ARLINGTON, Va. - An officer and a noncommissioned officer received on May 16 the first joint awards since the National Guard Bureau (NGB) became a joint activity of the Department of Defense.
"These are the first joint awards under the new authority of the newly joint National Guard Bureau, so these guys are making history," said LTG H Steven Blum, NGB chief, after the Joint Staff Flag Room ceremony at the Pentagon.
Maj. David Guido received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Sgt. 1st Class John Craig received the Joint Service Achievement Medal. Both serve the National Guard as Title 10 Soldiers in the Guard's federal active duty force.
On Jan. 28, President George W. Bush signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2008, which included the most significant and sweeping administrative and organizational reforms of the National Guard and NGB since the National Defense Act of 1916, according to NGB officials.
The overall effect was to strengthen the Guard's role in the DoD to meet the Guard's increasing domestic and foreign responsibilities, officials said.
Among a host of other changes, the NDAA designated the NGB as a joint activity of the DoD, thus the joint awards.
Guido's award recognized his performance as executive officer in NGB domestic operations and as central command desk officer in international affairs there.
Craig was recognized for contributions to Vigilant Guard, the largest National Guard homeland defense exercise ever conducted.
"I'm very honored," Craig said. "It's a privilege to get this award and be the first NCO to receive a joint award. It's significant for the whole National Guard because we are now a joint staff. Hopefully, there will be many more joint awards to come."
Guido and Craig were joined by members of their families and Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen with whom they serve.
"I'm very proud of him," said Mitzi Craig, Sgt. 1st Class Craig's wife.
"It's a great honor," Guido said. "It's a great moment for the Guard to be recognized as a joint headquarters, and it's an absolute privilege to be part of a joint team. Having commanded a history detachment [and now] being a little bit of history is always a great thing."
Craig, whose decorations include the Bronze Star, is an operations sergeant in NGB operations division, with an expertise in nonlethal weapons.
Guido, liaison officer to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is continuing a family tradition of military service that includes World War II and Vietnam. He enlisted before he turned 17.
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal recognizes exceptionally outstanding work by leaders serving in a joint activity. The Joint Service Achievement Medal recognizes outstanding performance.
Service members permanently assigned to the headquarters staff of NGB on or after Aug. 1, 2004, are eligible for DoD decorations and awards, according to a DoD memo.
Eligibility does not extend to the 54 states' and territories' joint force headquarters.