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Tonight on Bill Moyers: The New Jersey National Guard in Iraq

Bill Moyers Journal on PBS is airing a piece tonight on the New Jersey National Guard, half of which is in Iraq or at Fort Bliss in Texas preparing to deploy. Tune in tonight, Friday, September 4th at 9pm. Here is a preview:

VFA recently released a report on the disproportionate burden of the Iraq war that our National Guard is bearing. The New Jersey National Guard has been hit particularly hard. When the 50th Brigade Combat Team leaves Ft. Bliss, TX and goes to Iraq, roughly half of the NJ National Guard will be in Iraq — and 30% of the NJ Guard has already been there.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Adrienne Willis  - awillis@veteransforamerica.org  - 917.359.8543

 Veterans for America (VFA) Stands with Our National Guard as They Prepare for Hurricane Gustav

 September 1, 2008 , Washington, DC - - Our country owes a great debt of gratitude to the thousands of citizen Soldiers from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida who currently stand at the ready to respond to Hurricane Gustav.

Our National Guard has shouldered an incredible burden in the past few years as a result of its heavy use in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as its continued commitment to respond to various contingencies and emergencies within the United States.  As VFA has found, between now and the end of President Bush’s term in office, about 20,000 members of the Army National Guard will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.  This constitutes about half of all members of the Army who will be deployed over this timeframe.

VFA recently launched a nationwide program focused on assessing the needs of our National Guard.  Indications from VFA’s work and from the Department of Defense suggest that the needs of the members of the National Guard – and their families – are considerable.  For instance, the Department of Defense recently found that almost half of the members of the National Guard who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered considerable psychological injuries.

VFA remains strongly committed to ensuring that our National Guard and their families receive the support their sacrifice merits.

For more information on VFA’s work supporting the National Guard, visit: www.veteransforamerica.org

Barack Obama addresses the National Guard crisis

From Stars and Stripes, Interview With Senator Barack Obama, Leo Shane III, August 11, 2008

I think it’s also important that we return our National Guard and reserve to its traditional mission, which is primarily one of homeland security.Our National Guardsmen and reservists take enormous pride in the work they’ve done. But we have put an enormous burden on them. Our National Guards here back home are not adequately trained to meet a potential catastrophe here in the United States. We saw that during Katrina. We saw some evidence of that during the tornadoes in Kansas. There are a whole bunch of units all across the country that essentially have left all their equipment behind, back in Iraq. So there’s going to be an important reset function for the next administration.   

>>More on VFA’s work with the National Guard>>Read the full interview with Sen. Obama 

*For more information or interviews, please contact Adrienne Willis, Director of Communications at 202-557-7509 or by email at awillis@veteransforamerica.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Veterans for America Applauds Focus Given to National Guard at Convention

August 25, 2008

Veterans for America (VFA)  is encouraged by the decision of Sen. Barack Obama to invite the father-in-law, Mike Fisher, of an Indiana National Guardsman to address the assembled delegates of the opening night of the Democratic National Convention 2008. 

The use of the National Guard has reached levels not seen since World War II.  At least 35 states, including Mr. Fisher’s home state of Indiana, have experienced their largest National Guard deployments in over 60 years.  Indiana’s 76^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) is halfway through its third tour, the most of any frontline unit in the Guard.  Members of the National Guard who had been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan are 25% more likely to develop PTSD and face increasing likelihood of alcohol and drug abuse.  Quite clearly, the Guard has not been adequately trained or prepared for the combat pressures they have been asked to step up to.

VFA applauds Sen. Barack Obama for recognizing in his recent interview with Stars and Stripes that the Guard belongs closer to home, but stresses that the current condition and misuse of the National Guard is an urgent non-partisan issue.  The next President of the United States, regardless of party, must address the problems that confront the National Guard in this crucial period.   Bobby Muller, president of VFA, notes: “The overuse of the Guard is a national issue that cuts straight to the heart of our security and to the heart of every American who cares about our military.” 

Our National Guard: Too High a Price

July 9, 2008 – Veterans for America (VFA) releases the first of its findings on the impact of the Iraq war on our National Guard troops and their families.

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FINDINGS

Veterans for America has worked with Guard members and their families across the country as they bravely cope with long and often repeated mobilizations. VFA is deeply concerned that:

· Between now and the end of President George W. Bush’s term in office, almost half of the Soldiers who are scheduled to deploy to Iraq will come from the National Guard.

· More than half of the Army National Guard combat units deploying to Iraq in this timeframe will be on their second tour.

Click here to read more.

Will Our Presidential Candidates Demand A Stop To “Stop-Loss”?

By Bobby Muller

When men and women in our country join the military, we enter into a sacred contract with them that obliges us honor their willingness to serve and sacrifice – end of story.

One of the most egregious violations of this mutual trust is something called “stop loss” – a very disturbing practice by which our men and women in uniform are forced to continue to serve in the military, after they had expected that they could leave.

Click here to read more.

Our National Guard: Too High a Price

Veterans for America (VFA) releases the first of its findings on the impact of the Iraq war on our National Guard troops and their families.

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FINDINGS

Veterans for America has worked with Guard members and their families across the country as they bravely cope with long and often repeated mobilizations. More…