Among the latest Hawaii Guard soldiers to be mobilized to Afghanistan is 47 year old Sgt. Lee Michael Lleeces, who held his granddaughter Reianna at a mobilization ceremony yesterday. According to the
Honolulu Advertiser, Lee is not even the eldest of his group. Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Matsushige who has been a teacher for 25 years and Master Sgt. Curtis Lum are both 50 years old.
As reported in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin last Friday, Major General Bob Lee, commander general of the Hawaii Guard, told members of the Chamber of Commerce that the only unit he has left is the band. 88% of the Hawaii National Guard has been called to active duty -- the highest ratio of reservists and National Guard soldiers of any state in the country.
Meanwhile,
National Guard Recruitment Plunges, missing recruitment goals by 30%. While previously about half of the Guard's personnel have come from soldiers leaving active service, many now see it as a ticket back to Iraq or Afghanistan and are not signing up despite
bonuses of up to $15,000--triple previous amounts.
Guard commander Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum told CBS "We're in a more difficult recruiting environment."
Ya' think?!