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WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2001 – President Bush tapped the reserves for about 5,100 more troops Sept. 22, bringing to more than 10,000 the number of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members called to active duty.
DoD officials said Bush's Sept. 22 call affects about 3,000 Guard and Reserve air refueling and communications specialists, about 130 Guard and Reserve security specialists, and about 2,000 Air Force Reserve members in other specialties. The weekend announcement was the latest by the president in response to the Sept. 11 airliner hijackings and terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon. More than 6,500 people are feared dead as a result of the attacks. Senior U.S. officials believe terrorist Osama bin Laden is responsible. Bush on Sept. 14 had authorized up to 50,000 guard members and reservists be brought onto active duty for as much as two years. DoD officials had said that the order could affect some 35,000 reservists and noted thousands of National Guard and Reserve members were already in action, in rescue and recovery efforts, for instance. DoD called 5,131 Guard and Reserve airmen in fighter, air refueling and air control units to active duty on Sept. 20.
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