Page 25 - December 2018

Reserves or National Guard enlistment will likely mean deployment
During the past couple of months, I’ve received numerous calls from police officers who desire
to join the Reserves or National Guard and
want to know how it will affect them with
On Dec. 7, 1941, planes from the Japanese Empire attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, at that time known as the Hawaii Territory, killing more than 2,300 Americans. The following day, in an address to a joint session of Congress, President Franklin Roosevelt called Dec. 7, 1941, “a date y which will live in infamy.” This launched the U.S. into
the department. After providing them with
the information, I also explain that mem-
bers of the Reserves and National Guard will
be deployed for the foreseeable future. It’s
not a matter of “if” they will be mobilized, but rather “when” they will be called for active service.
When I was a battalion commander, the U.S. Army Reserve Commander referred to his formations as an “Operational Re- serve” force. I also went on to explain that prior to a scheduled deployment, they may have extended battle assemblies (formerly known as drills) in preparation for their deployment to a theater of operations. This results in a greater time commitment on be- half of the service member. These pre-deployment training peri- ods do not count toward mobilization time. The current conflicts (Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Opera- tion New Dawn; OEF/OIF/OND) have an all-volunteer force that could result in multiple deployments, as opposed to previous conflicts like Vietnam, and is the largest and longest-lasting mo- bilization of the Reserves and National Guard since the Korean War. Keep in mind that my purpose was not to discourage service but rather to inform our brothers and sisters of the true nature of the military commitment required of them.
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World War II, which eventually led to V-J Day. With all the veterans returning home, veterans’ benefits expanded in the areas of health, education and home ownership oppor-
tunities that many of the current veterans have today.
Sadly, we recently had a retired fraternal brother commit sui- cide. Please, if you are a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, the Veterans Administration has caring, qualified responders available for confidential help. Many of them are veterans them- selves. You can call 800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255 to start a confidential chat. If you have hearing loss, call 800-273- 8255. As I’ve stated in the past, you may also call the FOP Lodge, President Graham’s team or even me — we will get you the help you need. Please, help each other get through the tough times so
that we all may enjoy the holiday season together.
My fellow brothers and sisters, I wish all of you a Merry Christ- mas and a happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year! Thank you
for your service.
If you have a question or comment, email me at LTC_Cruz@wow- way.com.
JERRY CRUZ
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2018 25