NATIONAL GUARD FEELS IMPACT FROM SHUTDOWN

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
National Guard Faces the Shutdown
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2013 - National Guard personnel are feeling the effects of the government shutdown and leaders are worried about the readiness of the component, Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau said today.

The Pay Our Military Act has mitigated some of the effects of the partial government shutdown for the Guard, but there are still concerns, the general said.

The act does not allow for drill training periods, unless the drill is in support of an excepted activity such as preparing for an overseas deployment, he said. "Most October drills are canceled, impacting nearly 400,000 National Guard members," Lengyel said. "These drill periods are critical to maintaining the training and preparedness of our citizen soldiers and airmen – nearly 85 percent of our force."

For individual Guardsmen canceling drills means a loss of pay. For units it means degrading the readiness needed to respond to homeland and overseas missions.

Not all units are impacted. "Units preparing for deployment are not affected by the government shutdown," Lengyel said. "The National Guard is now the best-trained and best-equipped force in our history. We are indispensable to both domestic and overseas operations. It would be extremely unfortunate to this nation if our readiness is allowed to atrophy."

The shutdown is delaying some training deployments, the general said, but it will not affect Guardsmen's ability to deploy for actual, real-world missions.

The National Guard responds to emergencies within the United States. Recent activities included providing assistance to local authorities during flooding in Colorado, aiding in fighting wildfires in the West and preparing for storms in the East. Guardsmen and civilians who work for the Guard remain on call despite the shutdown. "During the lapse of appropriations, DOD civilians who support the military in support of the preservation of life and protection of property were allowed to continue working," Lengyel said.

When Tropical Storm Karen threatened the Gulf Coast, the Guard worked with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to authorize the recall of up to 2,200 additional National Guard military technicians to assist with disaster response actions. "The department has now recalled additional categories of civilians as defined by the Pay Our Military Act," he said.

The initial shutdown furlough impacted more than 40,000 dual-status military technicians. These men and women are civilian employees during the week and drilling Guardsmen. "They provide critical support that makes it possible for traditional Guard soldiers to train and operate, such as performing day-to-day equipment maintenance, managing pay and other administrative functions," the general said.

Under POMA, DOD was able to recall additional categories of civilians, leaving the National Guard with nearly 250 dual-status technicians still on furlough. "While this is a positive development, there is still more work to be done in order to get everyone back to work," he said.

PRESIDENT OBAMA DESIGNATES SALEM, MASS AS BIRTHPLACE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Salem Takes Honor as National Guard's Birthplace
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 18, 2013 - On Jan. 10, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that designates Salem, Mass., as the birthplace of the National Guard.

Local officials, politicians and members of the Massachusetts National Guard gathered at the Salem City Hall yesterday to celebrate the signing of the bill.

"What a lineage we have -- what an honor to be here," Massachusetts Guard Adjutant General Air Force Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice said at the ceremony.

"What a great meeting of all the history in the place," Rice added.

The Guard's birth dates back to Dec. 13, 1636, when the North, South and East Regiments of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were formed. The first muster of those regiments then took place on Salem Common, though the actual date has been lost to history.

The area's significance as the Guard's birthplace has been widely known and accepted locally. In 2010, Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Duvall signed a similar bill into state law and in 2007 the Salem City Council passed a corresponding resolution.

Each April, Massachusetts National Guard members hold a mustering of troops on Salem Common as a way of celebrating Salem's role in the history of the Guard. The Massachusetts Army National Guard's 101st Field Artillery Regiment, 182nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Engineer Battalion and 181st Infantry Regiment all trace their lineage back to the original regiments that mustered on Salem Common.

NATIONAL GUARD PROVIDE AID DURING END OF THE WORLD STORM

A Wisconsin National Guard member at the Sussex armory readies a light medium tactical vehicle for use during a major snowstorm that hit Wisconsin Dec. 19, 2012. Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Joe Trovato

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Midwest Guard Troops Aid States in Storm's Path
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 21, 2012 - As the Midwest's first big winter storm forced road closures and shuttered schools, National Guard soldiers were mobilized to assist in Iowa and Wisconsin.

About 166 Wisconsin National Guard members were called to state active duty and were positioned at armories in key locations around the state as a result of a state of emergency.

In Iowa, about 80 Guard members were on state active duty, working with the Iowa Department of Transportation to assist stranded motorists, said Army Lt. Col. Gregory Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard.

The storm, dubbed Draco by The Weather Channel in its new program to raise awareness of winter storms, was expected to drop up to 18 inches of snow in Iowa, according to the National Weather Service.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order Dec. 19 to allow state and local governments to prepare the resources they need to respond to the storm, which is projected to dump up to 19 inches of snow in a storm corridor spanning from south central to northeast Wisconsin.

Wind gusts up to 45 mph are expected to create near white-out conditions and snow drifts of up to four feet, resulting in degraded travel conditions.

"I issued this executive order to make sure Wisconsin is prepared for whatever this winter storm may bring," Walker said. "Mobilizing our state agency resources during this storm will ensure we leave nothing to chance when it comes to protecting the citizens of Wisconsin."

Those state agencies include Wisconsin Emergency Management and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Wisconsin-based National Guard armories in Sussex, Oconomowoc, Portage, Oak Creek, Milwaukee, Appleton, Beloit, Richland Center and two in Madison have been selected as emergency sheltering and warming areas, as well as staging areas for Wisconsin National Guard soldiers to respond to calls for assistance from local authorities.

Those requests would include responding to stranded motorists along routes designated by the state Department of Transportation, assisting in closing roads, and conducting welfare checks on those affected by the winter storm.
The Wisconsin State Patrol and the National Weather Service are urging people to avoid traveling.

(Editor's Note: The Wisconsin National Guard and Steve Marshall of the National Guard Bureau contributed to this report.)