I’m trying to keep this a legit question, because I’m non military and lots of things I don’t understand.
We are all aware of the national guard being deployed to various cities,,,
What is the protocol if those troops are actually shot by the street gangs and other armed individuals?
Do the troops just suck it up, or do they engage?
Please don’t make this political and be grown ups .
Thanks.

… the fact that is even a discussion is a travesty in itself

… we were stronger at one point in time

I haven't seen the actual "Rules of Engagement" on this . That said , when I was in the Guard before going Navy Reserve , I'd get orders to support State law enforcement operations such as cannabis eradication . Same rules applied for us as the law enforcement agencies . If firearms were brought to bear against us or our partners, we were authorized to react accordingly.

Yeah gotta see the ROE before we say anything really

…. Appreciate your service Aaron

Thanks, bud. If I were being honest, most of that career could've been summed by, " I can't believe I'm being paid to do this".

Consider that they may not even be armed in many cases. Photos of the ones in DC showed no weapons, more of a show the colors type foot patrol.
If they are in direct support around federal buildings it may be riot gear with only the federal LEOs armed.

The ROE will have been very carefully vetted by JAG and DOJ.

Most of the guardsmen are not Military Police or even specifically trained in riot control as riot control isnt a standard training for 90+% of service members. Probably given a quick few days of training then sent to do the mission.

I know that in my time there were concerns of anti war/nuke protests in west germany and we were given a class on it. Nothing at all on being armed or any type of ROE. As much what areas to avoid and how to stand without reacting as it seemed if we were to do anything it was to line up inside the fence and stand at parade rest just to keep protesters out.

I will say that if guardsmen are shot then all bets are off.

Much of that changed radically after 9/11 .

There is always the incident at Kent State. to consider

My National Guard unit deployed for riot control in 1986. We had no firearms, only long billy clubs. Yes, we did train for riot control but that was nearly 40 years ago.

Most if not all of these deployments are in support roles.

Thank you guys,,,

Kent State

screw it up once screw it up for every future deployment.

Somewhere around 50 "protesters" at Kent State were stoning the National Guard when the National Guard opened fire. A great many people have been killed with rocks in human history and some still are daily. Some of the rocks thrown were over 2 pounds. I believe the shooting, though very unpopular, was fully justified.

Keith

If you are an American and are fired upon the Constitution allows you to defend yourself.

If this doesn’t apply to Guardsmen, then perhaps we should be on the street guarding them.

Knowing that I believe you are correct and that you make an excellent example of media control of a scenario, that part never gets mentioned it what is written about it today.

I like the example if a man throws a grenade , the weapon has left his possession and he is unarmed , but you don't know that he doesn't have a second so you must shoot him any way because it is reasonable to assume if he is capable of throwing one grenade he is capable of 2,3,4.

Even liberal sources mention that the guards were trapped, being hit with rocks for 10 minutes before firing.

"Guardsmen followed the students onto the field and endured shouting and rock throwing for about 10 minutes, reportedly feeling trapped by the field's fencing.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story...appened-ohio-national-guard/83326965007/

Less liberal sources provide better details.

"By Sunday night, the thuggish element of the student body again took center stage. The mob grew and began throwing rocks, bottles, and railroad spikes at guardsmen, who prevented the radicals from moving off campus into town. That action probably saved some student lives, as there is considerable evidence that armed residents of Kent were prepared, if law enforcement proved incapable of keeping order, to meet a reprise of the rioting with their own lethal force."

The next day was Monday, May 4.

"Well, they might try throwing bricks and rocks the size of softballs, which they did. Many guardsmen were hit by these projectiles. VanDeMark describes one who took a direct hit on his steel helmet, which left a massive dent and cracked the helmet’s fiberglass interior. One lieutenant colonel was hit by rocks six times. Another barely avoided a two-foot log swung at him. One of the guardsmen aptly summarized the situation: “They had hate in them… they were trying to kill us.” Others were terrified that the mob might swarm them and turn their own bayonets and rifles against them."

https://chroniclesmagazine.org/reviews/the-truth-about-the-kent-state-shootings/

Around 50 people were throwing deadly items at the National Guard for at least 10 minutes, before the shooting. Around 500 more were with them egging them on and yelling at the Guard. 2500 more angry people surrounded the guard further back, also yelling, but to far away to hit the guard with deadly projectiles.

Some of the recovered rocks, that actually hit guardsmen, weighed over 2 pounds. You can kill someone with a lot smaller rock than that. You can kill people with thrown bricks and railroad spikes too.

Keith

I see , I found it further down in the event I was reading , first time I had ever seen that part

definitely was not mentioned in school.

although my school like to avoid all history after WWII too many kids with parents in Korea or Vietnam

The DC guard I believe they were armed.

"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered that National Guard troops patrolling the streets of Washington for President Trump's law enforcement crackdown be armed, the Pentagon said Friday."