In the United States, the state of North Dakota is changing the rules for its National Guard so that retired military personnel can be mobilized for service during a local emergency. This only involves retired NCOs, as officers are already covered by a similar program. There are over 2,000 retired military personnel in the state are eligible for service under the new proposal. When activated, usually only for weeks, or months, the retired (after 20 or more years) troops would quickly join local Guard units and deal, usually, with a natural disaster. The retired troops would make a few bucks for the time they were on duty, but they would bring with them decades of military experience. Some of those retired troops would also have experience with National Guard service, but many retire from that because family and job demands don't leave enough time for regular Guard duties (one weekend a month, and two weeks during the Summer, of active duty and training). The North Dakota experiment is being closely watched by other states, because if the idea works, it would provide states low cost/high quality personnel when they need them most.
I wonder what kind of percentage could be called up? How many would be aware, willing, and capable of serving?
