MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Some National Guard soldiers thought they had September off but instead faced mandatory fun days, sources confirmed.
The National Guard had announced at the beginning of September that, due to budget constraints, drill would be canceled for almost all units across the U.S. However, the Pentagon shuffled budgets around at the last minute and announced drills for many units immediately prior to the final weekend of the month.
"Fortunately, we were able to move some money and get these soldiers back where they belong, sitting on their armory floor looking at Facebook on their phones," said Maj. Thomas Peters, a public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau. "Because this was a last minute decision, the NGB has decided to make drill optional for those units whose cancellations had previously been announced."
"However, we were unable to stop unit commanders from forcing troops to gather reluctantly together for unit picnics and other types of 'mandatory fun,'" Peters added
