Who Has Whose Back?

For decades National Guard soldiers have been called to serve their country outside the borders of the United States. When the National Guard was formed and fought its fights skirmish in 1636, the thought was militia. These men were farmers and laborers, but they also wanted to protect their countryside.

Under Title 10, the guard units are referred to as the guards of the borders. Since the Vietnam War, Ronald Reagan was caught saying that the U.S. government shouldn’t partake in any war without the use of the National Guard or Reserves, because their involvement brings in a greater sense of connection and support from the American people.

Before the use of National Guard or Reserve, members of the military were utilized so heavily that the government sent in the active Army soldiers. This is the right way, but they didn’t receive the support from citizens because many of the active soldiers were single, divorced or in some way had little to no ties to the general population here in the States. That left their cause unheard by mothers, fathers, businesses, organizations and other ties. Vietnam veterans faced the most difficult transition, returning to mostly ridicule for their hard-fought service.

Up until the Obama administration, the president needed the approval from that specific state’s governor to activate its guard units for service. The new Executive Order 13528 now gives that responsibility to a Council of Governors appointed by the president.

So what now?

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon just put through legislation to the Senate allowing 90 days of pay to National Guard and Reserve soldiers returning home from active duty. Right now, soldiers are cut from pay once they get their discharge papers, unless these soldiers have leave-time accumulated—the “vacation time” service members get for however long they are in: 15 days maximum per fiscal year. This is still not much time to put affairs in order.

Companies are required to keep a job open for any soldier leaving for service, but that job doesn’t necessarily need to be the same one, just within the same pay bracket. If the employee doesn’t like the job, it’s on his or her shoulders. How’s that for a welcome home present?

The new form of the state militia is to send them wherever, include them in every war and leave them to their own demise. Our government is military-backed, but it doesn’t seem to go both ways.

– Zachary Polka, Photographer