The counterpart to this is that communities, too, rely upon the Guardsmen. State officials said that many communities are losing the very people who make it work. Many police, firefighters, paramedics and government officials also are National Guardsmen. A state official said one town's Volunteer Fire Department was decimated by the call-up.
"Other people, who don't normally volunteer, stepped forward," he said.
A final difference between active duty and reserve component service members is that active duty personnel do not have to worry about their jobs upon their return. The military asks a lot of service members, but it also asks a lot of employers of reserve component service members.
"Large corporations have the depth to absorb a year-long loss of personnel," said a state Guard official. "Smaller companies do not." Some companies have continued the Guardsmen's medical coverage. Still others have made up the difference between the Guardsmen's civilian pay and their military salaries.
Smaller businesses don't have the pockets to make these kinds of allowances, but they are still doing what they can for the called-up Guardsmen, said officials. There have been remarkably few problems to date, said the official. The state is working with the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve organization to anticipate problems.
"I expect the real problems will surface when the brigade comes home," said the official.
With all the differences, there are similarities between the active duty and reserve component. The professional attitude, the unit cohesion and the sense of mission are the same.
The Guardsmen of the 30th Brigade have been through the same training and have the same equipment as members of the active Army. Their leaders are held to the same standards as NCOs and officers on the active side. Perhaps the most telling aspect of their service is the sense of obligation to do their parts.
"My granddaddy went (to World War II), my daddy went (to Vietnam)," said one sergeant. "Now I guess it's my turn."
