Does your State activate your National Guard units for missions? Is it what you expected?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 06:37:18 -0400

This has been on my mind for a while. A big part of my decision to join the national guard was the state missions. I did not do my research and yes I joined at 17. Arizona not use its national guard at all. Now I know that there are jobs and what not you can get on to. But we do not deploy units for anything. What state are you in and what are the state mission like?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 11:18 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 11:18:03 -0400

SPC Goosic, in Alabama and Georgia most missions were humanitarian relief during emergencies.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 12:44 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 12:44:33 -0400

Excellent question, SPC Goosic! I don't have a true answer in relation to AZ-ARNG, jut my two cents.
I went USAR, based on speaking with some fellow guardsmen, reservists and recruiters in our fine sunny state. This was based off of my wants to "work", to use my MOS.
However, ARNG might be my next "up" based on my degree and MOS needs, etc.
I will follow this thread closely.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 2:05 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 14:05:22 -0400

Arizona has a small Army NG. It is only about 5,000. My state is twice your size. We have three brigades. You state don't really have any combat power or combat units. You have a lot of support unit but so does the Army reserve. So that puts your state in a even bigger pool of units that they will be pulled from and some states just don't seek out deployments. I am on my second in the guard. My Battalion deployed 2003,2009, and now in 2014. But NC is a very active state. I can't recall when we didn't have a unit that was deployed.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 3:12 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:12:03 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member in Puerto Rico the National Guard has being activated more than once to fight drugs crimes. I don't know if CPT Private RallyPoint Member has seen something like that but for me was something common seen a police officer and a soldier in a Patrol Car. Several times I saw soldiers at gas stations having a coffee with a cop and his M4 or M16.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 7:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 19:01:33 -0400

I am in Phoenix I am in an ENG unit and we do Heavy Eq Ops. We have not been activated in a few years however we have been to forrest fires and snow storm aid in the past and we do have some activations on a 1 or 2 soldier bases for drug enforcement. Honestly we have few things in AZ to be activated for, the weather here is pretty tame compared to other states so those type activation are going to be few and far, It also depends on what you MOS is as to being activated.

That being said you are an IT tech. The state is NOT going to be needing to EVER activate you for your job and the only way you will get activate is if Mexico invades. You can find some small time things for a few days possibly, maybe you unit would need some one or two day help with prepping for an inspection. But right now the state is not supporting the NG especially the new governor.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 7:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 19:46:05 -0400

The determination of when the AZ National Guard is deployed for State emergency missions falls on the Governor of Az who works in concert with the State Adjutant General. The AZ Dept of Emergency & Military Affairs jumps into action activating the emergency ops center and all keys players come to the table from various agencies: Red Cross, Dept of Public Safety, County Emergency Mgmt personnel for example.

The nature of the emergency determines the who, what, when, where & why. Each city and county government has an emergency management office, response teams and equipment. When those assets are stretched to their capacity to handle a particular emergency, a call is made to the State emergency ops center. From there, the next course of action is determined on what other resources may need to be provided, including the call up of Guard units.

In Arizona, the number one mission for possible call up is the State Land Wildfire mission. Yes we have flooding and other emergencies but non more prevalent than wild fires. Each and every year you hear about such fires, they can cause extensive damage not only to forests, vegetation and wildlife but also to private and commercial property and infrastructure.

So you are right, you don't get used for every emergency. Those decisions are made by those higher up in your food chain. Just do what you need to do for you, your unit, the organization and your community as a whole. Be in the right place, right time and in the right uniform. A time will come when your unit may get called, you will all be ready to go and perform the mission.

Response by SSG John Erny made Mar 31 at 2015 3:03 PM

SSG John Erny — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:03:50 -0400

A lot of states along the Rocky Mountains activate troops a lot for wild fires. There are many things that mother nature can hurl at us and the Governor will call on the NG to help. That is the main difference between what the active side does and what the NG does. There are even laws in place that prevent the use of troops by the president with in the boarders of the Unites States.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Mar 31 at 2015 4:33 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:33:43 -0400

I'm in AZ and we get the occasional flash floods and wildfires, but we have a massive federal wildfire program here as well. If anyone was to get activated it would be the aviation types I would imagine.