In the Donald Trump administration's haste to federalize California National Guard troops to hit the streets of Los Angeles to protect ICE agents grabbing immigrants, the Pentagon has dropped the ball on providing the paperwork that would get them paid and activate their benefits, according to a report.
In interviews with more than a dozen of those deployed, Military.com found frustration that the Department of Defense, under Secretary Pete Hegseth, is not upholding its obligation to provide their "formal activation orders, the critical paperwork that not only authorizes their duty status, but also unlocks pay, Tricare health benefits and eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits."
The report notes that the hasty move to send the Guard to LA, bypassing a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom, is a contributing factor to the snafu.
Add to that, the unpopularity of the militarized occupation of an American city has put off local merchants who are normally supportive of the military.
According to the report, the failure of the administration is "... indicative of a slapdash mission where the welfare of troops has not been a priority. Several service members described inadequate living conditions at staging areas such as the military facility at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, where soldiers are sleeping outside on cots due to a shortage of space. Others cited intermittent issues with food and fuel supplies."
The report adds that traditionally, when the National Guard is deployed to assist in distressed communities, they are welcomed with open arms. But soldiers are getting the cold shoulder this time.
"One midlevel officer said their unit would receive 'extremely generous' help when deployed to combat wildfires, including water, sports drinks and food, which played a significant role in morale and tightened the Guard-community relationship," the report notes, before adding one officer conceded, "This is a situation [where] we're against the community."
You can read more here.