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Questions, answers about Guard’s role in Ferguson

By WTOP Staff

SHARON COHEN
AP National Writer

The National Guard is a regular presence in responding to natural disasters, but it also has a long history in helping curb civil disturbances.

On Monday, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon mobilized the Guard to the town of Ferguson, where protests stemming from the shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old resident are now in their second week. The governor said he acted to protect the people and property from a “violent criminal element intent upon terrorizing the community.”

Here are some questions about the Guard, its activities and its role in Ferguson:

Q: What is the National Guard?

A: The National Guard is a reserve military force that can be mobilized under state or federal authority. About 470,000 people are currently members of the Army or Air National Guard; most have civilian jobs and serve part time in the Guard. There are Guard units in every state as well as the District of Columbia and the territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The Guard is in more than 3,200 communities. About 11,000 Guard members are in Missouri.

Q: Why is the Guard in Ferguson?

A: Nixon deployed the Guard early Monday to “restore peace and order” to the St. Louis suburb following another night of violent clashes between police and protesters that involved Molotov cocktails thrown at officers, looting, vandalism and gunfire. Police responded with tear gas. The demonstrations have been sparked by the Aug. 9 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer. Brown was black.

The governor said in a statement that he deployed the Guard because of “coordinated attacks last night both on civilians and law enforcement officers.” Nixon said the Guard’s involvement will be a “limited mission.” President Barack Obama said he told Nixon he’ll be watching to determine if the Guard’s presence is beneficial or harmful. Nixon on Monday lifted a midnight-5 a.m. curfew that he had imposed two days earlier.

Q: Who’s in charge?

A: The Guard will be under the direction of Col. Ron Replogle of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Missouri National Guard Brig. Gen. Gregory Mason will oversee Guard operations. It’s the standard way of operating when the Guard is called to help quell civil disturbances. “We’re always in support, never in the lead domestically. We take orders from the lead law enforcement agency on the scene,” said Rick Breitenfeldt, a spokesman at the Guard’s national headquarters.

Q: Who can deploy the Guard?

A: Governors or the president can deploy the Guard. In at least 10 cases since World War II, the president has mobilized the Guard for wide-ranging missions, invoking the Insurrection Act. Among them: the 1957-58 desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; the 1965 Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, civil rights march; the 1967 riots in Detroit; the 1968 riots in numerous cities following the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; the 1970 New York City postal strike; and the 1992 Los Angeles riots after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King. In that last case, the Guard was originally mobilized by the state. After two days, then-President George H.W. Bush called the Guard into federal service.

Q: What other activities has the Guard been involved in?

A: Guard members have been mobilized in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, peacekeeping duty in the Balkans and the Sinai and numerous natural disasters. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Guard dispatched more than 50,000 troops to help the Gulf states.

In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry recently announced the deployment of Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border, where there has been a surge in illegal immigration this summer — most notably unaccompanied children from gang-ravaged Central American nations. In coming weeks, up to 1,000 additional Guard troops are expected to arrive at the border to beef up the Texas Department of Public Safety’s “Operation Strong Safety.” The soldiers will largely serve as surveillance in what officials have called a “deter and refer” mission.

During fiscal year 2013, the Guard said, it responded to 28 wildfires, 14 floods, 10 winter storms, three hurricanes, a tornado and a tropical storm.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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