News 14 Carolina December 13, 2004
Guardsmen take on tougher tasks
By Brittany Morehouse,
GASTONIA, N.C. -- As the Army National Guard celebrates 368 years of service, its military role is beginning to change.
Many of the part-time soldiers are starting to receive more dangerous missions.
"I think the challenge now is to just get trained on probably as many different aspects as you can, because they could take our outfit and they could possibly turn us into military police," said Sgt. 1st Class Lane Seaford, who is with the 505th Engineering Battalion in Gastonia. "That would be a whole different role than what we're used to."
Seaford's battalion is the first in the state to be certified as a Quick Reactionary Force. That means that, if needed, its soldiers are ready to leave in less than 48 hours.
"Given the extensive use of the National Guard, the distinction between active duty and Guard is becoming blurred," said Francois Boo of www.globalsecurity.org.
Some Guardsmen, like Sgt. Darrell Bonapart, say that is an honor.
Bonapart is with the 1/113th Field Artillery Battalion in Charlotte. Some of his fellow troops have been training Iraqi soldiers for the past year.
"I watch the news a lot more," he said Monday. "I've been trying not to, but you just can't help it. We're dealing with our brothers and sisters that are over there serving, and you just want to know what's going on with them and how they're doing."
Bonapart said he is proud that every member of his unit is accounted for. But that is not the norm, according to a USA Today analysis of Pentagon statistics. The analysis said that part-time Army troops are about 33 percent more likely to be killed overseas than full-time soldiers.
Seaford said that might be because most Guard units serve as convoy soldiers -- the most dangerous assignment out there.
Sgt. 1st Class Mo Fregia recruits soldiers for the National Guard, and he said one of the best traits a part-time soldier can have is flexibility.
"Regardless of what a person's given job is, every soldier in the National Guard is trained to improvise, adapt and overcome," he said.
North Carolina was one of only nine states in the country whose Army National Guard exceeded its strength expectations for the year.
Copyright © 2004 Charlotte News Channel, L.L.C d.b.a. News 14 Carolina
