UNCLASSIFIED

**RECORD**

**STATEMENT BY**

**SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER B. McWILLIAMS**

**NEW HAMPSHIRE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD**

**BEFORE THE**

**COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES**

**\
July 19, 2006**

**San Antonio, Texas**

**UNCLASSIFIED**

Chairman Punaro, distinguished members of the commission, I am very
grateful for the opportunity to testify here today and give you my
perspective as an Army National Guardsman who has served in the reserve
component for some years and who has been mobilized for overseas
operations.

I have been asked to provide you with my perspective based on experience
with the mobilization process, compensation and benefits, family and
employer support, and the adequacy of unit and individual equipment and
training. Additionally, I have been asked about those factors which will
shape Guard members decision to re-enlist. The personal opinions and
suggestions I offer today are mine alone and not necessarily those of
the Department of Defense.

Before I do that, I would like to start with a short narrative regarding
my career with the Army National Guard. I joined the National Guard in
May of 2001, in South Carolina, and was in Basic Training at Fort
Benning, Georgia when the attacks of 9/11 took place. Since then, I have
been deployed on Operations Noble Eagle (Force Protection at Ft.
Jackson, SC), Enduring Freedom (Horn of Africa, and Kuwait), and Iraqi
Freedom (Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq). During the past five
years I\'ve been fortunate enough to serve with and under some great
soldiers and leaders. I\'ve served in the South Carolina and New
Hampshire National Guard. 

During my last deployment, after nearly 9 months in Iraq, my squad was
ambushed on a patrol. I sustained severe wounds. My fellow soldiers
responded heroically, placing fire on the enemy, setting security, and
calling in my medical evacuation. Had my fellow soldiers not responded
in the manner they did, I would not be here today. I was medically
evacuated out of theater to Germany, and then back to the United States
where I participated in the Community Based Health Care Organization
(CBHCO) program. In short, I have seen a lot in the past 5 years and am
glad to share my experiences.

I am currently serving with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 172d Infantry
(Mountain), one of the National Guard's elite infantry units in the New
Hampshire Army National Guard.

**[Factors Paramount in Decision to Re-Enlist]{.underline}**

Re-Enlistment bonuses are a deciding factor for many soldiers. For
others, however, just the chance to serve one\'s country is another.

 

Decreased deployment lengths, but increased rotation frequency (6 months
every 3 years, rather than 1 year every 6) would also make the lives of
National Guard soldier and their families a lot easier. This makes it a
key factor in the decision about whether or not to re-enlist.

**[Mobilization / Demobilization]{.underline}**

The length of stay at the Mobilization (MOB) station is considered to be
far too long by many. My personal experience is that soldiers want to
get out of the MOB station as quickly as possible. Depending on the unit
and the mission, the stay at the MOB station could be shorter. When it
comes to deployments, many soldiers complain about the number of
deployments they\'ve been pulled for, and some complain that they wish
to deploy more. If possible, make it easier to allow individual soldiers
to volunteer for deployments.

**[Compensation and Benefits]{.underline}**

The Traumatic Service-members Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) program is a
great initiative and benefit to soldiers who are injured. It aids them
in recovery and lessens the tensions they face while recovering- knowing
that their families are taken care of financially. There should be a
program however, to aid soldiers in the administrative part of the
process. It seems to me that many soldiers have been denied benefits due
to paperwork complications.

 

The GI Bill and State Tuition Assistance are great benefits, enabling
soldiers who may not be financially secure enough to go to school, to
go.

 

The Servicemembers Group Life Insurance increase to \$400,000 was
critical to easing soldiers' minds while deployed.

**[Medical Care]{.underline}**

The medical care I received from the moment I was wounded to today has
been superb. The soldiers at the Landstuhl regional Medical Center in
Germany were extremely professional. The care I received there was far
beyond my expectations, from the lower enlisted to the senior officers.
The CBHCO is a program allowing soldiers to return home to recover from
injuries, while continuing to serve on Active Duty, going to medical
appointments, and serve at their local armory if they\'re injuries are
permit. This is an outstanding program. A military case manager
schedules all of your appointments, and ensures you receive proper
treatment. A platoon sergeant keeps accountability of soldiers, handles
administrative issues, and aids the soldier in any way possible. This
program gives soldiers a better chance of healing faster, and is great
for the soldiers' morale. A situation that has occurred is that the
CBHCO\'s across the country are becoming over filled. For instance, my
platoon sergeant and case manager were handling as many as 60 soldiers.
This creates a lot of stress for them and may detract from the care a
soldier receives. This was not the case with me, because my case manager
and PSG were very dedicated to the mission.

My unit required each soldier to attend Vet center counseling sessions,
which took place during a drill. Soldiers were provided transportation,
and were on a drill status. This ensured that soldiers who may have been
having problems received the necessary attention. This act by the
leadership of my company may have prevented numerous incidents, and was
great for the morale and overall well-being of the company.

**[Adequacy of Unit and Individual Equipment]{.underline}**

Units about to go overseas get some great equipment - especially at the
Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI). Soldiers receive improved ballistic
goggles and helmets, hydration systems, gloves, Hot and Cool weather
boots, and many other items. The Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) is an
outstanding piece of equipment. It is much more functional than previous
types of armor and much more dependable. It saved my life. The Dorsal
Appendage Protective System (DAPS) is an extra issue item for the IBA
that provides protection to the upper shoulder, and bicep, and only adds
to the ballistic coverage of the vest. It works well. The M1114 Up
armored HMMWV\'s are outstanding. They take an incredible amount of
damage without failing. From vehicle accidents to roadside bombs, the
M1114 is very dependable, so long as the maintenance is kept up. As
small as this may seem, this gear makes life more tolerable and
increases survivability for soldiers in the fight.

 

The only negative is that soldiers feel that they could use some weapons
upgrades. Many units receive all new equipment, while others get nothing
new at all such as M-4\'s, M240B\'s, ACOG weapon sights, just to name a
few.

**[Adequacy of Unit and Individual Training]{.underline}**

Much of the training we received at MOB station was outstanding.
Soldiers with Presidents Hundred Tabs- some of the finest shooters in
the world- gave an outstanding course of instruction, and much of what
was taught was put to good use. Medical training for soldiers is great,
because on the modern battlefield, it\'s the everyday soldier who has to
perform lifesaving procedures, under extreme pressure. The MOB stations
should use soldiers returning from deployments (who volunteer) to
instruct and assist units in the Mobilization process. This gives
outgoing units an increased chance of success in theater, and provides
an employment opportunity to a returning soldier who might not have much
back home.

The training my unit received was outstanding. It kept us prepared for
success in a wide variety of missions and is crucial in the development
of junior leaders.

 

**[Conclusion]{.underline}**

I have enjoyed my service in the Army National Guard and look forward to
many more years. I am happy to offer my own experiences to the
Commission as it looks at changes to the future of the reserve
components and am happy to answer your questions.