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Some notes on National Guard training

[In my description of Bush's years in the Texas Air Guard, I used terms like "active duty" and "full-time service" in a way that differs from the military's understanding. Here's a corrective that came in the email -- Dan Ford]

I appreciate your efforts to set the records straight about the President's military service, but I must ask that you consider a re-write, using the correct language associated with military service....

There are five branches of the US Armed Forces: US Army, US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and the US Coast Guard. Each branch of the military has an active component and reserve components. The US Army is structured as follows:

US Army (Active Component)
US Army Reserves (Reserve Component)
Army National Guard (Reserve Component)

Similarly, the US Air Force:

US Air Force (Active Component)
US Air Force Reserves (Reserve Component)
Air National Guard (Reserve Component)

The US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard all have Active Components, and one Reserve Component (US Naval Reserves, US Marine Corps Reserves, and the US Coast Guard Reserves).

Regardless of which component service members enter, the Active Component is responsible for the majority of the training. Members of the Guard and Reserves are required to take Basic Training under the auspices of the Active Component, but are not considered on "Active Duty" like service members who enlisted in the Active Component. Their status, as defined by military regulations, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs (Title 38, U.S.C.) is "Active Duty For Training." That takes us to your article and the President's military service.

You stated the President "_served as enlisted man until he completed basic training on September 3." Again, using the word "served" is suggestive of service on Active Duty, versus attending basic training, or Active Duty For Training. You make think it is semantics, but the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs both have laws and regulations that get very specifice about "serving."

You go on to report, "In November 1968 2nd Lt Bush went back on active duty_" You were correct in this, but should have continued by stating he went back on Active Duty For Training to complete his pilot training. You continue later in the same paragraph by writing, "he had served nearly eleven months during his first year in the Air Guard. (Note that this was full-time service, not the weekend duty associated with the National Guard)." This is not remarkable. All service members who enlist in the Guard or Reserves are required to complete their Initial Entry Training for Basic Combat Training, as well as to learn their military job, before they are able to participate in week-end drills or Annual Training (15 days) with their Guard or Reserve units. It appears you are trying to convice folks that he served on Active Duty - that is NOT true. To claim a person served on Active Duty is to show that person ENLISTED into the Active Component, attended Intitial Entry Training, completed that training, and then was assigned to various Active Duty units for the period for which he enlisted. The President was on Active Duty For Training, as required by all members of the Guard and Reserve, and upon completion, he was assigned to a Guard unit. So, it was NOT full-time service as you assert. It was the normal type of duty associated with the National Guard; weekend duty being only another type of duty associated with the National Guard.

You go on to write, "On June 23, he graduated from Combat Crew Training School. This completed his active-duty career with a cumulative total of about 21 months in uniform." Again, this is terribly misleading. He did not have an active-duty career, because he never enlisted in, nor was ever a member of the Active Component of the US Air Force. All of his time on active duty is classified as Active Duty For Training. Based on Title 38 of the US Code, and 38 Code of Federal Regulation, the President is not even considered a veteran. "Veteran means a person who served in the ACTIVE military, naval, or air service and who was discharged, or released under conditions other than dishonorable." (38 CFR, 3.1). Now, each veteran related benefit has some modifications to this basic definition, but there is a clear distinction between active duty in the active components, and Active Duty For Training.

"(21) The term "active duty" means-
(A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training
(B) full-time duty (other than for training purposes) as a commissioned officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service (i) on or after July 29, 145, or (ii) before the date under circumstances affording entitlement to "full military benefits' or, (iii) at any time, for the purposes of chapter 13 of this title_." (Title 38, Section 101)

"(22) The term 'active duty for training' means -
(A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces performed by Reserves for training purposes;" Title 38, Section 101

I would invite you to please use the appropriate language associated with military service if you are going to set the record straight. Again, as stated in my opening, I do appreciate your efforts. Too many people are making issues surrounding the President's service in the Air Guard that are not unusual, such as his lack of drill attendance duing his short stay in Alabama. He is not the only member of the Guard that has not attended drill for whatever authorized reason, so folks need to know that. There is also nothing unusual about his request to be transferred to the Inactive National Guard (ING). But please refrain from trying to classify his service as Active Duty when it clearly was not.

On another note, members of the Guard and Reserve are required to attend drills one weekend per month and 15 days of Annual Training per year. In days, this would be 24 plus 15, or 39 days altogether, not 38. Yet, the Saturday and Sunday weekend drills are considered 4 days of Inactive Duty Training, and members of the Guard and Reserves are paid 4 days of active duty pay. One 4 hour period is considered one day, thus Saturday (8 to 12) = 1 day, and Saturday (1-5pm) = 1 day. On our retirement point worksheets, we receive 48 points for 48 IDTs per year, plus 15 points for membership, and 1 point for each day we are on Active Duty For Training during our Annual Training (normally 15), so that the typical Guardist or Reservists accumulates 78 points per year towards retirement, and all that is needed for the year to count as a "good" year for retirement purposes is 50 points.

I am surprised at the lack of understanding about military service. Even veterans spoke out against the President in what appeared to be total ignorance of about military service is classified. Please don't muddy the waters by using terminology that is associated with Active Duty. Tell the story. There is absolutely nothing wrong with service in the Guard or Reserves, but it is different than service in the Active Components.

I hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Michael G. Smith, Jr.
County Veteran Service Officer
SFC, US Army Reserves