By I have been thinking that Republicans have been overstating the fact that Governor Palin is the commander of the Alaska National Guard:
The Alaska National Guard, which Republicans are pointing to as an important national-security credential for vice presidential choice Sarah Palin, has personnel shortages that make its aviation units the most poorly staffed in the nation.
Just six months ago, Air Force Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the Alaska Guard’s top officer, warned in an internal memo that “missions are at risk.” The lack of qualified airmen, Campbell said, “has reached a crisis level.”
The situation has improved since the March 1 memo was written, Campbell said Wednesday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press — but not enough to eliminate his concern that shortages will result in the “burnout” of troops the Guard already has. That could result in missions and equipment being moved out of Alaska.
Campbell installed a new policy that could stop officers from advancing unless they show success at bringing in new members and retaining existing troops.
Campbell is due to receive a third star on Sunday — a promotion approved by Palin, who has authority over the Alaska National Guard. He described Palin as very supportive of the Guard, but said she gives him latitude to manage the force. Governors typically do not have a direct role in day-to-day operations. [Army Times]
Yes Governors pretty much have nothing to do with day to day operations of the Guard and really only have authority when using the Guard for domestic actions such as fighting forest fires or disaster relief operations. You can read more about Governor Palin’s National Guard Credentials here.
4:33 pm on September 5th, 2008 1
This sounds like a load of crap…if people DO NOT want to join, then no one can be held accountable. More of the "Zero-Defect" mentality that plagues today's military.
There are obviously better opportunities for the younger generation, or they are tired of seeing the body count climb, while politicans continue to run their mouths about the greater good…all the while we continue to treat Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. with kid gloves.
We should have adopted a scorched earth policy…i.e. "We can either be your best friend, or your worst enemy" as the Marines did in Al Anbar province & look at what province has been turned over to the Iraqis…of course what they will do with it remains to be seen.
10:23 pm on September 5th, 2008 2
I think that this MG Campbell speaks only of the Air National Guard, not the Army National Guard. Hasn't a full BCT of Alaskans been back and forth to Iraq and Afghanistan a couple times?
There aren't many opportunities for anyone in Alaska, other than the opportunity to get the hell out of the state. NG recruiting should be pretty easy.
10:27 pm on September 5th, 2008 3
Oh, and I bet that her daughter's boyfriend is ready to sign up. He'll need the money in 3 or 4 months.
5:52 am on September 6th, 2008 4
It is indeed fair to credit Governor Palin as the commander of the AK National Guard. Unless you have worked in that state political environment it is hard to understand how often the governor gets embroiled in the politics and personalities of their state's national guard. As someone who has, I can assure you that any governor who comes into office is quickly faced with an established "good ole boy" network in their air and army guard units and there are often long entrenched personnel issues and favoritism. For example, in Texas, Governor George Bush completely shook up the Texas Guard when he appointed an Air Guard colonel, Daniel James as the Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard. Danny is the son of 4-star general Chappie James, the nations first Black 4-star and Danny James's appointment shook up the entrenched establishment of the Army national guard in Texas. A few years later, the 49th Armored Division demonstrated incredible professionalism as the first Guard Division to completely run the mission in Bosnia. Obviously that was a result of a lot of good training and Army Guard leadership but the right people were in place in the Army Guard to make it happen and the Governor played a large role in providing leadership and cleaning out the underbrush.
I don't know what Sarah Palin may have achieved in the past 20 months but it seems clear she doesn't suffer fools or "good ole boys" gladly and it also occurs to me that she took the time to go visit the troops and even fire a few weapons with them so she has her priorities right. She sets a great personal example and she has a son who volunteered. She clearly has better defense creds than Barack Obama or Joe Biden who apparently flunked ROTC in college.
6:17 am on September 6th, 2008 5
Palin's worst enemy are those trying to impress people with her position as head of the Alaska Guard. There was an extremely embarassing interview on CBS as a person who obviously didn't know a damn thing about the Guard operations was trying to impress folks with how Palin shined as "Commander-in-chief" of the Alaka Guard. He embarassed Palin — and should be shot.
Truthfully, Palin really hasn't done much with the Guard. According to the Maj. Gen. in charge (soon to be three-star after Palin approved it), he has been delegated responsibility for most of the operational tasks. However, those areas not delegated, he does coordinate with Palin's office. In Palin's first year in office, there were few state taskings for the Guard and in the second year, they were used in different areas for security and aid assists. Palin isn't making a big deal of this — but the Republican PR folks are trying to push it. This is a mistake. In truth, she really has done little with the Guard — as you really need a natural disaster to get her involved…and there was no such need.
The foot-in-the-mouth incompetence of a Republican spokesman in the CBS interview was flat embarrassing. He talked of the Alaska troops deploying as though Palin was somehow involved. Once the troops are federalized, Palin has no control of them.
The Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot by pushing this aspect of her gubernatorial duties. But regardless, I still think she's got a lot going for her — though the Democrats are trying to stab her in the heart at every turn.
11:21 am on November 23rd, 2008 6
Sarah Palin is over stated. I've heard so many different stories about her that I don't know what to believe. She does love the limelight but I believe she is still a novice. She caters to General Campbell because he has her fooled and he has political motives. He and General Kacus of the Alaska Guard are both self serving politicians who have never been in battle. Too bad the great Guardsmen and women don't have real leaders.