SALEM, Mass. — A commemoration in driving snow of something that happened here on the village green 380 years ago fueled the chief of the National Guard Bureau's optimism about the component's future.
A newly launched National Guard Innovation Team is much on Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel's mind these days, and he's seeking applicants from across the force to join the part-time team to capture the talent, experience and abilities of traditional National Guard members, elicit innovation and offer insights to leadership.
As he watched Massachusetts National Guard members gathered in formation here Saturday to commemorate the first muster of the colony's militia regiments in 1637, Lengyel said it reinforced his belief innovation is part of the Guard's genetics.
"From 'alert and muster' in its initial days in 1637; to the creation of the Minuteman in 1645 as our nation's first rapid response force; to the original 'flash mobs' mustering on village greens in response to Paul Revere's warning about the approach of British troops, the National Guard is an ever-evolving organization, adapting and innovating in the face of life's only constant: Change," Lengyel said.
"Although our Guard has evolved with our nation and with changes in our security environment, our organizing principle – the part-time Citizen-Soldier and –Airman – remains constant as our core strength, the foundation of who we are."
The symbol of the Minuteman captures the 17th century reality: The citizen ready to drop his plow and pick up his musket on no-notice to serve community, state and nation.
"The musket and the plow have been upgraded," Lengyel said. "The organizing idea and the willingness of the citizen at the center of that symbol to drop everything to do our duty are unchanged – and nonnegotiable."
It is, Lengyel said, the "Citizen" in our "Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen that sets us apart.
"Today, the Minuteman – or woman – sets down a mechanic's tools, a truck driver's keys, a doctor's stethoscope, a small business owner's spreadsheets, a teacher's laser pointer, a nurse's thermometer, a law enforcement officer's badge or a computer programmer's code when we pick up the tools of our military occupational specialty or career field," he said.
Though we may set down the accoutrements of our civilian lives for a time, Guard members don't set aside our civilian skills and insights when we serve. It's those unique civilian-acquired skills that Lengyel is looking for to contribute to the National Guard Innovation Team.
"Each of our patriot-citizens brings civilian skills, knowledge, resourcefulness, perspectives and values from communities across our 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia and applies them to today's security problems, wherever we send them," he said. "We need to capture more of that incredibly rich, basically bottomless resource. We need to ensure we're not losing the unique insights in our ranks, from privates and Airmen to senior leaders."
General Lengyel needed look no further than the state hosting him for the first muster commemoration for examples of innovation in the ranks.
One example: Massachusetts' Police Mission Partnership Initiative.
The initiative partners the state's Guard with civilian police authorities for training. The program has a triple pay-off of meeting military police certification requirements, improving MP capacity for missions in support of civil authorities, and increasing law enforcement career opportunities for Guard members.
"But innovation doesn't have to be something as complex as that terrific initiative," Lengyel said. "It can also be something as simple and inspired as the creative 'Guard Your Future' slogan Massachusetts is using to drive a campaign to increase Guard members' awareness of the array of benefits that come with our service.
"Our nation's security and defense demand thinkers and innovators at every level."
The National Guard Innovation Team seeks current Guard members of all ranks who are leading industry experts with a proven track record of delivering quality results in minimal time.
To be a part of this forward-leaning and rewarding team, send an email to NGInnovationTeam@mail.mil