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Another issue would be that active soldiers who deploy "ramp up" in the post they are assigned to, while Nation Guard soldiers do their "ramp up" in another state. This puts a strain on family life and doesn't allow National Guard soldiers the ability to fix any problems before deploying.
Oftentimes, what was once pride in supporting National Guard soldiers has become a burden to the community because their resources are not set up for a specific group. They have to be fair and spread their resources to benefit the entire community, not just soldiers. So, while before it was fashionable to "support the troops," over time, the zeal has faded.
That must be discouraging. We never talked about what Ian did, employment-wise, before he was snatched away for constant deployment.
Before Ian left for Afghanistan, he worked as the OIC (officer in control) for the small arms instructors on Fort Dix, a civilian contractor position for the Army. Prior to that, he was on the Counterdrug Task Force as a full-time Guardsman. He is currently a Plans Officer for the G3 Joint Force Headquarters for the State of NJ.
So, he was one of the few whose livelihood was not totally disrupted by deployment?
Actually, it is only this month Ian now has job stability (he just secured an AGR job). Until now, he's been on one temp set of orders after another and we've definitely been worried about job security. The small arms instructor job, as I mentioned, was a civilian one and, because it was a contractor position, there were no assurances of job protection like Guardsmen typically are supposed to have. In fact, the company he worked for just lost their contract on post. Thankfully, that didn't impact Ian, but it easily could have. And many Guardsmen who thought they had job protection came back from a year away to an entirely different economic climate and workplaces that have folded and vanished during their absence.
I think in our relationship it has been my employment that has been more disrupted. We are both very committed to the idea of one of us always being there for our kids. We've never put them in daycare, even when he's been deployed and we've both been working full-time. Instead, I adjust my work so that I can still be primary caretaker when Ian is on orders. This has sometimes meant taking less than ideal work situations because the kids come before my "career."
Anything that you'd like to add, Randi, before we wrap up our interview?
I think that the biggest distinction that I'd hope to make would be that of a gesture versus an action. A gesture is a great starting point. I'm excited to learn about local restaurants offering free appetizers to soldiers for Veterans Day. I smile whenever I see an "I support the troops" magnet or bumper sticker on a car. But, those are gestures. They don't impact on the quality of life for our service members or their families. Awareness is important, but not enough. Home Front Hearts is committed to educating communities and having them take action in whatever way is meaningful for them to support those we serve.
Thank you for talking with me so frankly, Randi. It's been a pleasure and an education. Good luck to you and Ian, your family, and Home Front Hearts.
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Part One of my interview with Randi
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