National Guard Deployment

Question

How often did NG units get deployed prior to the invasion of Iraq compared to today, over a span of 2 years is a combat unit with the Guard likely to get deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan?

And does the Guard ship out for the same amount of time that Active Duty does?

--Thanks

Answer 1

the longest deployment in this war was 22 months and it was a National Guard unit! so that says a lot!

Answer 2

It varies widely by unit.  Generally a Guard unit will not ship out but once every couple of years in our current conflicts.  It is mandatory that soldiers in the Guard who have been deployed and just returned can not be sent back for two more years though they can volunteer to go back earlier.

In some cases, Guard units deploy longer than active duty units.  In fact, the 1st BCT, 34th ID, just got back from a 22 month deployment which you can read about at the link below.  They have set the record for "the longest continuous deployment of any United States ground combat military unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom."  Before them, a National Guard company held that title with a 22 month deployment that was just a few days short of this one.

Answer 3

I thought National Guard where nicknamed "No-Go's"

i guess i was wrong?  

Answer 4

The National Guard was originally intended to be our "armed militia" that is supposed to take care of our citizens here on U.S. soil.  They were here to help with national disasters both natural and man made (severely bad weather, earthquakes, riots, etc...) and were not intended to be deployed.

Now that W. Bush doesn't need to hide-out in the National Guard anymore, he decided to send them overseas, where he can make more money off of them.

I'm just waiting to see what excuse he's going to use to get the Coast Guard attached to the Navy so he can send them too.

Answer 5

Man I know your curiosity of where you're going is something to worry about but no one can tell you until you get orders. Deployments is by divisions and what is needed. If they need infantry in Afghanistan they are going to send them, if they're needed in Iraq same thing. Percentages aren't going to show you a way to get around war, and it means nothing because you are deployed by what's needed not just because they feel like it.

EXACT NUMBERS:

Total Reserve/Guard Active: 108,010

Change from Last Week: -869

Total Activated Members:

Army Natl. Guard & Reserve: 82,075

Navy Reserve: 5,814

Air Natl. Guard & AF Reserve: 11,218

Marine Corps Reserve: 8,126

Coast Guard Reserve: 777

Answer 6

Yes 2 of my friend in the national guard got deployed to iraq a few months ago.

Answer 7

The National Guard and Reserves get activated longer than an active duty unit is deployed. This is because they have to train up prior to the acctual deployment. The Deployments overseas are the same amount of time as the active duty. And someone already pointed out the 1/34 BCT being deployed for 22 months. They were in Iraq for over 16 months. Most other Units were there for 15 months.

Prior to the invasion, The National Guard had already taken over missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sinia. So they were already getting deployed.

The typicall deployment for a Guard unit is 1.5 years for every 4 years. The model is 1 year for every 5-6 years, but just like the active duty, they are getting deployed more often. Active Duty is supposed to deploy 1 year out of 3 years, but they are typicaly deployed 1 out of 2 years.

Most Guard Brigades are on round 2 of there deployments. 1/34 BCT is slotted to get mobilized in 09, they got back from Iraq in July of 2007. Not OPSEC, was in the news and on DOD website for those that will try to think so.  

Answer 8

Let's see, never saw the guard in Afghanistan, although that doesn't mean they weren't there. My first Iraq deployment I was relieved by the California National Guard, and my second deployment (8 months later) I relieved the exact same unit. While I was there, the Missouri NG and Puero Rican NG were also present in my area, each for about 8 months or so. I'm not sure what the frequency of deployment for NG is, but I have heard of NG units serving more than a year on deployments.

Hope that helps :P

Answer 9

there is more Guard and reservists in iraq and afghanistan than regular army