Rumsfeld's Questioner Wrong About Unit's Armor

[Airhead]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
I was watching a specail on the History channel on Torpedoes.  In WWII the sub crews would disassemble the torps and jerry-rig them to detonate, the magnetic portion wasn't functioning due to a defect.  

IIRC, a US sub fired 6 torps at a Cruiser w/in 2000 yards, only one detonated, they could hear the other 5 hit, but, nothing.

Karaya

PS - Liberals will stop at NOTHING to turn this Gulf Campaign into another "Vietnam". Makes me sick to my stomach, and I'm only 31.

It's not the "liberals" that are turning this into another Viet Nam, it's the Administration.

[Schaden]

Next thing we'll see a post that berieved family members actually "prefer" a machine to sign letters of condolence rather than have the Sec Def do it!!!!

[Toad]

Airhead,

How long has it been like that for the NG?

Was their a new law passed that denied them a Veterans' disability pension? If so, when was it passed?

Obviously, oversights like this come to the fore in actual wartime; nobody worries about it when there's no threat.

So, what's the history on it? Did the NG ever get Vets disability?

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Airhead
Speaking of the National Guard, I made a statement weeks ago that was ignored here that bears repeating.

For a Guardsman to get disabled in Iraq is an economic death sentance, in many cases. As "part time" soldiers they don't qualify for a Veterans' disability pension, and if their disability is severe enough they can't qualify for Workman's Comp cause it wasn't an on the job industry. Best they can get is a Social Security disability pension, and that takes 24 months before they get their first check.

You would think on a Board that is so pro Iraq War, as this one is. it would deserve a comment- I guess that is just one of those things, like "drafting" DD civies to serve in Iraq, that "good" patriots don't talk about.

When a guardsmen gets called up they are on ACTIVE DUTY.

WHEN ANY MEMBER on ACTIVE DUTY gets injured or disabled while on ACTIVE DUTY they are entitled to veterans disabilities benifits PERIOD.

I'd really like to see a source of this statement that says injured guardsmen on ACTIVE DUTY arnt entitled to disability if injured.

[Airhead]

Toad, not sure how log it's been like that- I called my "expert" but they're out for the day.

Fact- NG troops are not considered full time military and, thus, are not eligible for military disability

Fact- Formre NG troops disabled in Iraq, unable to any longer perform their previous occupations, are not eligible for workman's comp causee it's not an on the job injury

Fact- It takes two years to get a Social Security disability pension

Now, for Dept. of Defense employees-

Fact- Average age of DoD employees is 48

Fact- Under new legislation to help fight this war DofD employees can be transferred to Iraq, as many have.

Fact- The DofD does not have to provide "reasons" nor even disclose the amount of DofD employees are in Iraq...not even to their own Union, the AFGE.

Fact- DofD employees are given one days' firearms course before deployment to Iraq. They are then issued body armor and a sidearm.


There's more, Toad, matybe this evening my "expert" will return my call and I'll give you the link to DofD rules and the NG policy.

[Toad]

Well, I was under the impression, like Gunslinger, that once called up the NG was considered Active Duty with the concurrent major benefits.

If you have an offical link to your facts, I'd appreciate it as I would like to read it and then address this issue with my Represenatives.

[Toad]

A Summary of VA Benefits for National Guard and Reserve Personnel

This is from the Veteran's Administration website:

Disability Benefits VA administers two disability programs. Both are tax-ree.

Compensation: VA pays monthly benefits for disabilities incurred or aggravated during active duty and active duty for training, and for heart attack or stroke incurred during inactive duty for training. Such disabilities are considered “service-connected.” Additional benefits for the member and his/her ependents or survivors may apply.

Pension: This income-based benefit is paid to veterans with honorable war-time service who are ermanently and totally disabled (or age 65 or older).

This appears to conflict with your statements. Or are you talking about something else?

[Maverick]

Airhead,

Any Guardsman or Reservist on active duty is eligable for all VA bennies if disabled on active duty. Now your "expert" may be confusing drill for active duty. In drill status the Guardsman or Reservist is not on active duty on orders. When ever a Guardsman or Reservist is placed on orders for active duty, to include annual training (this is done on written orders), they have access to all active duty health care and bennies.

Once orders have been cut placing the Guardsman or Reservist on active duty they are active, not drilling. If a Guardsman is activated for NON federal duty there may be exceptions to the VA benefits.

In the case of Federal activation, such as deployment overseas, the Guardsman or Reservist is a full time ACTIVE duty soldier on D.O.D. orders. In addition to that, if they are on active duty for more than 180 days they also earn VETERAN status. A Guardsman or Reservist who does not serve more than 180 CONSECUTIVE days of "on Federal orders" active duty does not qualify for Vet status. That is why all MOS and Officer training is set up to go no more than 179 days for Guard and Reserve soldiers. We wouldn't want all those "part time, weekend warriors" who place their entire lives and families on hold, to actually get anything but part time pay, PX and Commisary priveledges for it now would we.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Airhead
Toad, not sure how log it's been like that- I called my "expert" but they're out for the day.

Fact- NG troops are not considered full time military and, thus, are not eligible for military disability

FACT -NG troops are not considered full time military unless they are in fact full time guard.  

(so in that essence you are correcr)

BUT

NG troops do belong to the state untill they are FEDERALIZED (for lack of better words) at wich point they are on ACTIVE DUTY!

It's true if a guard member is injured while not performing guard dutys he is not entitled to VA disability.

Same goes for active duty troops though.  If a troop is injured in a car accident while coming home from a store one night he is (in most cases) not entitled to VA disability.

BUT

FACT-When NG troops are called up they are on ACTIVE DUTY and are entitled to the same benifits as all other ACTIVE DUTY members of the same grade job and skill level through out the rest of the military.

[Airhead]

Mav, they seemed pretty knowledgable, but hey, I might be wrong. Actually I hope I'm wrong.

They'll return my call, I'll get it clarified.

(Damn, I can't find my reading glasses.)

[Nash]

Once your experts return your call, and Toad gets in touch with his representatives, I'll have my people contact your people.

[Maverick]

Airhead,

<--- Retired Reservist here. I'm currently enjoying one of the bennies that a retiree (even a Reservist) has, which is using the Military RV park on Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson Arizona.

BTW, the orders a Guardsman or Reservist receives on activation has a small clause on it. It states that for the duration of time that the individual is on orders they have all pay, rights, bennies and obligations to include UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) provisions pursuant to that duty status.

Nash,

Please have your people stay on the other side of the room. We don't want any of those contaminants they carry.  

[Nash]

I didn't mean physical contact. Though.... for the right price that could probably be arranged.

[Toad]

Nash, you couldn't pay us enough.

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Nash
Once your experts return your call, and Toad gets in touch with his representatives, I'll have my people contact your people.

lol