{"id":1232088,"date":"2022-01-22T17:53:42","date_gmt":"2022-01-22T22:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1232088"},"modified":"2022-01-22T17:54:18","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T22:54:18","slug":"media-and-political-attacks-on-national-guard-at-border-inaccurate-false-says-texas-military","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-and-political-attacks-on-national-guard-at-border-inaccurate-false-says-texas-military\/","title":{"rendered":"Media and Political Attacks on National Guard at Border &#039;Inaccurate, False,&#039; Says Texas Military"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmedia-and-political-attacks-on-national-guard-at-border-inaccurate-false-says-texas-military%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1232088&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20210921_151034-1-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">After weeks of what appears to be politically motivated criticism, the Texas Military Department fired back with an official response to questions over pay issues, housing conditions, and suicide incidents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter multiple failed attempts to correct the record with these outlets, the Texas Military Department wants to set the record straight to ensure accurate reporting on this mission,\u201d Colonel Rita Holton, Public Affairs Director for the Texas Military Department said in a written statement.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt is clear that reporters have gleaned information from anonymous sources and unverified documents, which have then been skewed to push an agenda,\u201d Col. Holton explained. \u201cAllegations relate to the state\u2019s mobilization, deployment, and operations in support of Operation Lone Star.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Texas military says the \u201cnebulous charges\u201d that members of the Texas National Guard are not paid are \u201cinaccurate.\u201d Col. Holton reports that \u201cevery service member assigned to Operation Lone Star is being paid.\u201d She admits there were some administrative challenges in the rapid spin-up of Operation Lone Star.<\/p>\n<p>The Texas Military Department statement offers:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Following Hurricane Harvey, the agency conducted a thorough after-action review, which identified issues with the pay system the agency was using at that time.<\/p>\n<p>Based on the review, TMD procured and implemented a new pay system for state active duty missions. OLS has been, by far, the largest onboarding of service members into the current state payroll system and will be the longest-running state active duty mission utilizing this payroll system.<\/p>\n<p>This has given TMD the opportunity to identify gaps within the system, which are being actively addressed. Specifically, on Sunday, Jan. 16, Pay Strike Teams arrived along the border to support individual service members with pay questions. To date, approximately 75 percent of pay discrepancies have been resolved, to include, back pay for those who have been paid inaccurate amounts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The state agency established a hotline for payroll issues. The number,&nbsp;512-782-1234, is available 24\/7 for the use of Guardsmen.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the biggest issue being exploited for what appears to be political purposes relates to the suicides of members of the Texas National Guard.<\/p>\n<p>Texas military officials processed more than 900 hardship requests in connection to Operation Lone Star, the statement reports. Seventy-five percent of these requests have been approved.<\/p>\n<p>Colonel Holton said the media narrative that the Texas Military Department is systematically or routinely denied hardship requests are \u201cfalse reports.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn regards to four service member deaths, there has been misleading and false information pushed to the public without proper context, irrespective of family sensitivities and desires,\u201d Col. Holton stated. \u201cTwo of the four service members mentioned by outlets were mobilized in support of Operation Lone Star.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Holton said that while the investigations are still underway, \u201cthere is no evidence to support an assumption that their decisions were made as a direct result of hardship denials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would be irresponsible journalism at this point in time to tie these tragedies to Operation Lone Star,\u201d Col. Holton said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Texas military officials met with members of the families and expressed that the family members wish to have their privacy respected at this time of grieving.<\/p>\n<p>Texas military officials processed more than 900 hardship requests in connection to Operation Lone Star, the statement reports. Seventy-five percent of these requests have been approved.<\/p>\n<p>During calendar year 2021, the Texas Military Department experienced a total of nine suicides out of their 22,000 members.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Holton also addressed the issues of equipment, living conditions and COVID-19 protocols.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere have been inaccurate reports and social media posts attempting to malign and undermine Texas Military Department efforts to support our service members along the border,\u201d the colonel added. \u201cOur personnel are trained to operate and adapt in austere environments at home and abroad. As with any mission, we continue to adjust as the situation evolves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She reported that commanders identified areas for improvement in equipment and living conditions and are working together with vendors and supply chains to address the solutions.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding COVID-19, Colonel Holton reported that less than one percent of the state\u2019s military force is under quarantine or isolation. She added that Guardsmen have access to PPE, testing, vaccines, and antibody therapeutics. The leadership is conducting contact tracing as well for members who contract the COVID virus.<\/p>\n<p>Colonel Holton added the following accomplishments of the men and women of the Texas National Guard assigned to Operation Lone Star.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Approximately 100,000 illegal migrants have been apprehended or referred to our partner federal and state law enforcement agencies;<\/li>\n<li>More than 9,000 individuals, attempting to enter Texas illegally, have been returned to Mexico;<\/li>\n<li>Significant drug and weapon seizures have occurred, including the lethal drug fentanyl;<\/li>\n<li>And the ongoing construction of temporary barriers along the border is further deterring criminal activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Holton reports that the National Guard operations, working in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety are establishing a \u201csteel curtain of protection\u201d for the public and private property owners along the Texas-Mexico border.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/author\/bob-price\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/author\/bob-price\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1583344635394000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFbc5T2NTdEL9_YFsQbXuOF3xOKVQ\"><em>Bob Price<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/border\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/border\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1583344635394000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHrdMnYOa5wlYK9eCiMk9vHw1BGNg\">Breitbart Texas-Border team<\/a>. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston\u2019s&nbsp;<\/em><a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox26houston.com\/shows\/whats-your-point\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">What\u2019s Your Point?<\/a>&nbsp;<i>Sunday-morning talk show.&nbsp;<\/i><em>Follow him on Twitter&nbsp;<\/em><a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BobPriceBBTX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/twitter.com\/BobPriceBBTX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1583344635395000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEQb2a1GHzWfQaF6dz8gp3IFFlH8w\"><em>@BobPriceBBTX<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/em><em><a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Bob.Price.Texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Bob.Price.Texas\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1583344635395000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFfJwbhsecZ4WkzQBHLHi_V6PHh6Q\">Face<wbr \/>book<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After weeks of what appears to be politically motivated criticism, the Texas Military Department fired back with an official response to questions over pay issues, housing conditions, and suicide incidents. &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1232088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1232088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1232088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1232088\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1232088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1232088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1232088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}