hortensis Jan 2021 #1
I see their conditions as dump's parting shot to disparage our nation SheltieLover Jan 2021 #3
NG are DC or state troops, not federal. former9thward Jan 2021 #6
Ok SheltieLover Jan 2021 #7
:) We all know his great regard for those who serve. Hortensis Jan 2021 #8
Wealthiest, most powerful nation on the planet. NoRoadUntravelled Jan 2021 #2
Fking international disgrace, as no doubt intended! SheltieLover Jan 2021 #4
For certain. nt NoRoadUntravelled Jan 2021 #5
I'm a bit skeptical of her claims. uncle ray Jan 2021 #9
Take it with a 50 lb block of salt sarisataka Jan 2021 #11
Folks need to remember NG troops are part time soldiers. Baked Potato Jan 2021 #10
My brother was USMC active duty Sgent Jan 2021 #12

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
1. More underpaid public servants? Possibly. But they signed up,
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 10:39 PM
Jan 2021

do get paid, and deployment to protect their nation from RW authoritarian takeover is a great honor and service they can be proud of for the rest of their lives.

I doubt most would want their moms taking public comments they meant to be private. Sadly ignoble.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
8. :) We all know his great regard for those who serve.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 10:53 PM
Jan 2021

I see those marble floors that drain away their body heat (how long could they technically lie there before temps dropped to critical levels?) as something the architect would do all over again. After all, he was asked to create impressively handsome halls, not the field barracks they apparently occasionally serve as.

"Some people are saying that we sleep in our barracks. While not untrue, soldiers in the Army can sleep pretty much anywhere. If we are in the field, we sleep in holes, tents, cots, vehicles, aircraft, or wherever seems good for some shuteye. I fell asleep in a wall locker once in training." E.J. Hirsch

Baked Potato

(7,733 posts)
10. Folks need to remember NG troops are part time soldiers.
Thu Jan 14, 2021, 01:00 AM
Jan 2021

It’s very understandable that many can be hurting for bucks. Some may be working at lower paying jobs with families to take care of. I know they signed up, and all that, but until you get up higher in rank you really have to budget.

Sgent

(5,857 posts)
12. My brother was USMC active duty
Thu Jan 14, 2021, 01:40 AM
Jan 2021

and got crap boots in the mid 90's -- still the same stuff from Vietnam although materials in boots were generations better by then. The only thing he wanted for his birthday after graduating boot camp and starting SOI was a pair of boots.

Its certainly possible that a NG unit which hasn't seen an active deployment may have crap or missing gear.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'It hasn't been a good de...