Published April 29, 2005 10:36 AM EDT

By DAVID DAVIS - Managing Editor

ATHENS - Tennessee Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett Jr. told about 300 family members and friends the 278th will be home after 365 days of boots on the ground. The state's top military officer addressed 1st Squadron Family Support Groups from Athens, Cleveland, Dayton and Sweetwater at McMinn Central High School Thursday evening.

"If you know what day they got in country, you can figure by 365 days, they're coming out of there, give or take a day or two, because the Air Force does mess up sometime," he said. "They're about halfway through, and they know that."

They will return to Camp Shelby, Miss., where they'll be out-processed.

When Hargett learned that Sgt. Matt Bunch was home on leave and in the audience, the general walked to where the enlisted man sat and invited him to sit at the head table.

He invited the audience to ask questions because "there is nothing that is too tough for Sgt. Bunch."

The general said he didn't see a lot of frowns, but a lot of men and women who are proud to be doing something for their country.

"Let me include women," he said. "We have given three or four medals of valor to females form Tennessee. We got a lot of young females doing a heck of a lot of good stuff for us in Iraq."

The 194th Engineer Brigade is responsible for reconstruction in southern Iraq. The 278th ACR flying provisions in and out of Mozul to Fallujah and the 278th is responsible for all the eastern border. In Afghanistan, the Tennessee National Guard is paying all the troops and the Tennessee Air National Guard is in Kuwait.

"We literally have men and women around the world doing the things they are called on to do. I can remember just a few years ago when people said if you call out the Guard, they won't show up," he said. "How many people around here did you see that didn't show up? Not many."

He said when the 278th returns, families will find there, soldiers are real live American heroes.

"If you knew the things they were doing and the successes they were having, it would amaze you," he said.

Concerning recruiting and retention, Hargett said in April, 100 high school seniors enlisted in the National Guard. He said more people re-enlist from units that have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq than the ones that didn't go.

"With the new bonuses in the 278th alone, in the month of March, we paid $1 million, so that tells you how many are re-enlisting while they are over there.

"We do have a little problem with our prior service guys coming off of active duty and getting in the Guard because of one of three things. They take the bonus and stay on active duty; they have been deployed around the world and most of them, if they've been in four years, they've been deployed two or three times and they are ready for a break. Or, they are people the Army doesn't want and we don't either."

One soldier who re-enlisted in Iraq told the general that he received a $15,000 bonus, but that's not why he opted to remain in the service.

"He said, 'It's about my 1-year-old son. I'd rather kill all of them over here than for him to fight them over there.' That tells you a lot about the guys and gals that we got over there and I can tell you that's the predominant attitude," Hargett said.

The general explained that most who want to come on leave will have that opportunity, but there will be some who won't. There will be some who will decide not to return home for 15 days and return to Iraq for another month.

"Most people who want to take leave will get to take leave, but maybe everyone won't," he said.

He told the audience the Guard units have never gone below 98 percent troop strength since they've been in Iraq.

Also, he said about 93 percent of the guardsmen are making more money than they were as a civilian.

"When you throw in the tax-free stuff they are doing quite well financially," he said.

The general encouraged the family support groups to talk to their congressmen about retirement at age 55 and military health insurance. For every 90 days on active duty, the soldiers can buy into the health care system for one year.

"It's a great plan," he said. "But we need to make that permanent so every guardsman can buy into a health care program to stay medically ready to do what he needs to do.

"We're dealing with a system in the Guard that was set up in World War II and we haven't changed it since then. I think all of you can see the world has changed and the Guard has changed. If you look at the face of the Guard today, it's not what it was when I got in the Guard.

"We need to pay the young men and women for what they do to protect our country."

Gen. Hargett began his remarks by asking the audience if they had ever heard of the term, "weekend warrior.' You don't hear that much anymore."

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