Part 2: Possible Reasons

Long ago the Army, which the National Guard is a part of, used to train hard. There were far less regulations and safety concerns which likened training more closely to actual combat. As a result, people died more often in peace, or training, as today. This was, of course, seen as a bad thing and more controls were implemented.

However, now it is rare to even move with a loaded weapon in training. This does not represent combat, and as a result a greater potential for death awaits each soldier in combat. This is also bad, especially in the super-critical arena of politics today. The only answer? Increase the time for training.

It is by this, or similar, logic that the soldiers ever-family-absent fate has been sealed.