An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | July 16, 2014

Air National Guard Airman will serve on Veterans Affairs advisory group

By Master Sergeant Marvin R. Preston Air National Guard Readiness Center

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - An Air Force chief master sergeant assigned to the Air National Guard Readiness Center here has been selected to serve on the Defense Detail Team to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Chief Master Sgt. Christopher C. Guy, the personnel career field functional manager, will serve on a three-member team that will provide recommended solutions on enhanced data sharing and the efficient transfer of the separating or retiring members' service treatment records from the Department of Defense to the DVA.

"My goal for this tour with the Department of Veterans Affairs is to advise, assist and facilitate the elimination of the benefit claims backlog by Sept 30, 2015," Guy said. "The team and I will be doing everything within our abilities to help accomplish that goal as early as possible."

The Veterans Benefit Administration is aggressively pursuing its Transformation Plan, a series of tightly integrated people, process, and technology initiatives designed to eliminate the claims backlog and achieve the goal of processing all claims within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy in 2015.

"On a typical day the team learns about issues, specific data sharing needs between the departments and we facilitate the creation of solutions and follow up on the progress," said Guy. "My ultimate goal is to make sure we uphold the solemn vow and our duty to help any and all veterans who require assistance."

The selection of Guy to the Defense Detail Team is an example of a deliberate shift within the total force, starting with senior leader assignments.

Chief master sergeants and other senior noncommissioned officers from the Air National Guard have recently been selected to interview with major commands and serve at joint task forces which offer another voice to be heard from the total force.

The Senior Enlisted Leader Management Office was recently unveiled by ANG Command Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling to state and wing command chiefs during the annual Command Chief's Huddle at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wisconsin.

"The Air Force Chiefs Group was soliciting nominations for the assignment from each major command and after reading through the position description, there was a mutual understanding and agreement that this opportunity and my skill sets were the best fit for the total force," said Guy. "I was contacted as the most eligible candidate for this opportunity."

The SELMO ensures that ANG senior enlisted leaders receive the same opportunities for development of those in the active component.

"The ANG senior leadership is committed to seeking and providing greater opportunities for Guardsmen to serve at the highest levels of government, to represent the Air Force, and the DoD", said Guy. "This helps to break down barriers in order to successfully carry out the Air Force mission. We are one force and I am an American Airman."

With the Active, Reserve and Guard components increased integration, the future of the total force could look even more different in the years ahead.

"This is one of the first steps in a cultural change," Guy said. "One day in the not so distant future the Air Force may have a Guardsman as a command chief at an active component wing, or an active duty chief as a state command chief. One day the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force could be a Guardsman, the possibilities for all Airmen become endless."

 

 

Related Articles
Group photo for the Information Operations Subject Matter Exchange during the opening ceremony of Tiger Balm 2025 on May 5 2025 at Mandai Hill, Singapore.
Washington Guard, Singapore Team Up for Tiger Balm 2025
By Joseph Siemandel, | May 30, 2025
SINGAPORE – Washington Army National Guardsmen traveled to Mandai Hill, Singapore, this month to participate in exercise Tiger Balm 2025. It was the 44th iteration of the bilateral exercise between the Singapore Army Forces...

Soldiers from the 138th Operational Fires Command integrate with 41st Field Artillery Brigade and U.S. Army V Corps during Command Post Exercise hosted in both Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Kosciusko, Poland, early May 2025.
Kentucky Army Guard Completes Exercise with V Corps
By Capt. Cody Stagner, | May 30, 2025
POZNAN, Poland — Soldiers from the 138th Operational Fires Command (OFC), Kentucky Army National Guard, recently participated in a corps-level Command Post Exercise (CPX) with U.S. Army V Corps, held in early May at both Fort...

U.S. Air Force Capt. Isaac Tian, a cyber operations officer with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, analyzes data for evidence of adversary indicators of compromise on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., April 6, 2025. Tian is among the first Air National Guard members to be selected under a newly established direct commission program for cyber professionals.
Washington Airman Selected for Direct Commission in Cyber
By Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale, | May 30, 2025
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington – Capt. Isaac Tian, a cyber operations officer with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron, is among the first Air National Guard members selected under a newly established direct commission...