1.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
2.
Arkansas Army National Guard
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The Arkansas Army National Guard is a component of the Arkansas National Guard and the United States National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau, Arkansas Army National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards, the Arkansas National Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas Army National Guard is composed of approximately 8,000 soldiers, unlike Army Reserve members, National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually, but only as part of their respective units. For much of the decades of the 20th century, National Guard personnel typically served One weekend a month. The current forces formation plans of the US Army call for the typical National Guard unit to one year of active duty for every six years of service. More specifically, current Department of Defense policy is that individual Guardsman will be given 24 months between deployments of no more than 12 months each, when not activated for its Federal mission, the governor through the State Adjutant General commands Guard forces. The governor can call the Guard into action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, drought, the Arkansas National Guard traces its roots to the creation of the Territorial Militia in 1804. Interest in the Militia in Arkansas generally waxed and waned throughout the 19th century as various national emergencies arose, organizations existed at the county and city level, but regimental designations above the company level did not become stable until the closing years of the 19th century. During much of this local militia companies were supported by private funds. Arkansas provided troops for the War with Mexico, the American Civil War, in each case, in answer to the governors call, local militia companies would turn out and be formed into regiments or battalions for induction into federal service. The militia was also engaged in the violence that characterized the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. Arkansas National Guard troops participated in the Mexican Expedition in 1916–1917, when the Arkansas National Guard units were mustered into Federal Service for World War I, their state designations were removed and they were renumbered in accordance with a national System. Arkansas provided many units for World War II, both organizations work for the Adjutant General of Arkansas. The Adjutant General may be either a member of the Air National Guard or the Army National Guard, the 936th and 937th Field Artillery Battalions, along with several other Arkansas Army and Air National Guard units were mobilized again for service in the Korean War. Throughout the Cold War Arkansas National Guard units underwent multiple re-organizations in response to the nations Cold War strategy, no Arkansas National Guard Troops participated in the Vietnam War, but the state was called upon again to support Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The years following the first Persian Gulf War saw an increase in the use of National Guard units for service overseas to support various peace-keeping operations. During the 1980s Arkansas Nation Guard units made multiple training rotations to Honduras during a period of increased Marxist activity, following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the National Guard transitioned from the nations strategic reserve to a part of the operational force
3.
Iraq War
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The Iraq War was a protracted armed conflict that began in 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition that toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. The conflict continued for much of the decade as an insurgency emerged to oppose the occupying forces. An estimated 151,000 to 600,000 or more Iraqis were killed in the first 3–4 years of conflict and it became re-involved in 2014 at the head of a new coalition, the insurgency and many dimensions of the civil armed conflict continue. The invasion began on 20 March 2003, with the U. S. joined by the United Kingdom and several allies, launching a shock. Iraqi forces were overwhelmed as U. S. forces swept through the country. The invasion led to the collapse of the Baathist government, President Hussein was captured during Operation Red Dawn in December of that same year, the United States responded with a troop surge in 2007. The winding down of U. S. involvement in Iraq accelerated under President Barack Obama, the U. S. formally withdrew all combat troops from Iraq by December 2011. Select U. S. officials accused Saddam of harboring and supporting al-Qaeda, while others cited the desire to end a repressive dictatorship, after the invasion, no substantial evidence was found to verify the initial claims about WMDs. The rationale and misrepresentation of pre-war intelligence faced heavy criticism within the U. S. in the aftermath of the invasion, Iraq held multi-party elections in 2005. Nouri al-Maliki became Prime Minister in 2006 and remained in office until 2014, the al-Maliki government enacted policies that were widely seen as having the effect of alienating the countrys Sunni minority and worsening sectarian tensions. The Iraq War caused hundreds of thousands of civilian, and thousands of military casualties, the majority of casualties occurred as a result of the insurgency and civil conflicts between 2004 and 2007. A1990 Frontline report on The arming of Iraq said, Officially, most Western nations participated in an arms embargo against Iraq during the 1980s. Western companies, primarily in Germany and Great Britain, but also in the United States, sold Iraq the key technology for its chemical, missile, any Western governments seemed remarkably indifferent, if not enthusiastic, about those deals. N Washington, the government consistently followed a policy which allowed and perhaps encouraged the growth of Saddam Husseins arsenal. The Western arming of Iraq took place in the context of the Iran-Iraq War, prior to September 2002, the CIA was the George W. Bush administrations main provider of intelligence on Iraq. The agency was out to disprove linkage between Iraq and terrorism the Pentagon adviser told me, the U. N. had prohibited Iraq from developing or possessing such weapons after the Gulf War and required Iraq to permit inspections confirming compliance. This was confirmed by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, during 2002, Bush repeatedly warned of military action against Iraq unless inspections were allowed to progress unfettered. In accordance with U. N. Security Council Resolution 1441, Iraq agreed to new inspections under United Nations Monitoring, as part of its weapons inspection obligations, Iraq was required to supply a full declaration of its current weapons capabilities and manufacturing
4.
Iraq Campaign Medal
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The medal was designed by the U. S. Army Institute of Heraldry and was awarded during the Iraq War, from 29 November 2004 to 31 December 2011. The medal is bronze in appearance,1 1⁄4 inches in diameter, the obverse depicts a relief of the map of Iraq, surmounted by two lines representing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers throughout, superimposed over a palm wreath. Above is the inscription IRAQ CAMPAIGN, on the reverse, the Statue of Freedom surmounts a sunburst, encircled by two scimitars pointing down with the blades crossing at the tips. Below is the inscription FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ, the medal is suspended from a ribbon 1 3⁄8 inches wide. The stripes of the ribbon are, 5⁄32 inch scarlet at the edges, followed by 1⁄16 inch white, 1⁄32 inch green, the white is separated by a 5⁄32 inch black with a 7⁄16 inch stripe in chamois in the center. The Iraq Campaign Medal was awarded to any member of the U. S. military who performed duty within the borders of Iraq for a period of thirty days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal was awarded retroactively from 19 March 2003 until the end of Operation New Dawn on 31 December 2011, the medal was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Iraq, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps. On 23 April 2012, an order terminating the award of the Iraq Campaign Medal was issued by the Department of Defense, the order is effective to 31 December 2011, the day Operation New Dawn ended. U. S. military personnel serving inside the borders of Iraq after December 2011 will not be eligible to receive the ICM. U. S. However, the U. S. government dubbed their operations in Iraq post-2014 as Operation Inherent Resolve, and in March 2016, the IRCM is now awarded to those who have served in missions in Iraq against ISIS from June 2014 to the present. Those who were awarded the GWOTEM for serving in Iraq from June 2014 to March 2016 can put in a request for the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal instead. The Iraq Campaign Medal replaced the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in Iraq from 19 March 2003, personnel who previously received the GWOTEM for Iraq service were given the option to exchange the medal for the Iraq Campaign Medal. Both medals were not authorized for the period of service in Iraq. The Decorations and Medals of Operation Iraqi Freedom, claymont, DE, Orders and Medals Society of America
5.
150th Cavalry Regiment
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The 150th Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the West Virginia Army National Guard, with troops in multiple locations throughout West Virginia. Its heritage with the West Virginia National Guard dates back to the Revolutionary War, the lineage of the 150th Cavalry Regiment dates back to 1 March 1778, with the formation of the Militia of Greenbrier County. On 22 December 1792, the Militia of Greenbrier County was reorganized as companies of the 13th Brigade. During the War of 1812, five companies from the 13th Brigade were combined with seven companies from what is now northern West Virginia to form the 2nd Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Militia. During the American Civil War, units with Union sympathies were combined to form the 5th and 9th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiments, on 7 June 1889, the 1st West Virginia Veteran Infantry Regiment was reorganized as the 2nd Regiment, West Virginia National Guard. After being federalized it was redesignated as the 150th Infantry Regiment, the regiment would remain assigned to the 38th Division until the beginning of WWII. On 1 March 1942, the regiment was relieved from its assignment the 38th, after the war, the regiment went through a period of slow but drastic change. On 1 July 1955, the regiment was reorganized from an Infantry table of organization and equipment unit to an Armored Cavalry TO&E unit, on 1 March 1968, 2nd Squadron was relieved from the regiment and broken up to form other units within the West Virginia National Guard. Meanwhile, two later, 3rd Squadron was redesignated as 3rd Squadron, 107th Armored Cavalry. When the 30th Enhanced Heavy Separate Brigade began mobilization to partake in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, 1st Battalion, the battalion served with the brigade for approximately one year in Iraq and redeployed with the brigade back to the United States. Today, 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment is the active squadron in the regiment. The unit is composed of cavalry scouts equipped with HMMWVs and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, attached below the shield a bipartite scroll inscribed WE CAN TAKE IT in Blue. Symbolism The shield is blue, representative of the original organization, the powder horn is adapted from the State coat of arms. The five mullets symbolize the wars in which the regiment participated. Background The distinctive unit insignia was approved for the 150th Infantry Regiment on 28 May 1934. It was redesignated for the 150th Armored Cavalry Regiment on 21 September 1955, the insignia was redesignated for the 150th Armor Regiment with the description and symbolism revised effective 1 September 1993. Shield Azure, a powder horn Argent, mouth to dexter, ferruled Or, stringed of the second, symbolism Shield The shield is blue, representative of the original organization. The powder horn is adapted from the State coat of arms, the five mullets symbolize the wars in which the original regiment participated
6.
153rd Cavalry Regiment
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The 153rd Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the Florida Army National Guard. Only the 1st Squadron of the regiment is active, with headquarters at Panama City, the squadron was formed in 2007 by conversion of the 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry. First Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Darkhorse is headquartered in Panama City, the 2006-07 BCT reorganization disbanded E Troop altogether and converted the 3rd Battalion Warrior, 124th Infantry into what is the 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry. Though E Troop and 1st Squadron share the same coat of arms, 1-153 Cavalry was constituted entirely from the infantrymen of 3-124 Infantry and so continue the 3rd Battalions lineage. In 1968 a 3rd Infantry battalion of the 124th Infantry was reconstituted and remained a light infantry battalion until 2006-2007 when the converted into the 1-153rd Cavalry Squadron. They specialized in fighting and made many rotations to Fort Sherman. 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry was mobilized just after Christmas 2002 and moved up to Fort Stewart, alpha and Charlie companies deployed to Kuwait in January and were part of the initial invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. One company was attached to the 4th Infantry Division and was on a waiting orders to invade through Turkey before Turkey denied U. S. forces entry. Companies of the battalion were attached to 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, in 2004 when 3rd ID left, 3-124 Infantry was attached to 1st Armored Division, with elements also supporting 5th Special Forces Group. The battalion was assigned to downtown Baghdad, based at FOB Warrior in the Aadhamiya neighborhood, three years after the cavalry transformation, the squadron was mobilized and deployed with the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. In preparation for their 2010 deployment, the squadron underwent intense training at Camp Blanding. They mobilized under Title 10 orders on 2 January 2010 and flew to Fort Hood, in the first week of March the squadron arrived at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. B Troop deployed to Qatar for a security force mission, HHT, A, and C Troops were stationed at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. A Troop controlled Khabari Crossing at the border of Iraq, C Troop was responsible for quick reaction force missions around Camps Buehring and Virginia and an area reaction force mission for northern Kuwait. The squadron redeployed and demobilized at Fort Stewart, GA in December,2010, the troop had tanks and armored personnel carriers. In 1968, a 3rd Infantry battalion was constituted when the 53rd Armored Brigade was re-flagged as the 53rd Infantry Brigade, Troop E was reactivated in Ocala, Florida and deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. The Ocala-based Troop E was disbanded during the Brigade Combat Team reformation in 2006-2007. S, Army Center of Military History Lineage for 153rd Cavalry Senger, Dustin. 153rd Cavalry Soldiers shift to Qatar mission, Cavalry Soldiers test to earn their spurs
7.
Warren, Arkansas
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Warren is a city in and the county seat of Bradley County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,003, when settlers from the east began to arrive in south Arkansas, the land was inhabited by the indigenous tribe known as the Quapaw. The earliest cession of territory was made in 1818, with a boundary against the neighboring Choctaw tribe in 1820. Although the area had settled by European-Americans for about thirty years. Tradition says the city is named after a slave, freed by Captain Hugh Bradley. The original plat was laid out on land donated by Isaac Pennington, the citys Victorian-era courthouse was originally built in 1903 and still maintains the exterior character, despite necessary refurbishments to the interior offices and courtroom. Warren is located in northeast Bradley County on high ground 2 miles west of the Saline River, U. S. Route 63 passes through the center of the city, leading north 46 miles to Pine Bluff and southwest 50 miles to El Dorado. U. S. Route 278 bypasses Warren to the south and leads east 16 miles to Monticello and west 26 miles to Hampton. According to the United States Census Bureau, Warren has an area of 7.2 square miles, of which 0.023 square miles. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers, according to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Warren has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated Cfa on climate maps. Tornadoes have occurred on at least two occasions, the first occurred on January 3,1949, killing 55 people and injuring 435. On March 28,1975, another tornado killed 7 people, both were rated F4 on the Fujita scale. The Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival is held yearly in Warren, begun in 1956, the festival is one of Arkansas longest-running annual community festivals. Public education for early childhood, elementary and secondary students is provided by Warren School District. Warren High Schools athletic emblem and mascot is The Fightin Lumberjacks, the school colors are orange and black. The Warren Lumberjacks are 4 time state champions in football, the Lumberjack football team won the Class AAA State Championship in 2001,2002, and Class 4A Championship in 2014 and 2016. They were also the 2006 and 2013 Class 4A State Runner-up in Football, the Lumberjack baseball team were the Class AAA State Champions in 2005. Warren also holds state titles in basketball, Boys track, girls tennis, after the 2015 football season, the school district announced that synthetic turf would replace the natural grass field at Jim Hurley Jr Stadium
8.
39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
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The 39th IBCT was one of fifteen National Guard brigades designated as an enhanced separate brigade. Brigades with this designation received higher levels of training, more advanced equipment, in 2005, it was converted to the standard modular IBCT design as part of Army transformation. The 39th IBCT is the largest National Guard command in Arkansas and it is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was placed in service on 12 October 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The 39th was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division and served in and around Baghdad for a year, the 39th led the effort to evacuate an estimated 16,000 people from the New Orleans Convention Center. The 39th Brigade completed its deployment to Iraq in December 2008. Unlike the last deployment to Iraq from 2004–2005, the 39th Brigade headquarters did not have command, the main antecedent of todays brigade was the 39th Infantry Division, created in 1917, which consisted of troops from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The division shipped to France, August – September 1918 and it was then sent to the St. Florent area, southwest of Bourges, where it was designated as a replacement division and several of the units were transferred to combat divisions. The division demobilized the following month at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the unit was demobilized after the war. In the years between the World Wars, the headquarters was deactivated, but its Arkansas elements continued as part of the Arkansas National Guard. These former 39th Division elements were activated independently for WWII, for a history of their participation, see the article on the 153rd Infantry Regiment and the 206th Coast Artillery. The 39th Infantry Division was reconstituted on 30 September 1946 and it was composed of units from Arkansas and Louisiana, with its headquarters stationed at New Orleans, Louisiana and the Arkansas portion headquartered in Little Rock Arkansas. During this period the division included the 153rd Infantry Regiment, the 156th Infantry Regiment, in 1967 the division was redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade and in 1973 was paired with the US 101st Airborne Division as a training partner and became an air-assault brigade. The following Regiments were represented in the 39th Infantry Brigade, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 151st Cavalry Regiment, in 1994 the 39th was again reorganized and gained its designation as an enhanced brigade. In 1999, the 39th became part of the 7th Infantry Division under the Army Integrated Division concept which paired National Guard and Reserve brigades with active duty headquarters and support units. In 2006, the 7th Infantry Division was deactivated and the 39th IBCT was placed under the command, on 2 November 1967 in accordance with National Guard Bureau Memo NG-AROTO 1002-01, the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade. This change resulted in a massive restationing within the state as follows, 39th Brigade units conducted numerous overseas training rotations throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. 1981, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry conducted annual training in Great Britain with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as part of the Volunteer Warrior/Hard Charger Exercise,1986, Company B, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry conducted annual training in Honduras
9.
Marianna, Arkansas
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Marianna is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Arkansas. Located along the LAnguille River in the Arkansas Delta just north of the St. Francis National Forest, the citys economy has historically been based on agricultural, especially cotton production. The city is located along Crowleys Ridge Parkway and the Great River Road, the community was established by Col. Walter H. Otey in 1848 and was known as Walnut Ridge until 1852. Marianna is located at the north-west tip of St. Francis National Forest, Marianna is located at 34°46′26″N 90°45′54″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 3.6 square miles. The towns current mayor is Hon, mayor Jimmy Williams who took office on Jan. As of the census of 2010, there were 4,115 people,1,664 households, the population density was 1,440.0 people per square mile. There were 2,196 housing units at a density of 610.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 20. 9% White,76. 6% Black or African American,0. 2% Native American,0. 8% Asian,0. 0% from other races,0. 7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32. 8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13. 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.10. In the city, the population was out with 34. 4% under the age of 18,9. 5% from 18 to 24,22. 0% from 25 to 44,19. 4% from 45 to 64. The median age was 31 years, for every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.6 males, the median income for a household in the city was $16,351, and the median income for a family was $29,624. Males had an income of $28,542 versus $19,045 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,253, about 32. 8% of families and 37. 0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46. 2% of those under age 18 and 33. 1% of those age 65 or over. As of 2011, there are five schools in Marianna, two of which are private, the public schools in Lee County School District are Lee High School, Anna Strong Middle School, and Whitten Elementary School. One of the schools is Lee Academy.0 earthquake in the future. The fault is close to, but appears to be separate from, the Marianna Water and Sewer Commission directs the Marianna Water Department, which treats and distributes potable water to the residents and commercial users of the city
10.
3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment
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The history of the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry as an individual battalion begins with the reorganization of the 39th Infantry Division in 1967 and the creation of the 39th Infantry Brigade. For history of the 3rd Battalion prior to 1967, see 153rd Infantry Regiment, 3–153rd deployed soldiers to Bosnia in support of the Multi-National Security Forces and to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch. The 3–153rd deployed as a battalion under the 39th Infantry Brigade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004–2005, Company C, 3–153rd was award the Valorous Unit Award for the period 25 March 2004 –20 January 2005 while serving with the battalion in the Adhamiyah neighborhood of Baghdad. The 3rd Battalion was deactivated on 5 September 2005 when the 39th Infantry Brigade was reorganized under the brigade combat team concept. The units of the 3–153rd were reorganized as the 1st Squadron, in 1967, the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized and redesignated as the 39th Infantry Brigade. In 1973 the 39th Infantry Brigade was paired with the US 101st Airborne Division as a training partner, in 1994 the 39th was again reorganized and gained its designation as an enhanced brigade. In 1999, the 39th became part of the 7th Infantry Division under the Army Integrated Division concept which paired National Guard and Reserve brigades with active duty headquarters, the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry conducted an overseas training in 1990. Company C, 3–153rd conducted Annual Training in Honduras as part of the National Guard Bureaus Overseas Training Program, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry of the 39th BCT was activated for Operation Southern Watch in May through September 1999. Company B, 3-153 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 39th Brigade Soldiers provided security at Patriot Missile Batteries during these deployments. The mission lasted a total of four months, and was the first pure National Guard effort in the region, the companies were attached to 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division for the deployment as part of Task Force Eagle. They performed presence patrols outside Forward Operating Base Morgan and Camp McGovern, the soldiers also guarded the sites. In 2002 the 39th Brigade was notified that it would be participating in a rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, the brigade was required to complete a Mission Rehearsal Exercise during the Annual Training 2003 which was conducted at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Less than a month after the completion of major training milestone. On 12 October 2003, the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, the 3–153rd IN would undergo post mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas from October 2003 until January 2004. In January the 3–153rd shipped its vehicles and equipment to Iraq from Fort Hood, while there, on 17 February 2004, President George W. Bush visited the 39th and had an MRE lunch in a field mess tent with soldiers. After lunch, President Bush made brief remarks to the soldiers, when the 3–153rd IN received its alert, it was approximately 130 soldiers short of its authorized end strength. This shortage was due in part to the way new recruits are accounted for in the National Guard. In the active army a new recruit only comes to a unit and is counted on its books after the soldier has completed Basic Combat Training, in the National Guard, the new recruit is counted on the units strength reports as soon as the soldier signs his contract
United States
