CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - With personnel cuts to the active Army looming, the Army National Guard presence in the Middle East could increase as a result. Many highly qualified officers and Soldiers could join the National Guard, making future Guard promotions more competitive, the senior Army National Guard officer in Kuwait said.
"The (Reserve Component) stands at about 25 percent in theater, and I can envision there being some slight increase in the near future. We are definitely not going home," said Brig. Gen. Timothy McKeithen, U.S. Army Central G4, during a town hall held July 20 at Camp Arifjan directed at Army National Guard Soldiers. "And, our states can expect to swell with officers and (noncommissioned officers) who are seasoned, well-trained and current in all warfighting functions. So, you must take advantage of every opportunity to seek training and education."
McKeithen, who opened the nearly three-hour town hall, serves as the principal adviser on sustainment issues to the commanders of the U.S. Army Central Command (USARCENT), Combined Joint Task Force Land Components Command, and Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.
The National Guard Affairs meeting brought together about 150 participants from 15 different units from Camp Arifjan and Camp Buehring, along with several agencies across the installation to discuss human resources issues such as in-theater extensions, remissions and OIR entitlements. The NGA office located at U.S. Army Central Command serves as a direct liaison between USARCENT, National Guard Bureau and the various National Guard commands.
Capt. Steven Coon, the human resources officer for NGA, hatched the idea for the gathering as a means of giving the information the widest dissemination.
"This was the first such meeting of its kind in five years in Kuwait initiated by NGA, and it led to a greater understanding of the benefits available to the mobilized Soldiers," Coon said.
Segments included a briefing on the education benefits available and combat zone entitlements. The town hall also touched on the process for National Guard members to remain in theater by voluntarily extending with another unit. With many units soliciting for certain military occupational specialties, NGA was able to collect the names of interested Soldiers.
Lt. Col. James Morgan, the senior human resources officer at 1st Theater Sustainment Command, attended the meeting to offer insight since he has spearheaded an effort to streamline the augmentation process of Guardsmen to the active component. The sustainment command is the senior logistics command in the Middle East.
Morgan has the rare perspective of having served in the Oregon Army National Guard while in college and a stint at the National Guard Bureau in the Enlisted Policy Branch while he was an active-duty major.
"When you look at the facts, they speak for themselves. This is not conjecture. This is data driven," he said. "As the reserve component continues to play a large role in theater, we must all strive to learn as much as possible about the process."
Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Ross of the 185th Theater Aviation Brigade came in from Camp Buehring with a small group. Ross, the top enlisted Soldier in the unit, said he appreciated hearing the general speak because he answered specific National Guard questions. However, Ross said there were a host of other hot issues and topics that need to be addressed, such as retirement, state tuition and the new evaluation systems.
"We know what the Soldiers’ questions and problems are," said Ross, who emphasized the need to be more inclusive of the surrounding bases. "Reach out to us in the field and let us work with you."
That was something Coon had already planned. Two days later, he was giving a similar brief at Camp Buehring.