George Bush In The National Guard

Bush's National Guard Service

A fact has evidence to support statements and fiction is not based on truth but is created. National Guard service is a major part of the political campaign this year as well as last year and is a topic that is debated about extensively. George W. Bush's duty in the National Guard Service had facts tagged to it, but also caused critics and those who do not support Bush attached to his service, to speculate.

George Bush's history in the National Guard first started in 1968 when he completed the qualifications to be an office. At this time Bush was still attending Yale University. His father was heavily involved in politics and he was accused of getting his son into the Texas Air National Guard, because of his political power. Bush received an interview with Walter B. Staudt and his application to the National Guard and received pilot training, and was quickly accepted. In the same year Bush received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. In July of 1968 Bush went to basic military training in San Antonio, Texas and by August of that year he completed his basic training. From November to December of 1969 Bush went to undergraduate training to be a pilot, and was trained to fly a standard aircraft. In May of 1972 Bush asked for a 3 month transfer to a base in Alabama, but eventually returned to Texas in November of 1972. Bush is credited with serving 226 days in his first year, 313 in his second year, and after he was trained to fly he got 46 days of duty added to his name. During the time in question of Bush's absence he only received 22 days of duty.

Bush completed his service with the Air National Guard in the year of 1973 when he requested to be discharged from the Texas Air National Guard and transfer to the Air

Reserve Personnel Center. The transfer was approved even though many believe it should have been denied since he had a sporadic attendance record. This is where controversies come up about Bush completing his time in the Guard. Records from the National Guard become a factor in exploiting Bush's time of absence in the Texas Air National Guard.

Records show Bush served his time admirably in his stay in the Guard up until 1972 and 1973, the last two years in his service with the National Guard. These records again show Bush did not show up for training with the other troops for a period of time as long as six months at a time. In January 1972, Bush was ordered to be present three days for physiological training in Texas. These required training sessions were held at the Laredo Air Force Base and when the documents at the Laredo Air Force Base came up about his attendance records, they shown that Bush was credited for his duty training for the three days that where spoken of. Pilots at this time were required to restore their flight training every three years. Bush did not complete this training and eventually skipped the yearly medical exam and was told he could not fly. Bush does not deny that he skipped the exam, but also says he was planning on training with the Alabama Air National Guard. He planned on training with the Alabama crew because a Bush family friend campaign was going to be on the United States Senate.

Training is an important part of being a member in the Texas Air National Guard and again, records have shown that Bush did not go to training one time between middle April to the end of October in the year of 1972. Although not attending any training programs, he is credited with six days in October and November 1972. Many people

believe this is when he served his time with the Alabama Air National Guard. When the Alabama Air National Guard service brought their records out they said that Bush never had any training or did not complete any drills at their base. Ironically, their records also point out that Bush only had a dental examination at the base in January 1973. Bush believes and swears that he completed his time in the Guard and did nothing to dishonor his time in the service. He even is quoted as saying "I can remember walking up to my F-102 fighter and seeing the mechanics there, I was on the same team as them, and I relied on them... The responsibility to show up and do your job" (Paine 2). Bush believes in having responsibility to do your job, but looking at the documents it seems like Bush did not live up to his word.

AWOL, which is the abbreviation for Absent WithOut Leave. This is something that Bush was never actually charged with and never shows up in any of his records. The evidence shown is documentation that he was not able to be at the mandatory Guard drills .for that six month period. The Air Force spent a large sum of money and time into training these pilots and Bush displayed disrespect when he didn't report to his training. Air Force Soldiers have a deep belief in AWOL, and when someone is accused of it, it is looked down upon. Writer Tom Paine says, "The lack of regular attendance goes against the basic concept of a National Guard kept strong by citizen soldiers who maintain their skills through regular training" (Paine 2).

The National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia found an interesting document that states when Bush enlisted his commitment ran until May 26, 1974. Bush discharged in October of 1973, further showing his lack of dedication. The ARPC has since tacked

on another six months to Bush's commitment. Due to this extra six months, Bush has not fulfilled as much time as thought to have completed in the first place. Many say Bush may have completed this time in the Service, but they know he did not complete it in the manner he was supposed to. They believe he did not attend any drills to complete his time. He never did drills again after the day he enrolled at Harvard University. The way Bush completed his time was by adding his name to a paper unit in Denver, Colorado where he had no responsibility to do any duty or show up at all. George Bush was part of both the Alabama and Texas Air National Guard and records show that he received pay checks from being on the payroll. It shows that he did do some time at both bases, but it raises the question whether or not he completed his time with the correct requirements.

The lack of attendance for George Bush should have resulted in him being asked to stay longer in his duty instead of being discharged in 1973. The "missing year" as people call it is a cause for ordering George Bush to stay on duty for an extended period in time up to two years. If Bush was ordered to do that he would have had to be in Vietnam during the war. He would not have been ignorant to this since he signed a paper which listed the consequences for a lack of attendance or participation. Bush could have also faced a court