FARGO, N.D., - The directors of the Army and Air National Guard
were here today visiting with nearly 500 North Dakota Guard members, who are
gathered for the Professional Development Workshop and Combined Associations
Conference.
Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air Guard, told the audience
that as the Army and Air Guard have become more operational in recent years,
the ties between the communities they support every day have grown stronger.
"A lot of that has to do with the value that the National Guard adds to
America," he said.
Wyatt highlighted the difference between his experience returning from
Vietnam and how Soldiers and Airmen are treated today as they serve their
country overseas.
Part of the change comes about by the National Guard's interaction in their
communities, he said.
Further value is demonstrated by the individual Guardsmen, who have a wealth
of military and civilian experience. The average length of service for a
Guardsman is 18 years. It's about half that time for those serving on active
duty.
Also, Guardsman are only paid when needed, Wyatt said, which makes them a
good .... for the states.
Additional value comes in sharing resources. Sixty-two of the 88 flying wings
in the Air Guard operate out of municipal or civilian airports, where
Guardsmen and civilians are able to use the same infrastructure.
Maj. Gen. Raymond W. Carpenter, the acting director of the Army Guard,
reminded the Guardsmen that "we're a constitutionally-based organization
that's 373 years old," but things have changed greatly over that time.
"Over 60 percent of our formations have now deployed and have combat
patches," he said.
Those formations are full, too. Carpenter said strength levels across the
Army National Guard have gone from their lowest in July 2005 to exceeding end
strength goals in this last several fiscal years.
He added that strength has been maintained at a high levels even as
Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have fought in two wars.
Carpenter acknowledged the many people in the room, who have contributed to
the progress that has taken place in Iraq. By Sept. 1, the mission currently
known as Operation Iraqi Freedom will be referred to as Operation New Dawn to
reflect the changes there.
Rather than a drawdown, Afghanistan has seen an increase in troop levels and,
in turn, a greater impact.
"We're going to see a larger involvement by the National Guard in
Afghanistan," Carpenter said.
He highlighted the Agribusiness Development Teams as a "value-added" mission
that will help combat the insurgency. The teams, mostly filled with Guardsmen
who farm at home, teach Afghan farmers improved methods for planting and
harvesting their crops to make them more self-sufficient.
Carpenter stressed the need for equipment in making these missions a success,
but said "we have more modern equipment in the Army National Guard than we've
ever had before."
Funding for that equipment "is the best insurance this nation can buy for
disaster response," he said - something else with which North Dakota
Guardsmen are familiar and again preparing for as the threat of flooding in
the state increases.
Beyond value, Wyatt offered the Guardsmen advice on advancing their military
career. He told them to get out of their comfort zone, read and study and
seek joint opportunities.
He said joint experience will expand their understanding of the operational
force, which is how the U.S. military works these days - side-by-side with
other branches of the armed forces.
He also challenged the Airmen in the room to set high goals.
"It's easier for a Guardsman to become president of the United States, which
has been done 20 times by the way, than to become command chief of the Air
Force ... which has never happened. Isn't that something?" Wyatt asked.
It's a challenge, but one that North Dakotans can handle. Wyatt expressed
pride in how the North Dakota Air Guard has handled previous challenges, such
as transitioning from the F-16 fighter mission to Predator unmanned aerial
vehicles and C-21 Lear Jets and standing up the 219th Security Forces
Squadron in Minot, which works alongside active-duty Airmen.