Title, link and quote:

"National Guard is gearing up for year 2000"

http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/business.pat,business/30dab190.122,.html

What started as a free-wheeling Internet story with hush-hush sources has been put into perspective by the Kansas National Guard and Guard officials in Washington.

A writer with WorldNetDaily, an on-line newspaper, posted a long piece on the Internet recently that led some to believe the National Guard is planning to mobilize its 480,000 members May 1-2 for a Y2K communications drill. It would be the first such action since 1940.

Not entirely true. Yes, a drill is planned. But no, troops will not be mobilized to drill, said spokeman Joy Moser with the Kansas National Guard in Topeka.

On May 1-2, the nationwide COMEX/MOBEX drill will assume it is New Year's Day 2000 and telephones are not working. The test is to see if Guard Units can be notified during what is known as a "COMM-Out" period.

Nationally, high-frequency radios will be used to reach state leaders, said Jack Hooper, a Guard spokesman in Washington. In Kansas, Moser said, old high-frequency radios equipped with vacuum tubes will be used to communicate with some Guard units.

State units test their own communications networks annually, but Moser said this unclassified drill would be a first for the nation.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 24, 1999

Answers

Great catch, Kevin. Thanks for bringing this story to the board.

Hope they are using tube HF sets. Definately Y2K compliant...

-- Lewis (aslanshow@yahoo.com), January 24, 1999.

Vacuum Tubes? Since when are transistors vulnerable to Y2K? Transistors are vulnerable to EMP. Vacuum Tubes are not. Heads up, incoming.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), January 24, 1999.

World Net also said that the Guard members would not have to report. I have to give them credit for breaking this story 2 weeks ago. Thanks for the confirmation.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), January 24, 1999.

Here's another article on the National Guard. This is from The Cincinnati Post:

http://www.cincypost.com/news/guard011599.html

The Kentucky National Guard will activate up to 300 troops and station them throughout the commonwealth.

The Ohio National Guard is designing a mobilization plan in case the governor declares a state of emergency.

The Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency will be staffed and operational on a 24-hour-a-day basis.

War? Riot? Flood?

Nope.

Computer crash.

Concern over computers conking out on Jan. 1, 2000, has reached the point where the National Guard and other emergency units are drawing up contingency plans.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 24, 1999.

Good one Kevin!

What the KC article failed to point out is that they haven't done something like this since WWII and that the National Guard is being "pulled in" to the Total Force strategies of the Pentagon, per William Cohen's direction. Not to mention stronger involvement with FEMA and Y2K and national terriorism rediness exercises. Lot's of "additional" puzzle pieces can easily be overlooked.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 24, 1999.

Nikoli:

The NG has tons of surplus Collins 3-30 MHz HF (shortwave) transceivers stored all over the country. Within its limitations - no fancy computer control circuits - this tube-type radio equipment performs exceptionally well, and is very strong and reliable. It should serve the Guard well for its intended use.

-- Why2K? (who@knows.com), January 25, 1999.

hmm, thought most of the R-390 series radios were either sold as parts or surplus...interesting.

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), January 25, 1999.

Why2k. Each of the events, patterns, and policies, which made up my scenario in the Going Nuclear thread could have an alternative explanation as it stands alone. It is only when you grasp the concept of not being able to see the forest for the trees that the overall PATERN will stand out. Stepping back and looking at the overall situation, and realizing what it is leading up to, it is quite easy to then spot relevant tidbits of information that relate to it. If you subscibe to STRATFOR global intelligence updates this weeks Red Alert is a real clue. Even they have finally realized something is afoot here. Reguarding the reliability of a bunch of old Vacuum tube comm. gear, I have a storage closet full of high dollar stereo equipment that is pre-digital and now junk due to internal corrosion of switches, tuners, and connectors. This stuff is a lot newer than those old radios the guard is breaking out.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), January 25, 1999.