Hill Concerned About Sending Indiana National Guard Troops Back to Iraq
Hill Concerned About Sending Indiana National Guard Troops Back to Iraq
According to an article that appeared in The New York Times this morning, "National Guard May Undertake Iraq Duty Early," National Guard commanders in Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas and Oklahoma have been alerted that unties from their respective states that had already served in Iraq may have to return to Iraq between January and June of 2008.
"The National Guard units in Indiana were not supposed to have to return to Iraq until 2009," Hill said. "Asking these troops and their families to undergo another tortuous tour in Iraq is asking too much."
The New York Times article reports that these brigades will not know their fate for several more months. If, however, they are asked to return to Iraq, the units will have to significantly accelerate their training. The administration has previously told guardsmen that they would get several years between tours.
"Breaking such an important promise to members of our National Guard and Reserve is reprehensible and unconscionable," Hill said. "I find it odd that as our international allies are scaling back their troops, we are sending more of our soldiers to Iraq."
The article also questions if these units will be prepared, both physically and mentally, to withstand another tour of duty in Iraq. The commander of the Oklahoma National Guard states in the article that his soldiers are lacking the proper equipment needed to fight in Iraq. In addition, most units need six months of training before going to Iraq, but due to such units being redeployed, they would only likely get three months of preparation.
"I am urging the Administration to think long and hard about making this decision," Hill said. "Our soldiers are not trained to thwart a civil war, and that is what they are being asked to do. I do not believe we can ask these men and women to do this againthey are physically and mentally exhausted."
Congressman Hill has sent a letter to Army leadership expressing his concerns with redeploying National Guard units in Indiana.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/in09_hill/pr_070222.shtml