When war's over, expect attrition in National Guard

When war's over, expect attrition in National Guard
EDITOR:
An editorial from The Washington Post reprinted in The Vindicator April 28 emphasized the critical condition for the Reserves and the National Guard that exists by the continued and constant call up to active duty and combat by the Republican administration.
The Washington Post editorial states, "The All-Volunteer Force shrank considerably after the Cold War. However, after 9/11/01, the demands on the military rose just as significantly." The Iraq "conflict" resulted in 45,000 civilian personnel being activated and integrated more closely than ever before with active duty combat troops.
The continued and constant call-up of the civilian forces affects their morale and especially their jobs. All this is without the protection of a declared war. Following the cessation of hostilities of Desert Storm, reservists and National Guardsmen resigned in record numbers. This can be expected after Afghanistan, Iraq and any other "activities" in the Near East.
The present issue of The National Guard, April 2003, has some recommendations to Congress and the administration to prevent a record number of resignations from the Reserve Forces. These benefits would put the civilian forces on an equal status with their active military personnel.
How is it possible for a teenage girl to be taken prisoner, and then released? How is it possible for a single mother with a two year old at home to be in a combat situation?
Is this shortage of personnel the reason that the Reserve components have to be active? Where is the foresight of Congress and the military brass?
MELVIN S. FRANK
Poland
Lt Col, USAR, Retired
Garage sale helps Angels
EDITOR:
I wish to thank everyone in the Valley for the huge success of Angels for Animals Gigantic Garage Sale. We took in $45,021 with a net profit of $37,500. This amount is equivalent to one month of operating expenses.
Angels for Animals volunteers did a great job and as usual, showed the public we work very hard to raise money for our mission to end the needless suffering and death of companion animals. We are indeed a grassroots effort. In the 13-year history of our organization, only 258 people have given us more than $500.
Pies, cookies, open houses, general hard work and a handful of very generous people put us in the position to spay 3,700 stray and abandoned pets in 2002 with the goal of 5,000 to be "fixed" this year.
Thanks to everyone who cares.
DIANE LESS BAIRD
Co-founder
Angels for Animals
Postal service under attack
EDITOR:
Recently, some members of a virtually unnoticed presidential commission reviewing the U.S. Postal Service said in a recent public hearing that they wanted to make a "big bang" with their recommendations. That "big bang," under the guise of solving the Postal Service's short-term financial problems, could result in profound changes in when, where, and how Americans get mail -- as well as how much we pay for it.
The commission may recommend easing the Postal Service's universal service mandate, which could mean reducing the number of days per week mail gets delivered, closing less profitable post offices in rural and inner-city communities, charging substantially higher rates for postal services, and scaling back post offices' hours.
Replacing the public service obligations of the U.S. Postal Service with a profit-seeking mandate that suits business and advertising mailers at the expense of the general public is bad public policy. We need to vigorously oppose any efforts by the Commission to "reform" the postal service by rewarding corporate mailers at the expenses of ordinary citizens and small businesses.
DAVID A. HIPPLE, President
Warren Local APWU
Warren