I am a 68-year-old widow who joined the Alabama State Defense Force (ASDF) two years ago because I was sure this organization offered me an opportunity to continue to learn and achieve. At present, my position is that of Platoon Sergeant/Company Clerk, with the rank of SFC.

I’d like to think that I’m a fairly intelligent person, but why should anyone in the ASDF strive to better him/herself with any of the training courses offered? Lately, we’ve been informed if we desire promotions, most of the training is MANDATORY! We are, after all, VOLUNTEERS, not Regular Army! This is the first Volunteer organization wherein I’ve had to pay dues to belong! Even though I live on a fixed income, I’ve managed to pay my way to the best of my ability. But, when I’m told YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, it gets my hackles raised!

Every training class which has been offered, I’ve taken and am certified. I passed the MEMS/PDS courses to earn my MEMS Badge within a month after joining my unit, which at that time was a detached platoon. I am certified in Traffic Control, Storm Spotters, First Aid, CERT, and CPR. I’ve attended and received a certificate for Basic Brigade Course (SOS). Further, I am certified as a CERT Train-the Trainer.

If a directive were issued from Battalion stating any or all of the above training would be important towards being of assistance to our communities at external missions or during disasters or emergencies, I usually was one of the first to enroll – enthusiastically! As a former military wife, I know the importance of training. Also, as a college graduate (University of Montevallo, Class of 1998, BBA), I thoroughly understand the importance of furthering one’s education.

However, I am having a great deal of trouble understanding why our unit is being punished for actively participating in all the offered training courses. We have a wonderful rapport with the local police department, sheriff’s department, local EMA, parks and recreation department, and various local merchants who have come to rely on us to handle traffic control, parking issues, gate crashers, and patrol of sites because we constantly strive to follow the rules of the ASDF in these endeavors.

Our troops are being recruited away from our unit (a practice which I was lead to believe the ASDF would not condone), smear tactics are being used by those who (or so it appears) must be jealous of our good work and can’t or won’t catch up to our standards of performance, our unit is being subversively threatened with being shut down, and our Command Staff is treated like pariahs. A former member of our unit is actively pursuing “crash and burn” tactics against us, regardless of who may get hurt in the process. One of our current members was pinned at a Brigade function without waiting for orders to come down and without informing the commander, after a directive had been issued no rank can be worn until orders are received! What a slap in the face to those who have been awaiting orders for as much as six months for Assignment!

Some of the powers that be are convinced a member, who transferred to another unit and who couldn’t make it through AIT in the Regular Army, walks on water! I always thought the term “prior service” meant the person served at least one tour of duty in the military. These same powers that be lie and cheat their way up the ladder while professing to be “good Christians” and make every effort to subvert our unit by listening to the lies, innuendoes, and exaggerations of those who like to kiss butt to make themselves look important. The individuals who proudly claim to be “prior service” make a mockery of my deceased husband’s distinguished military career, as well as those members of my unit who not only served an extended time or retired from the military, but served in a war zone.

The secret organization that nobody is supposed to know anything about but everybody knows all about it contains persons of less than moral character.
I shudder to think that my back may be protected by them! I don’t want to be anywhere near them during a time of crisis, thank you!

High-ranking officers are making threatening phone calls to some of our members (wish I knew who they were because I’d really like them to call me and try to threaten me).
I appreciate the statement which rules the military – “nothing is as constant as change.” But, the ASDF is not and should not be one hundred percent military because it is comprised of volunteers who want to give back to their state, community, family, friends, and neighbors. I could drill with the best of them until I fractured my pelvis. I’ve had very few complaints concerning the way the unit’s paperwork is done, and have never backed down from doing anything to help anyone – whether in my unit or another.

The actions which are currently taking place are – in a word – reprehensible.