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To: unclewest who wrote (193294)	1/18/2007 7:50:59 AM
From: DMaA	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793966

Minnesota National Guard leaders forgot to tell troops about 125-day extension: Guard commander: Army goofed The colonel apologized for the Army's mishandling of how Guard members and their families got word of the extension in the deployment of Minnesota troops. By Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune The top commander for the Minnesota National Guard in Iraq apologized on Wednesday for miscommunications that resulted in soldiers in Iraq being left in the dark about a 125-day extension of their deployment as part of a troop increase ordered by President Bush. Col. David Elicerio, the brigade commander of the 34th Infantry Division 1st Brigade combat team, said Guard members are not likely to be extended past the additional 125-day period because of federal guidelines limiting to 24 months the length of time the Guard can be deployed. "The Army did goof this one up. They made a mistake," Elicerio said in a teleconference from Camp Adder, near Talil, Iraq. "I apologize for the Army for screwing this one up." The breakdown in communication raised frustrations and concerns among soldiers and family members and brought complaints from elected officials. Family members and the public first learned of the extension the night of Jan. 10. Many soldiers got the news from e-mails or the Internet. Elicerio said the breakdown occurred in the chain of command above him when two officials thought the other had made the notification. Elicerio's bluntness was unusual for an organization well-schooled in understatement. "Do I feel bad about apologizing for the Army? Hell no," he said. Hardship pay sought About 2,600 members of the Minnesota Guard have been deployed to Iraq since March and were scheduled to begin returning home in two months. They are part of a 5,000-member brigade that has been conducting base security and convoy protection in Iraq. Those missions are likely to continue. Elicerio said efforts are being made to address personal difficulties created by the extension, including issues related to student loans, applications for colleges and employer concerns about the delay in employees returning to work. In addition, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and a bipartisan group including Minnesota's two U.S. senators and six of its U.S. representatives sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, asking for hardship pay for members of the Minnesota Guard who will have their tours of duty in Iraq extended. Active duty soldiers receive an additional $1,000 a month in pay if their deployments are extended past 12 months and the letter suggests that the Guard members should receive the same benefits. In addition, the letter asks for funding and resources to help with re-integration programs for Guard members and their families once the soldiers return. It asks that the Army reconsider a program that involves a 90-day "hands off" policy in which returning soldiers are relieved of military duties once they return. Guard officials say they believe a pilot program that requires soldiers and their families to participate in reintegration programs at 30-, 60- and 90-day increments helps returning soldiers' readjustment to civilian life. startribune.com

To: unclewest who wrote (193294)	1/18/2007 6:31:14 PM
From: KLP	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793966

Thanks for the input uw! It's not any wonder that most Americans don't really understand why it takes so long to supply, etc---most don't ever hear or think about things like this...Most never see it on TV or the print media. At least most of us here on SI try to keep somewhat up-to-date with conditions and events.... Re combat support: Iraq needs updated equipment...but do we pay for that too, or do they? Who supplies the pieces? Contracts for the Government take sometimes years...unless they themselves have worked for a supplier, or someone close to them has, the average person has NO clue about why hammers cost $800.+ each or other such things we hear bandied about. Government Regs take up literally ROOMS of BOOKS filled with shelves floor to ceiling with onionskin paper ..... Redundant is the word....50 million forms to be filled out for every item along each of the paths, etc etc etc..... Does Iraq pay for all the support training? Storage of equipment? etc etc... If the Congress stops funding our troops, wouldn't it just be better to withdraw immediately and not keep them in harms way? The Dem controlled Congress and Administration made those same decisions during VietNam in their non-wisdom. Those decisions caused hundreds of thousands of deaths....perhaps millions. What can we do to stop this from happening again?