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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 24, 2005 Since You Asked Reduced active-duty troops shifts burden to the Guard Back in the ’50s, I remember my brother-in-law being in the National Guard. At that time they were used to strengthen and protect our country within its boundaries. They literally guarded our nation in case of invasion or helped with disasters. What has happened to change that so now they are being sent overseas to fight on foreign land? That was the job of the Army, Navy and Marines back then. — Trish T., Medford Congress began cutting back on active-duty forces in the early 1990s after the end of the Cold War. "The concept then was that the United States’ primary adversary no longer presented a threat to national security," said Capt. Michael Braibish, spokesman for the Oregon National Guard. The decrease in active-duty forces shifted more of the burden of responding to crises around the world to the National Guard and Reserves. Still, the National Guard acted in a support role to the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy. Advertisement The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks changed the nature of the National Guard. "The National Guard has always been used overseas but not as a frontline Tier 1 fighting source until Sept. 11," Braibish said. "National Guard, reserves and active-duty forces now work side by side." Nearly 50 percent of troops deployed overseas are members of the National Guard or reservists. The Oregon National Guard has more than 1,000 soldiers overseas, largely in Afghanistan and Iraq. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to Since You Asked ">[email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s