Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

NATIONAL GUARD ON-THE-RECORD TELEPHONIC MEDIA ROUNDTABLE

JUNE 2, 2022

TOPIC SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

National Guard State

Partnership Program

▪ Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard

Bureau (Prepared Statement)

▪ Army Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, adjutant general, California

National Guard

▪ Air Force Maj. Gen. James O. Eifert, adjutant general, Florida

National Guard

▪ Air Force Maj. Gen. Daryl L. Bohac, adjutant general,

Nebraska National Guard

▪ Army Maj. Gen. Gregory C. Knight, adjutant general, Vermont

National Guard

Prepared Statement from Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau:

For the first time in history, the United States has two nuclear-capable strategic competitors – China and

Russia. This threat is especially concerning when you consider Russia’s unprovoked and ongoing

invasion of Ukraine. It serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a democracy can come under attack.

It is also a reminder of the power of citizens-turned-Soldiers and Airmen, who in times of crisis, leave

their civilian lives to take up arms in defense of their country. This is what we’ve witnessed in Ukraine. It

is also the legacy and the purpose of our National Guard.

We cannot predict when or where the next conflict will be, or what our competitors will bring to bear, but

we must ensure the National Guard and our allies are ready to fight, and win, when we are called.

That’s why we are so proud of the State Partnership Program and continue to strengthen ties with our

allies and partners, who provide an unmatched strategic advantage and help maintain global order.

Currently, our state National Guard organizations are partnered with 93 countries. That’s 45 percent of the

world’s nations – and we’re looking to grow another 30 partnerships over the next decade.

The benefits of this program are readily apparent in the partnership between the California National

Guard and Ukraine. Since their partnership began in 1993, they have conducted more than 1,000 military

exchanges. While the rest of the world underestimated the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the California

1
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

National Guard did not. Today, we are joined by California’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David

Baldwin, who will share details about his state’s nearly 30-year relationship with Ukraine.

There are other National Guard states with connections to Eastern Europe on this call.

We are joined by Vermont’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Greg Knight. His state has enjoyed one of the

oldest partnerships with North Macedonia for nearly 30 years, and the newest, with Austria, which was

formalized this year. His state is also partnered with Senegal, giving Vermont the distinction of having

three separate countries working toward interoperability.

We’re also joined by Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, the Nebraska National Guard’s Adjutant General They

have been partnered with the Czech Republic for nearly 30 years. Just last month, they deployed a

KC-135 Stratotanker to an Air Base in Czechia to support real-world

missions supplying aerial refueling capabilities to the U.S. and NATO coalition. This mission operates

more than 100 coalition aircraft along the Eastern flank to ensure fighter jets receive timely refueling.

Finally, I would like to introduce the Adjutant General from Florida National Guard, Maj. Gen. James

Eifert. In addition to the extremely important work his Guard members have accomplished with its

partnerships with Guyana and the Regional Security System, comprised of several Caribbean nations, his

Soldiers were working directly with the Ukrainian Armed Forces just prior to the invasion.

These TAGs, and numerous Combatant Commanders, know firsthand how important and cost- effective

the State Partnership Program is and why is makes America immeasurably stronger. The program helps to

ensure our Nation’s military has trusted, capable, and interoperable partners at our side. Since Russia’s

brutal invasion, the National Guard has been actively engaged with our SPP partner nations across

EUCOM – and we will continue to do so.

Our Nation relies on the National Guard to defend democracy, restore peace, and bring hope and security

around the globe in times of crisis. “Always Ready, Always There” is not just our motto, it’s our promise.

-30-

2
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

Dialogue:

[Name] [QUESTION/RESPONSE]

Wayne Hall [00:00:26] Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us for this afternoon's media

roundtable focusing on the National Guard State Partnership Program.

Before we begin today, I want to remind everyone that this event is on

the record. The National Guard State Partnership Program has been

successfully building relationships across the globe for nearly 30 years.

The program now includes 85 partnerships with 93 nations. The

roundtable will take will last approximately 45 minutes. While the topic

is of significant importance to General Hokanson, Chief of the National

Guard Bureau, he is, unfortunately, unable to attend; however, we will

provide his opening remarks to you all as a prepared statement in the

chat here, as well as by email after we conclude. So we'll begin now with

opening remarks from our four-panel members. Today we have with us

Major General David Baldwin, the adjutant general from California,

Major General James Eifert, adjutant general from Florida National

Guard. Major General Daryl Bohac, Adjutant General from Nebraska

National Guard, and Major General Gregory Knight, adjutant general

from Vermont National Guard. With that, over to you, General Baldwin.

MG David Baldwin [00:01:39] Good morning, everybody, and thanks for joining us today as we bring

some senior National Guard leaders together to talk to you about a

program that delivers tremendous value to our nation and the defense of

our nation in the state partnership program. [SPP] has been around for

about 30 years, just under 30 years. And through this program, at very,

very low cost, we in the National Guard deliver to combatant

commanders across the globe a great capability in building relations with

partner nations and helping those partner nations build their capability

and capacity to defend themselves and to participate in collective

defense. It's a great way for the United States to show its face around the

globe through the soldiers and airmen of the National Guard. The other

value of the program, of course, is because National Guardsmen tend to

stay in their units for much longer than active component soldiers,

airmen, sailors and Marines. We're able to build long term professional

and personal relationships. We here in California have seen that really

come to the test over the last couple of months with the invasion of

Ukraine, not because we've had that partnership with Ukraine for going

on 29, almost 30 years now, and we have been working with them

3
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

through that time. But pretty intensely since 2014 to help them deliver to

develop combat capacity and to reform their military. And the proofs of

the pudding and the performance of the Ukrainian armed forces and their

other security forces that we've worked with over the years and indeed,

to this day, every single day at some level. Someone in the California

National Guard is in contact with their counterpart in Ukraine, offering

advice, giving technical assistance and receiving lessons learned from the

Ukrainians that we can apply and then spread through our armed forces

to make ourselves better, too. But the important things is Ukraine is but

one of the 93 partner nations and California, this month, we're

concurrently hosting a very senior delegation of officials from Nigeria,

our other partner nation, and around the globe. The other states and

territories that are participating in this program have soldiers and airmen

that are engaged in this type of partnership activity, whether it's training

people in cyber defense, in military tactics, or just doing senior leader

exchanges and visits and building those relationships. So again, it is a

tremendously valuable program that we do for just a fraction of a fraction

of a fraction of the total Department of Defense budget. But we deliver

value add thousands of thousands of times more than what the program

costs. So thank you for joining us today, and I look forward to your

questions later.

Wayne Hall [00:04:41] Thank you, sir. We'll now get to General Eifert in Florida.

MG James Eifert [00:04:46] Hey. Good afternoon. I'm Jim Eifert the adjutant general of the Florida

National Guard. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to discuss the

things the Florida Guard is doing with our current partners, to share and

discuss the great things that are going on. Not only does our State

Partnership Program support the security cooperation objectives of the

United States, but it also serves as a valuable tool to reinforce our

servicemembers training and commitment to their mission, their unit, and

our country by building strong bonds and relationships that last for

decades with the same people through these continuing interactions.

These training events and exchanges build the current partner capacity,

improve interoperability, and enhance U.S. access and influence while

increasing the readiness of U.S. and partner nations to meet emerging

challenges. The training value as General Baldwin just mentioned,

partnership is immeasurable. While costing the DoD very little. The SPP

budget, I believe, is a mere 1% of the entire D.O.D. budget. And the

specifics on that could be given by Mr. Hall further. Guyana. Barbados.

Grenada. Antigua. Barbuda. Sake. Dominica. I'm sorry. Dominica. Saint

Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have

4
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

been our partners for over 15 years. Together, we are an unmatched

network of partnerships, primarily focused on natural disaster relief and

recovery. We also address ongoing security threats like human

trafficking, illegal drugs and arms trade, and countering China's growing

global influence in our own hemisphere. In this year alone, so far, the

Florida National Guard has assisted U.S. Southern Command in

accomplishing their theater campaign objectives by conducting 30

engagements in eight different countries, with another 12 currently

scheduled the remainder of this fiscal year. These exchanges include

small unit security, search and rescue, maritime planning,

noncommissioned officer, leadership development, public affairs and

communications, small unit patrolling. Logistics and sustainment. Cyber

protection. All of these along with key leader engagements. In fact,

interesting to note, as we speak, we have representatives down in Guyana

that are conducting a jungle symposium with senior leaders, exchanging

how operations in that environment can benefit both countries. Just two

weeks ago, we hosted the Chiefs of Defense from both our peers in

Antigua, Barbuda, in the first of its kind event in Florida, where I was

able to personally show our partners some of the Florida National

Guard's equipment and facilities to demonstrate potential training

opportunities with their military forces here in Florida. These training

facilities include our chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high

explosive enhance response, force package training facilities and our

joint operations center, where we command and control domestic

response operations like hurricanes, wildfires and alike. These key leader

engagements are invaluable because they promote and reiterate shared

values of freedom, democracy, and human rights, which lead to enhanced

prosperity and security in the region. In fact, last year we hosted a

Women in Peace and Security Conference in Guyana intended to

increase the meaningful participation of women in our partners, defense

and security sectors. These are events that they requested from us,

recognizing that we are the standard bearer for how women are involved

in our military forces. The event, in fact, was so successful that the

Florida National Guard and Guyana will be co-hosting the Caribbean

Women Peace and Security Conference in August, featuring 14

Caribbean nations. Stability, however, makes National Guard uniquely

suited to conduct state partnership missions. Guardsmen typically remain

in their state during their entire term of service, unlike our active-duty

brethren who move every few years. This stability creates trust through

long term associations that last decades. As an example, my Command

Sergeant Major, Dave Lane, who just retired two weeks ago, has such a

long relationship with the Command Sergeant Major of the Guyanese

5
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

armed forces, that he taught the sergeant major from Guyana how to

jump out of airplanes 30 years ago. And as he was retiring, the Guyana

chief of defense was there representing Guyana at his retirement

ceremony here in Florida. The program is also mutually beneficial,

acting as an excellent retention tool for National Guard service members,

all while growing and supporting strong relationships with our partners.

Lastly, these training exchanges are largely made up of experienced

traditional guardsmen who bring their civilian work experience to the

table as well as their military expertise. This adds another dimension to

the relationship which is unattainable by the active component. I truly

believe that a state partnership program is the most cost-effective high

value program in the entire Department of Defense. The Florida National

Guard is proud of our participation in it.

Wayne Hall [00:09:50] Thank you, sir. Next, we go over to Major General Daryl Bohac in

Nebraska.

MG Daryl Bohac [00:09:56] Mr. Hall I join my fellow out there saying what a great opportunity for us

to talk about the state partnership program and, like general Baldwin,

we've been involved with the Czech Republic since 1993, July of 1993,

along with the state of Texas. In fact, the only state partnership program

relationship that has two states allied to it to the Czech Republic. And

this is largely because of cultural reasons at the time in Nebraska, as

about 5% of its population that claim Czech heritage, while the state of

Texas has the largest number of people that claim Czech heritage. So that

was probably in many, many cases, the basis of forming relationships

early on. The program has definitely progressed today where it's more

about matching needs and capabilities and capacity development efforts

between not only the partner nation but also the partner state. That's

certainly been the case with the Czech republic. So when I first went to

the Czech Republic in 1998 as a major, we required interpreters to

communicate with senior leaders. And in fact most of the effort at that

time was based on developing conversational English language skills

among the Czech armed forces. One of the elements that we spent a fair

amount of time on with them is the development of a professional

noncommissioned officer corps, which is a requirement in the North

Atlantic Treaty Organization. And today, I'm glad to say, because of the

mutual efforts of the Czech’s commitment to NATO's and to our

involvement along with Texas National Guard, they are a full NATO

member and actively participating support to the Ukrainian armed forces

in their counter efforts against the invasion of their nation and threat to

the sovereignty integrity as my colleagues have talked about the

6
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

continuity that the National Guard brings to these relationships really

can't be overstated. And let me give you a couple of examples that in

2018, the Czech government celebrated 100 years of statehood, having

been formed in 1918 after World War One. And as part of that

celebration, they had a major military parade and asked the Czechs,

excuse me, the Texas and Nebraska National Guard to carry U.S. Colors

in that in that parade and the signal honor for us to do so. Now, fast

forward to 2020 in the Fall when the prime minister of the Czech

government wrote to Ambassador King, who was ambassador and the

U.S. Embassy in Prague, and specifically asked for the Texas and

Nebraska National Guard medical professionals in our formations to

come assist them in their response to COVID 19. We were able to do

that. And then finally here, most recently on the aviation side, we have a

long-standing relationship in helping the Czech Air Force develop their

ability to get certified for air to air refueling for some of their aircraft. As

a result, that led to them now being able to participate in the NATO air

policing mission in the Balkans on that area of the world as part of the

NATO mission. So very proud of that. We also have a relationship with

Rwanda on the continent of Africa, more a newer relationship that was

formed in December 2019, and a much different kind of effort, if you

will, in terms of what is desired by both us in Nebraska and in Rwanda

defense forces. But suffice it to say, this wasn't a relationship either one

of us needed, but rather a relationship that we wanted, which is becoming

the case more and more often in the State Department's program. There

we are focusing on helping them develop a more robust

noncommissioned officer relationship engineering capacity, some cyber

efforts on other lines of efforts as they continue to build capacity inside

of Rwanda Defense Forces. And was really pleased to host their minister

of defense here recently, Minister Muritala and the J5 for plans and

programs here on safari here in the state of Nebraska as part of our

ongoing key leader engagement. One of the developments in the state

partnership program although not an official effort but is a natural. out

Brief. I guess or outcome potentially is we've initiated an effort to

develop the informal trilateral relationship between the Czech Republic,

Rwanda and Nebraska National Guard, because there are capacities and

competencies that each member bring to the relationship that will make it

more robust and more effective and enables all of us, all three partners in

this case, to share, engage in shared democratic ideals of our nations.

Each of our states whatever the case may be continuous work with the

State Partnership Program. So an excellent example of how to take this

program to the next level. And as general Eifert points out, the

exceptional value for the cost of the program that we deliver for the

7
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

security interests of the United States and for our partner nations really

can't be overvalued, in my opinion. It's a pleasure to be with you today.

Thanks, Mr. Hall.

Wayne Hall [00:16:00] Thank you, sir. And next, we'll go to Major General Gregory Knight

from Vermont.

MG Gregory Knight [00:16:06] Thanks, Mr. Hall. Appreciate the opportunity. Thanks, everybody, for

joining us. I'll be very succinct so we can get to some questions here.

We've been involved with the state partnership program for 29 years with

North Macedonia, 14 years with Senegal, and most recently, our newest

partner is with the Republic of Austria. When it comes to North

Macedonia, for instance, and you've heard the other adjutant general talk

about the importance of continuity and relationships. We've been

alongside Macedonia originally and now North Macedonia all the way

up through them becoming our newest NATO ally. Just recently, we had

100 of our infantry soldiers embedded as part of the Swift Response

series of exercises at their training area. And we embedded them with the

North Macedonian Special Forces to serve as an opposing force for the

exercise and simulating that opposing force against NATO. The

experiences that those soldiers shared with me when they came home. I

simply cannot replicate doing it at Fort Drum or Fort Polk. The

relationships they build, it's critical to the success of the organization.

And for me. I've been doing this state partnership program, a key leader

engagements for about 20 years now. The relationships that come out are

just unbelievable. That's really where the program shines. I could go

down a list. I want to leave time for questions. Certainly. I think you're

going to be impressed with the scope and scale of what the state

partnership program brings, general Baldwin spoke about it. It is

absolutely a value proposition for our nation and certainly for our

military and for our guard. One thing I want to highlight, though, the

state partnership program starts. As mil to mil. But for instance, what

we've done in the last year, in fact, it was a year ago this week, I went to

North Macedonia with our lieutenant governor and our secretary of

Commerce. My job was to facilitate relationships because was just really

so much exponential potential in the growth of the program. I facilitate

the relationships and I'll step out of the way. Our mil-to-mil relationships

are always going to be there. There's always something to do. We'll do

about 20 engagements with all of our partners every year. Different scale.

A lot of the topics were addressed by the other Adjutants General range

complex development, working on the domestic response capabilities

and capacity. What we're pursuing now is more of a whole of Vermont or

8
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

a whole of society approach to the state partnership program, and that

can touch any number of things rule of law, agriculture, universal

exchange programs, sister school programs. Most recently, I hosted the

Minister of Defense in Vermont. We met with the governor, hosted a

business roundtable. A lot of discussion on renewable energy, had

nothing to do with military to military, but that's really the foundational

element. We'll start the partnership and there's just huge potential for it to

grow from there. And I'll stop there. I'll stop there, Mr. Hall, and we'll

jump right into questions.

Wayne Hall [00:19:22] All right. Thank you, sir. So being respectful of time, we ask that media,

please keep it to one question with a follow up. And if we have more

time, we'll work through for additional questions from reporters. Please

state your name and outlet. When I call upon you and we'll take if we

can't answer your question or something outside of the scope we can do.

I'll take note of it and we'll get back to you with an answer as soon as we

can following the roundtable. So with that, I'll start with Lita Baldor

from A.P. Are you there? And do you have a question?

Lolita Baldor [00:19:52] Yes, thank you. This question is, I guess, more for General Baldwin and

General Eifert. General Baldwin. You talked about the fact that someone

in your forces are in contact with people and with troops in Ukraine

every day getting lessons learned and giving advice. Can you give us

some specifics on that? Just kind of flesh out a little bit more about what

you're hearing. What lessons are you learning? And sort of the similar

question for general Eifert. What are you hearing from your forces who

are working with the Ukrainian troops right now in terms of what they

are training and what lessons are they learning? Thank you.

MG David Baldwin [00:20:36] So this is General Baldwin, and I'll start with describing my own

personal interactions. I, I do either a video teleconference with the most

senior leaders of the Ukrainian armed forces and their Ministry of

Interior for the security forces, probably once a week or so. And then on

a daily basis, I'm doing text messages back and forth and sometimes

some one-on-one phone calls. That's mainly exchanging information

about what the overall situation is and then helping them shape their

requests for additional aid from the West in terms of what might be

within the realm of possibility for weapons systems that they could

acquire flow of ammunition and those types of things at the staff level.

So at our one star generals, down to our colonels and some of our senior

NCOs. They engage with Ukrainian leaders, the Ukrainian Defense

Attaché and others, to help them refine their requests in terms of types of

9
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

weapons systems are asking for and providing them information of

things that might be available at the more tactical level. So our lieutenant

colonels, some of our colonels and a lot of our senior NCOs that have

developed personal relationships with Ukrainian soldiers and airmen will

be talking them on a daily basis to offer advice on tactics, tips and

procedures, particularly in the partnership between our fighter wing here

in California and the fighter pilots in Ukraine. They are in contact on a

daily basis, updating each other, sharing ideas. And that relationship of

all of them is probably proving to be about the most effective because of

the tremendous performance of the under the outnumbered and

outgunned Ukrainian air force.

Wayne Hall [00:22:32] General Eifert, do you have something to add to that?

MG James Eifert [00:22:35] I think the question was regarding the troops from the Florida National

Guard that were deployed to the Ukraine. Just to clarify, that's not part of

the state partnership program. The troops that we have deployed to the

Ukraine are on a recurring mission. That is it just happened that we were

there at the point at which the conflict kicked off with Russia. Our folks,

about 160 Florida guardsmen mobilized back in October of last year and

then were part of the team that supports the joint multinational training

group in Ukraine. They were located L’viv Ukraine and were evacuated

out of the country about a week prior to the Russian attack. During the

time that they were there, prior to the attack, they were conducting

training opportunities in a variety of different weapons systems and

capabilities, primarily training the Ukrainians how to execute more high

value exercises internally to their armed forces. Since the evacuation, our

forces have relocated to different locations really throughout Europe.

Now they're currently located about eight different countries, mostly in

Eastern Europe and in the Baltics. And they have been engaged within

about the last month in continuing training operations with the

Ukrainians. Now, by training them in a number of the new weapons

systems that have been introduced into the fight against the against

Russia in their country. So that's kind of where they stand. But it had

nothing to do with the state partnership program. That was not their role

there. They were there on a title 10 mission supporting the JFTG of

Ukraine. Any questions about that?

Wayne Hall [00:24:31] Thank you, sir. Next, we're going to go to CNN. Do we have a CNN

reporter on the line? Ali. Catherine, are you there? And nothing heard.

So we're going to move on. Mike Glenn, this is CNN. Can you hear us?

I'm sorry. Go ahead.

10
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

Barbara Starr [00:24:54] Sorry. Can we follow up on the California relationship with Ukraine?

When you talked about tactics, procedures advice that kind of thing. The

first question I was wondering is, is that broad scope or is that related to

actual Russian targets, locations, time, date, place, or is this kind of just

broader here's how you accomplish this task or that task?

Wayne Hall [00:25:35] Yes. Thank you, Barbara. Sir, over to you. This is Barbara Starr from

CNN.

MG David Baldwin [00:25:39] Hi, Barbara. Thanks for joining us. It's General Baldwin again. It's in the

in the main, it is strictly related to more technical advice rather than

operational insight or sharing of intelligence or that type of thing. I do

have one anecdote that's illustrative, but it comes from the Washington

National Guard, because they had recently completed the JMTGU

mission that General Eifert talked about for the Florida National Guard,

Soldiers National Guard, Washington National Guard member was

sitting at home and got a phone call and a desperate plea from a

Ukrainian that he had made friends with when he was serving in

Ukraine, training them, that Ukraine had had a misfire of the Javelin

missile and couldn't remember the misfire procedures. So the National

Guard watching the National Guard soldier talked them through it and

then waited with great anticipation and 20 or 30 minutes later received

on the phone the video of the missile launch and the destruction of the

Russian tank that that National Guard's member had coached the

Ukrainian soldier through that otherwise would not have resulted in the

defeat of that Russian tank. So at the lower levels, it's mainly that type of

interaction.

Barbara Starr [00:27:08] Put on what you were taught. And by the way, if you feel like sharing

that video, I bet we'd all like to see it. Oh. But what you're saying is,

what you were talking about is not specific to a location, not a specific

operational sharing. It is broader technical. Information sharing and

advice.

MG David Baldwin [00:27:32] At the lower levels is broader technical at the most senior levels, it is it is

what we would call more of a grand strategic or strategic kind of

decision making in terms of supply of and types of weapons systems and

ammunition rather than methods of employment. Ukrainians do share

with us what they're seeing on the battlefield at both the tactical level

with more junior people and then by various regions at the most senior

levels. But that's them telling us what they're seeing and in some cases,

11
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

what their what their analysis of the situation is.

Barbara Starr [00:28:12] And I'll be very quick. I'm so sorry to want to take up too much time.

Once you have this exchange of information with Ukraine forces, the

information you get, where does it go? Where do you send it? Where do

you send it? Up the chain. Who sees it?

MG David Baldwin [00:28:26] We participate in in a daily video teleconference with the joint staff in the

Pentagon and with the United States European Command, because often

the Ukrainians will tell us and share information with us that they don't

share it through more formal channels because we have these personal

relationships. So we do a daily call among all of our members that have

ties to Ukraine to gather anecdotes and information and in some cases,

photographs, videos and maps and things like that. And then we

consolidate that. And then every day we have a general officer or a

colonel that sits on the call and reports what we're seeing and hearing to

make sure that that active component, military and the people that are

involved in this, really involved in the support operations of delivery of

supplies and equipment and weapons systems are tracking what we're

seeing and hearing.

Oren Liebermann [00:29:26] This is Oren Lieberman.

Oren Liebermann [00:29:27] A very quick follow.

Oren Liebermann [00:29:28] Up from CNN for General Heard. Do you do your Guardsmen participate

in that call as well from Task Force Gaiter?

MG James Eifert [00:29:35] Sure. Not to my knowledge.

Oren Liebermann [00:29:38] Okay. Thank you, sir.

Wayne Hall [00:29:43] So next, we will go to Lara Seligman from Politico. Are you on the line?

Do you have a question?

Lara Seligman [00:29:48] Hi. Yes, I am on the line. Just to follow up with General Baldwin. What

are you hearing from the Ukrainians on how the weapons systems we are

providing and other Western countries are providing are working, what's

working, what's not working, and what additional training or weaponry

or tactics, advice do they need from us?

MG David Baldwin [00:30:17] So the weapons systems of the United States and their allies have been

12
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

providing have been tremendously effective and at least at the tactical

level, decisive in some cases. And that that runs the gamut of the things

that we and our NATO partners and other partners around the world have

sent. Probably most notably that is anti-tank weapons systems, hand-held

and shoulder launched. Anti tank weapons systems that really did blunt

the assaults of in the early days of the Russian forces. And then now

artillery systems have become critically important. And the 777

Howitzers that the United States and I think some of our NATO partners

have sent are really, really making a difference in and the eastern part of

Ukraine, because the war there has really turned into almost a stalemate.

And the Russians have adjusted their tactics and techniques to use

massive amounts of artillery, which results in artillery duels between the

two sides and these more capable Western artillery systems that we're

sending and will soon be sending the HIMARS rocket systems to

Ukraine will be very, very helpful to the Ukrainians in that fight.

Lara Seligman [00:31:46] And will the guard have a role in helping with training on the new

HIMARS system?

MG David Baldwin [00:31:54] So Cal Guard will not because we don't have that system in the

California National Guard. We do have 777 artillery. So we are providing

and just anecdotally, technical advice and support of that effort for

training the forces is led directed by the United States European

Command, as informed by the joint staff in the Pentagon. So they select

the units that are currently in Europe and available to do that kind of

training.

Wayne Hall [00:32:23] I'd like to ask if any of us, any of our other panel members can share

some aspects of their role in training with their partners and how this

helped shape their partner military.

MG David Baldwin [00:32:35] Mr. Hall this is general knight.

Wayne Hall [00:32:39] Sir. Yes, go ahead, please.

MG David Baldwin [00:32:40] Yeah. When we're talking about training and again, with North

Macedonia being our newest NATO ally, one of the primary focuses that

we're seeing here and all of all the adjutants general and all the training

events that we do, there are focusing on interoperability and building, as

general Baldwin said, that keep capacity and capability that central to the

success of our allies and building and strengthening those partnerships.

So the big focus there is interoperability. We're seeing it with Vermont

13
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

F-35 supporting the NATO air policing mission in EUCOM, working

with our NATO allies and on aviation platforms. So that's really hard to

get into the weeds with, with how specific and how incredibly detailed

that level of training is. As General Baldwin said down at that soldier and

airman level, it's pretty impressive. But yeah, that's critical to us, is

focusing on interoperability and building the capacity and capability with

our allies.

Wayne Hall [00:33:46] Thank you, sir. General Bohac, I'd like to ask for your perspective on this

with regard to your partnership with the Czech Republic.

MG Daryl Bohac [00:33:54] Sure, I think, as I mentioned earlier and general knight just mentioned it

to our ability to help the Czech air forces get to the point where they can

participate meaningfully in the NATO air policing mission probably one

of the more significant aspects of our influence in that relationship. But I

also think one of the outcomes of the invasion of Ukraine is, at least from

my perspective, has really rallied the NATO alliance, our allies, allies

and partners together in ways we haven't seen for a while. And I think

one of the outcomes we've seen that is, is the partner nations where

NATO in particular committing to and not already achieving 2% of the

gross national product defense spending on defense. Why is that

important? Because it relates right back to general knight's point about

interoperability and using common equipment or common fire equipment

that helps us. So the Czechs, for example, on the letter of commitment

and are in the process of purchasing belt military helicopters to replace

their Russian kind, equipped Russian helicopter equipment that they have

now, moving away from the Russian supply chains and logistics, things

that will enable them to be a better partner overall.

Wayne Hall [00:35:20] Thank you, sir. We're going to move on next to Mr. Mike Glenn from

The Washington Times. Are you online, sir? Do you have a question?

Mike. All right. Nothing heard. We'll move on to Gina Caballero from

ARMY magazine. Are you online, Gina?

Gina Caballero [00:35:41] I am. Thank you, Wayne. I have no questions.

Wayne Hall [00:35:45] Our very good. Thank you. Moving on to Eleanor Watson from CBS.

Are you online? You have a question?

Eleanor Watson [00:35:53] Hi, I'm here. Thank you all for doing this. I guess this is for General

Eifert, but can you just give us an update, ballpark, of how many

Ukrainians have been trained now since the Florida National Guard has

14
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

resumed training? And then kind of following up on that, on the

continued learning part after their training and after they go back into

Ukraine, what kind of relationships are they maintaining to make sure

Ukrainians are continuing to train and continuing to learn and use the

equipment effectively? .

Wayne Hall [00:36:33] Sir we can't hear you. Sorry. We've lost your audio. All right, we can't.

For whatever reason, we've lost general Eifert’s audio. We'll try to circle

back. Ellie, do you have another question for anybody else?

Eleanor Watson [00:36:55] No, that's kind of my one. Thank you.

Wayne Hall [00:36:57] Okay. We'll try to we'll try to get that sorted out and we can get general

Eifert’s audio back up. We'll come back to it in the interim. Josiah

Watson, are you online and do you have a question? Josiah.

Wayne Hall [00:37:16] Nothing heard.

MG James Eifert [00:37:18] Hey Wayne. Can you hear me now?

Wayne Hall [00:37:20] Yeah. There we go. Thank you, sir.

MG James Eifert [00:37:22] Yeah. Sorry. I had a burp where I got dumped off the meeting and had to

reenter. Sorry about that. I believe the question for me was about the

relationships of our Florida guardsmen with Ukraine. And I told kind of

a similar anecdote to General Baldwin. You know, our guys have been in

place for about six months, training at the JMTG, the joint multinational

training group Ukraine, prior to being evacuated. And then we go on for

about a month with similar contact with their Ukrainian counterparts

through text messages and videos and those kind of things. Seeing how

the work that they had done had paid off in actual tactical engagements

with the Russians. So that was pretty inspiring for our troops. And they

were they were really disappointed about having to leave, I can tell you

that. And the elation that they felt in getting back into the fight was

palpable to the point that when they rejoined their Ukrainian brethren

there, there was some pretty emotional hugs and reunions there. So I can

tell you that it's a it's a very emotional event that they're involved in. And

I'm serious to the extent that they know through these talks and

interactions of these Ukrainian soldiers rotating in and out of Ukraine

back to these training locations that we have set up in different spots

around Eastern Europe, that they're constantly reminded of the

seriousness of their endeavor and the importance of the training that

15
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

they're giving. So the exact types and numbers of training that they're

given and the equipment I'd be, I don't think is something I can talk about

because I just am not familiar enough with the security classification.

The levels that I get information is not something I could release in a

unclassified format. So Mr. Hall may be able to find from his

unclassified sources what are the exact numbers that are being released.

But I wouldn't be comfortable in discussing that in this forum.

Wayne Hall [00:39:37] Thank you, sir. Next we'll go to Courtney Kube from NBC. Are you

there and do you have a question, Courtney?

Courtney Kube [00:39:45] Thanks, Wayne. I'm here, but I don't have a question. Thank you.

Wayne Hall [00:39:47] Thank you, Courtney. Next, we'll go to The Washington Post. Karoun,

are you on the line? Do you have a question?

Karoun Demirjian [00:40:10] Hey, it's Karoun. Hi. I just want to go back. I have a question based on

something that General Baldwin said. You were talking about how

you've been helping the Ukrainians refine their requests for additional

military assistance in the, you know, the success of draw down packages.

I'm just wondering if you could give some more information about what

you mean when you say refine the request. Is this like tempering certain

expectations or is this kind of, you know, realistically giving them advice

based on how long it will train them to do certain things? And ah, there's

been quite a bit of back and forth within the government about what

actually should go into these packages. And I assume that advice is, you

know, the Ukrainians clamors have for certain systems have also been

very vocal. So when you're talking about refinement of those requests,

what are you talking about in terms of is it more training, is it more

availability? Could you just give us more detail on that front?

MG David Baldwin [00:41:02] Yeah. So you characterize it really well? I would say that it was it's

mainly expectation management. So if they came to a with a request that

we would help them shape it so that it was more likely, especially in the

earlier days of the conflict, when there was not as with before, there was

not this tremendous amount of support coming from our administration

and from the Congress that we see now. When there were still some

questions about which direction we were going to go, it was helping

them shape in terms of types of systems. And that really went towards

systems that would be not seen as necessarily threatening to become

offensive weapons systems as opposed to defensive systems like artillery.

Or. And then quantity and then also just availability. So they were asking

16
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

for some systems that that we in the United States of the West just we

barely had enough to meet our own needs, let alone to be able to ask the

Ukrainians to use that. Starting to change, though, which is very helpful

with the current one that we're working through, is, is what's the right

fighter aircraft for them. There is a lot of goodness in them going to

MiGs because they're already trained in that. But if they're going to use

Western type aircraft, it's a discussion about numbers and types and

capabilities of aircraft that may be available. And then then just being

able to tell them, frankly, when they're asking for a certain platform, it's

like, yeah, you're not going to get those. So you might want to put your

energy someplace else. And we're able to do that because of these

personal relationships that we've developed over the years.

Karoun Demirjian [00:42:46] And this is a follow up. Can you give any examples of things you've had

to shoot down? And also just because you said that the next gen, the next

stage of this is what's that there fighter aircraft capacity? I mean, is there

something specific that we're looking at or that you're advising them to

go after and does that? Is that squarely in the Western wheelhouse, I

guess, of systems? Have we moved on basically from the Soviet

generation or Soviet origin systems to things that are produced in the

last?

MG David Baldwin [00:43:16] So let me to answer that second part of the question first. We're still

encouraging them to pursue old Soviet systems because so many of their

airmen and we'll talk about aircraft in particular, and soldiers are already

trained in those systems and a lot of the stuff in the manuals come in

Cyrillic so they can read them. And the learning curve is a little bit less

so. Most you know, the Ukrainians are very quick on the uptake when we

when we train them on Western systems, when it comes to the aircraft,

we're steering them towards those mix first. But then there is an over the

horizon discussion of in the midterm over the course next six months to

the year and then the long term, what's in the realm of possibility for

systems that will be effective, available and affordable for them.

Wayne Hall [00:44:03] Thank you, sir. Anybody else have anything to add? All right. Thank

you. So next, we move on to Military.com. Steve Beynon, are you on the

line? You have a question?

Steve Beynon [00:44:20] Yeah. Hey, appreciate y'all doing this. So the state partnership program

kind of sounds like a slam dunk on paper troops. To get to go overseas

via foreign weapons. It's a good retention tool. You make all these

partnerships. And with sort of the receipts. Of the. Partnership program

17
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

being good. With Ukraine. Has that spurred any additional funding for

more trips for soldiers to your partner countries? more ATs, stuff like

that.

Wayne Hall [00:44:52] Let's go to General Knight from Vermont. Would you like to take that,

sir?

MG David Baldwin [00:44:58] Sure. So, Steve, historically, I wouldn't say we've been underfunded. It's

the manner in how the state partnership program is funded. There are

times when we would get our funding for the program too late in the year

to effectively utilize it. And of course, it depends on the color of money,

people money, printing money, school dollars. We're working to fix that

with National Guard bureau, with the J5, the civ mil director here. And

obviously that'll work with Congress. If we can receive funding that's

timely. For more than one year, we're better able to spend and a lot of

planning goes into these sometimes very complex training events. And

that's going to be important for us when it comes back to the timing of

the money will be better positioned to properly execute the funding and

get better effective training in place sooner and with a little more

predictability with our state partners. And I'll defer to all the other

adjutants general if they wanted to add anything.

Wayne Hall [00:46:00] General Bohac. Anything to add, sir?

MG Daryl Bohac [00:46:04] I would just offer that there's been two challenges to the state partnership

program in terms of funding. And general Knight identified. One of

them. One is the continuing resolution process, which limits our

activities, usually in the first quarter, if not into the first half of the

federal fiscal year, and then the use of supplementals to add money to the

program. So as he said, the Chief National Guard Bureau has a

legislative objective to get more stage lights funding for the program so

that we can operate throughout the year with more effective partners.

Thank you.

Wayne Hall [00:46:39] Thank you, sir. General Eifert or General Baldwin, anything else to add

to that?

MG James Eifert [00:46:45] The only thing I'd add is, you know, the sky's the limit, I think, on how

we can grow and advance both in terms of the funding and the other

additional nations. You may have seen a map that just shows how many

state partners are and how many blank spots there are on the globe that

don't have state partners that we would be able and really been able to

18
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

expand into if the funding grew. And so for the bang for the buck that

you get out of this program to grow, it seems like a no brainer to me,

especially given the impact that has directly on our national defense

strategy.

Wayne Hall [00:47:22] Thank you. Thank you, sir. General Baldwin, anything else?

MG David Baldwin [00:47:26] I was just going to echo exactly the same thing that General Eifert said is

just is that the program first started with just a handful of nations in

Eastern Europe and now is global. And the list of countries that are

interested in participating grows by leaps and bounds every month. And

but the funding does not necessarily keep pace or so to improve the

program. We really do need to fix the timing and sequencing of the

money or perhaps allow us to use money over multi-year instead of just

within a single year, and then ensure that as we add new nations that the

Pentagon and Congress are cognizant that it's better to add more money

than the spread thinner, the very little about amount of money that we

already get in order to execute this great program.

Wayne Hall [00:48:19] Thank you, sir. I would like to keep moving. We've got a couple more

reporters to get through before time runs out. Kari Williams, are you on?

Do you have a question?

Kari Williams [00:48:27] I am, but I don't have any questions. Thank you.

Wayne Hall [00:48:30] Thank you. Kerry. Mark Hensch. Are you on a do you have a question?

Mark Hensch [00:48:35] I am. And my question is, for anyone who would care to answer. What

can we say about The guard's use of drones and how they're being used

with the SPP program in Ukraine? Is there anything you can comment on

there?

Wayne Hall [00:48:54] Any of our panelists have anything to offer.

MG David Baldwin [00:48:58] So. Hey, Mark, it's General Baldwin. This is something where we're

learning from the more for the Ukrainians, especially in their tactics and

techniques that they're using for drones, for Target acquisition, and then

they actually engage in targets with armed drones. Our experience with

Ukrainians in the past with drones was rather limited to just drones for

surveillance. And we did, in cooperation with General Atomics, do a big

Air Force exercise a couple of years ago where we sent eight of our

fighters are F-15s and we sent some of our rescue airmen from our

19
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

rescue wing and then we borrowed contractor owned MQ nine Reapers

and helped operate them. And, and what we did there though is it's not it

wasn't necessarily training that was focused on How to Operate the

drones. It was really focused on how to integrate the information that

you've got into tactical decision making so that you could take the raw

feed from that you get from drones regardless of what the platform is,

and instead of it just being the soda straw that you're looking through,

turning it into actionable intelligence and a decision-making tool for a

ground commander.

Wayne Hall [00:50:16] Thank you, sir. Any other panelists have something to add.

MG James Eifert [00:50:19] I can pile on to that a little bit. So and it's interesting because of different

perspectives you get based on your partnerships. The Guyana Defense

Force, which is one of our partner nations and is located on the northern

shore of South America with a fairly long, very porous border with

Venezuela. And one of their big concerns is human trafficking and drug

trafficking and that that kind of thing through Venezuela. And one of the

things that we just assisted them with recently through a small unit

tactics exchange here with the Florida National Guard, was teaching

them the drone capabilities that we have, resident in our infantry brigade

and our security forces assistance battalions. And so they are already

looking to expand that drone use both in border really domain awareness.

It could be over water. It could be over these very remote border

locations throughout the Guyana, Venezuela border, and as well as the

main awareness on the coasts that they have that are difficult to maintain

awareness of. So drones, I think, represent a significant future for where

our state partnerships will go, will grow. And the more we both can learn

from one another, the better both of our militaries will be.

Wayne Hall [00:51:38] Thank you, sir. General Knight, you have something that as well.

MG David Baldwin [00:51:44] Nothing on this topic.

Wayne Hall [00:51:46] Thank you. Anything from you, General Bohac.

MG Daryl Bohac [00:51:50] I would just say we learn from our Rwanda partners about the innovation

they're doing with drone technology, which is to deliver fresh blood

supplies across the nation into remote areas. And I think it's those kinds

of things that are the intangible benefits we often don't think about, but

an excellent use of technology by their government. Thank you.

20
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

Wayne Hall [00:52:14] Thank you, sir. All right. We have time for one more question. Who go to

the Ellen Mitchell from the Hill. Are you on? Do you have a question?

Ellen. All right. Ellen, I can't hear you if you're on. So nothing heard.

We'll move on. And what we'll do is will, in the interest of time, will

allow our panelists to offer some brief closing comments. I'd like to start

with Vermont. We'll go to Nebraska, then Florida and California. So,

General Knight, please over to you, sir.

MG David Baldwin [00:52:52] All right. Thanks, Mr. Hall. I appreciate the engagement today. There's a

pretty significant story to tell here. And again, as I said up front, when

you look at the scope and the scale of what the National Guard does

within the state partnership program, it's pretty profound. And I could go

on, as any of us could. Providing you vignettes about some of the success

stories and not of them. Not all of them are tactics, techniques and

procedures. Some of them are vastly different based on the experienced

folks that we're sending over. We do medical readiness exercises, for

instance, in Senegal and in North Macedonia. We did one in Senegal two

years ago. We sent over 18 of our providers, both Air and Army National

Guard surgeons. Physicians assistants, RNs, technicians to help repair

equipment and calibrate it in two weeks, working with the Senegalese

colleagues, they saw 540 patients. They did everything from orthopedic

surgery to labor delivery, C-section, follow ups. It was pretty amazing to

see. But one and again, I said upfront, they have experiences I can't

replicate here. A new Air Force nurse just out of school, working side by

side with a Senegalese surgeon in our air national Guard surgeon

performing a bowl resection on a two-day old infant. And that nurse is

providing respirations for that child. That's incredible. And the goodwill

that comes from that is pretty awesome. But I could go on for much

longer than the time we have here. But that's just one example of the

goodness that comes with the state partnership program and the wealth of

experience that we have throughout the Guard. Thanks, Mr. Hall.

Wayne Hall [00:54:34] Thank you, sir. General Bohac, closing thoughts.

MG Daryl Bohac [00:54:39] I think the other would be a bit repetitive, but I want to reemphasize the

value gained not only for the state National Guard that's involved within

partner nation, but also the benefit to the United States and our allies and

partners. And what that's done for us, I think since the inception of the

program in 1993, and in particular when I think about the Czech

Republic and I look at where they came from, from a conscript, Soviet

influenced style military to where they are today and what they do as a

nation and how they participate in the NATO alliance to bring over

21
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

300,000 displaced Ukrainians into there, into their country and help

coach them. This battle rages on. I think we all take a certain amount of

pride in being a small part of that, all of the things that we achieved

together with our allies and partners.

Wayne Hall [00:55:34] Thank you very much, sir. General Eifert.

MG James Eifert [00:55:40] Yeah, thank you. So, again, the program is so unique and important and

depending also on the combat command to the countries that your

participants in the partnerships are with. For Florida, our partnerships are

with the U.S. Southern Command nations. And so what I see and where I

really appreciate the value of these partnerships is a growing presence

and danger from the People's Republic of China in our own backyard, in

our hemisphere. Very few people in America realize the presence of the

People's Republic of China in the Eastern Caribbean, in Central and

South America, and what that means to the future generations of

Americans having to deal with that presence as we continue to grow this

program. More than anyone that I know of, anyone that I've ever heard of

gets after the relationship building that becomes the fence that we could

use to keep off our backyard. The People's Republic of China and their

debt diplomacy tactics to really influence these friendly democratic

nations in our own hemisphere. And so the state partnership program,

like I said, is is how we're getting after it. And I couldn't be prouder of

what it means to both current and future generations of our citizens.

Wayne Hall [00:57:08] Thank you very much, sir. And lastly, and certainly not least, General

Baldwin, closing thoughts.

MG David Baldwin [00:57:15] Yeah. Thanks again. This program does deliver tremendous value at very,

very low costs in establishing a low level of presence around the globe in

order to counter our adversaries and as general Eifert said, in particularly

the People's Republic of China. When we go into Nigeria and meet with

our Nigerian partners, we are focused on assisting them, on truly

reforming and improving their armed forces for the good of their country.

And we get a collateral benefit from that. But it's not, as general Eifert

said, debt diplomacy, where we're going in with any kind of expectation

when we send old soldiers and airmen into work with the Nigerians, with

their judge advocate general Corp on rule of law, with their infantry

soldiers, on how to follow that rule of law with their air force, on how to

deliver humanitarian aid or resupply in fighting the insurgents in the

north. It's all done with this concept in mind that we're there to help

them, to truly partner with them. And they get that because we're not as a

22
Transcript

National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Press Desk (703) 601-6767

ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@army.mil

www.nationalguard.mil

country asking for anything in return to the degree that the coercive

nature that the people from China and other nations do when they come

in and our partners see that, they appreciate that. And it really, really

makes the partnership strong.

Wayne Hall [00:58:37] Thank you, sir. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our

panelists today and our guests for joining us. If you members of the

media, if you have any additional questions or follow up questions,

please contact us by email and we'll do our best to try to get them

addressed. That will conclude our roundtable for today. Thank you very

much.

[End of Audio]

Duration: 58 minutes 37 seconds

For information regarding this transcript, please send an email to the National Guard Bureau

Media Operations desk at ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@mail.mil.

-30-

23
9/22/2020 National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2295.html 1/3

National Guard

General DANIEL R. HOKANSON

 

Chief, National Guard Bureau

Washington, DC

Since: August 2020

SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE USMA

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES

United States Military Academy - BS - Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace)

Naval Postgraduate School - MA - International Security and Civil-Military Relations

United States Naval War College - MA - National Security and Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED

Aviation Officer Basic Course

Aviation Officer Advanced Course

United States Naval War College - College of Naval Command and Staff

Senior Service College Fellowship - Harvard University

CAPSTONE - National Defense University

PINNACLE - National Defense University

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S) None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT

2LT 28 May 86

1LT 28 Nov 87

CPT 1 Nov 90

MAJ 30 Oct 97

LTC 24 Jul 02

COL 2 Aug 06

BG 22 Dec 10

MG 23 May 13

LTG 15 Aug 15

GEN 3 Aug 20

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT

Aug 20 Present Chief, National Guard Bureau, Washington, District of Columbia

Jun 19 Aug 20 Director, Army National Guard, Arlington, Virginia

Nov 16 Jun 19 Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC

Aug 15 Oct 16 Deputy Commander, USNORTHCOM, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

Aug 13 Aug 15 The Adjutant General, Salem, Oregon

Jul 12 Jul 13 Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC

Aug 10 Jul 12 Deputy Director, J-5, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

Mar 08 Jul 10 Commander, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, Portland, Oregon and OPERATION IRAQI

FREEDOM, Iraq

Jul 07 Mar 08 Deputy Commander, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, Portland, Oregon

Aug 06 Jul 07 Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan
9/22/2020 National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2295.html 2/3

Jul 05 Jul 06 Student, Senior Service College Fellowship, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Jul 04 Jun 05 Commander, 641st Medical Battalion (EVAC), Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon

Jun 02 Jun 04 Deputy Director, Army Aviation, Headquarters State Area Regional Command, Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon

Jun 01 Jun 02 Executive Officer, 641st Medical Battalion (EVAC), Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon

Jul 00 Jun 01 Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island

Jul 99 Jul 00 Plans Analyst, Program Analysis and Evaluation Division, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia

Dec 98 Jun 99 Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California

Oct 97 Dec 98 Aviation Operations Officer, Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon

Oct 96 Sep 97 Operations Officer, 641st Medical Battalion (EVAC), Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon

Oct 95 Sep 96 Aide-de-Camp, Office of The Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard, Salem, Oregon

Jul 95 Oct 95 Control Group (Ready Reserve)

Jun 94 Apr 95 Project Engineer, Aircraft Armament Test Division, Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona

Oct 92 Jun 94 Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment (Attack), 18th Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Jun 91 Oct 92 Assistant S3, 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment (Attack), Apache Training Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas

Oct 90 Jun 91 Student, Aviation Officer Advanced Course and AH-64 Combat Aircraft Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, Alabama

Jul 87 Aug 90 Troop Executive Officer, later Scout Platoon Leader, later Flight Operations Officer, 2nd Squadron (RECON), 9th Cavalry, 7th

Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California and OPERATION JUST CAUSE, Panama

Jul 86 Jul 87 Student, Aviation Officer Basic Course; Air Assault School; Initial Entry Rotary Wing Flight Training (Aeroscout); Fort

Rucker, Alabama

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE

Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC Nov 16 - Jun 19 Lieutenant General

Deputy Commander, USNORTHCOM, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Aug 15 - Oct 16 Lieutenant General

The Adjutant General, Salem, Oregon Aug 13 - Aug 15 Major General

Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC Jul 12 - Jul 13 Major General

Deputy Director, J-5, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Aug 10 - Jul 12 Brigadier General

Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V, OPERATION ENDURING

FREEDOM, Afghanistan

Aug 06 - Jul 07 Colonel

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE

Commander, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard,

Portland, Oregon and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq

Mar 08 - Jul 10 Colonel

Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V, OPERATION ENDURING

FREEDOM, Afghanistan

Aug 06 - Jul 07 Colonel

Troop Executive Officer, later Scout Platoon Leader, later Flight Operations Officer, 2nd

Squadron (RECON), 9th Cavalry, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California and

OPERATION JUST CAUSE, Panama

Jul 87 - Aug 90 First Lieutenant

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Defense Superior Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Legion of Merit

Soldiers Medal

Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Army Achievement Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Campaign Stars)

Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 Campaign Star)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
9/22/2020 National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2295.html 3/3

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal

Combat Action Badge

Master Army Aviator Badge

Air Assault Badge

Parachutist Badge

Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

The Army Staff Identification Badge

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Master Army Aviator

Flight hours: More than 2600; over 50 Combat Hours

Aircraft flown: AH-64, OH-58, TH-55, UH-1, UH-60

Pilot wings: Fort Rucker, Alabama

As of: 3 Aug 20

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.
National Guard

Major General DAVID S. BALDWIN

The Adjutant General, California

Sacramento, CA

Since: April 2011

SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES

Stanford University - BS - Medical Microbiology

University of Southern California - MPA - Public Administration

United States Army War College - MSS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED

Infantry Officer Basic Course

Armor Officer Advanced Course

United States Army Command and General Staff College

United States Army War College

Army Senior Leader Development Program-Basic (ASLDP-B)

Equal Opportunity (EO) Advisor Reserve Components Course

Army Senior Leader Development Program- Intermediate (ASLDP-I)

George C. Marshall Center, Senior Executive Seminar

United States Judge Advocate School, Reserve Component - General Officer Legal Orientation Course (RC-GOLO)

Army Senior Leader Development Program- Advanced (ASLDP-A)

CAPSTONE

Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar

Harvard University, Senior Executives in National and International Security (SENIS)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S) None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT

2LT 1 Sep 84

1LT 27 Aug 87

CPT 20 Sep 90

MAJ 30 Jun 95

LTC 18 Jan 00

COL 7 May 04

BG 15 Apr 11

MG 8 Sep 15

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT

Apr 11 Present The Adjutant General, California, Sacramento, California

Jul 10 Mar 11 Deputy Commander, 101st Airborne Division Tactical Command Post and Senior Mentor to Corps Commander, 201st Afghan

Army Corps, Gamberi, Afghanistan

Apr 09 Jun 10 Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Sacramento, California

Jan 07 Mar 09 Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 40th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Sacramento, California

Apr 04 Dec 06 Director, Plans and Operations, Joint Force Headquarters, Sacramento, California

Jun 02 Mar 04 Chief Personnel Assignments Officer, Headquarters (-) State Area Command, Sacramento, California
Sep 99 May 02 Commander, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, Modesto, California

Aug 97 Aug 99 Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, Modesto, California

Jan 95 Jul 97 S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, Modesto, California

Feb 94 Dec 94 Assistant S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade, 40th Infantry Division, San Jose, California

Apr 93 Jan 94 Aide-de-Camp, Headquarters (-) State Area Command, Sacramento, California

Jan 90 Mar 93 Company Commander, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 159th Infantry, Pleasanton, California

Oct 86 Dec 89 Scout Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 159th Infantry, San Jose, California

May 86 Sep 86 Executive Officer, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 159th Infantry, San Jose, California

Sep 84 Apr 86 Rifle Platoon Leader, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 159th Infantry, San Jose, California

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE

Deputy Commander, 101st Airborne Division Tactical Command Post and Senior Mentor

to Corps Commander, 201st Afghan Army Corps, Gamberi, Afghanistan

Jul 10 - Mar 11 Colonel

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE

Deputy Commander, 101st Airborne Division Tactical Command Post and Senior Mentor

to Corps Commander, 201st Afghan Army Corps, Gamberi, Afghanistan

Jul 10 - Mar 11 Colonel

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Armed Forces Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with "M" Device, Numeral 2 and 20 year device Silver Hourglass)

Army Service Ribbon

Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal

Combat Action Badge

Parachutist Badge

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

National Guard Association of the United States

National Guard Association of California

As of: 12 Sep 19

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.
5/20/22, 10:16 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2681.html 1/3

MAJOR GENERAL JAMES O. EIFERT

Maj. Gen. James O. Eifert is assigned as The Adjutant

General, Florida. As The Adjutant General, he is the

senior military advisor to the Governor, responsible for

the overall management, readiness, and mobilization of

both U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force elements of the

Florida National Guard. 

General Eifert received his commission from the United

States Air Force Academy in June 1982 and graduated

from the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons

School in December 1992. He has commanded at the

squadron, group, wing and state levels and has led

multiple F-15 combat deployments. General Eifert

served as chairman on both the Air Dominance

Weapons Systems Council and the National Strategic

Planning System Force Structure Committee. He

previously served as the Air National Guard Assistant

to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl

Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

EDUCATION

1986 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

1998 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2002 Air War College, non-residence

2013 North American Aerospace Defense Command/Northern Command (NORAD/NORTHCOM),

Dual Status Commanders Course, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colo.

2014 John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University, Senior Executives in National and International

Security, Cambridge, Mass.

2014 Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

2014 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), Joint Base Andrews, Md.

2014 University of Tennessee, Air Force Smart Operations 21, Knoxville, Tenn.

2015 Enterprise Perspective Seminar (EPS), in residence

2015 John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security

Executive Seminar, Cambridge, Mass.

2016 CAPSTONE National Defense University, Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, Fort

Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
5/20/22, 10:16 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2681.html 2/3

2017 Advanced Senior Leader Development Program-Strategic Engagement Seminar (ASLDP-SES),

Arlie Center, Warrenton, Va.

2018 Joint Force Air Component Commander Course (JFACC), Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2020 National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC), Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 1982 - July 1983, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 82nd Student Squadron, Williams Air

Force Base, Ariz.

2. July 1983 - November 1983, Student, AT-38B Lead-In Training, 479th Tactical Training Wing,

Holloman AFB, N.M.

3. November 1983 - June 1984, United States Air Force Operational Training Course, 308th Tactical

Fighter Training Squadron, Homestead AFB, Fla.

4. June 1984 - December 1984, Aircraft Commander, F-4E, 337th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Seymour

Johnson AFB, N.C.

5. December 1984 - July 1987, Emergency Action Controller, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour

Johnson AFB, N.C.

6. July 1987 - September 1987, Student, AT-38B Fighter Lead-In Training Course, 479th Tactical

Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.

7. September 1987 - January 1988, Student, F-15 Replacement Training Unit, 2nd Tactical Fighter

Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.

8. February 1988 - February 1991, Commander/Instructor Pilot, F-15, 525th Tactical Fighter

Squadron, Bitburg Air Base, Germany

9. March 1991 - December 1991, Headquarters Air Readiness Personnel Command, Denver, Colo.

10. December 1991 - September 1994, Pilot Fighter, D Flight, 199th Fighter Squadron, Hickam AFB,

Hawaii

11. September 1994 - September 1995, Weapons and Tactics Officer, 154th Operations Support

Flight, Hickam AFB, Hawaii

12. September 1995 - September 1996, Weapons and Tactics Officer, 159th Fighter Squadron,

Jacksonville, Fla.

13. September 1996 - June 2002, F-15 Fighter Squadron Operations Officer, 159th Fighter Squadron,

Jacksonville, Fla.

14. June 2002 - June 2008, Commander, 125th Operations Group, Jacksonville, Fla.

15. June 2008 - January 2011, Vice Commander, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville, Fla.

16. January 2011 - February 2013, Commander, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville, Fla.

17. February 2013 - February 2017, Assistant Adjutant General, St. Augustine, Fla.

18. March 2017 - March 2019, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces

(PACAF) , Hickam AFB, HI

19. April 2019 - Present, The Adjutant General, Florida, St. Augustine, Fla.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot

Flight hours: More than 3,800 hours; 63 combat hours

Aircraft flown: F-4C/D/E, F-15A/B/C/D, T-37, T-38

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Legion of Merit

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and five oak leaf clusters

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

Combat Readiness Medal with eight oak leaf clusters

National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
5/20/22, 10:16 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2681.html 3/3

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon Long

Air Force Longevity Service with four oak leaf clusters

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass and "M" device

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

Air Force Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant June 2, 1982

First Lieutenant June 2, 1984

Captain June 2, 1986

Major Aug. 2, 1995

Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 1999

Colonel June 27, 2003

Brigadier General Feb. 8, 2013

Major General March 1, 2017

(Current as of January 2021)

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.
6/1/22, 8:49 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2164.html 1/3

MAJOR GENERAL DARYL L. BOHAC

Maj. Gen. Daryl L. Bohac serves as The Adjutant

General, Nebraska National Guard, Lincoln, Nebraska.

As the Adjutant General, he is the senior uniformed

National Guard officer responsible for formulating,

developing, and coordinating policies, programs and

plans affecting more than 4500 Army and Air National

Guard personnel. Appointed by the Governor, General

Bohac serves as a principal on the Governor's Staff

and is the Director of the Nebraska Military Department

and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

He serves as the state’s official channel of

communication with the National Guard Bureau to the

Departments of the Army and Air Force. 

General Bohac was commissioned in 1988 at the Air

National Guard Academy of Military Science, McGheeTyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. Prior to

receiving his commission, General Bohac served as an

enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps

Reserve and the Nebraska Air National Guard 

EDUCATION

1987 University of Nebraska, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Lincoln, Nebr.

1991 University of Nebraska, Master of Arts, Psychology, Lincoln, Nebr.

1994 University of Nebraska , Doctorate of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology Lincoln, Nebr.

1996 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence

1999 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2005 Air War College, by correspondence

2006 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff

College, Norfolk, Va.

2006 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J.

McNair, Washington, D.C.

2007 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, United States Northern Command, Petersen Air

Force Base, Colo.

2013 Dual Status Commanders Course, United States Northern Command, Petersen Air Force Base,

Colo.

2014 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair,

Washington, D.C.
6/1/22, 8:49 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2164.html 2/3

2015 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge,

Mass.

2017 Fellow, Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard University, Cambridge,

Mass.

2020 Fellow, National Security Management Course, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.

2021 Regional Seminar - Africa, Alan L. Freed Associates Inc., Alexandria, VA

ASSIGNMENTS

1. August 1988 - August 1997, Supply Operations Officer, 155th Resource Management Squadron,

Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebr.

2. August 1997 - April 1998, Chief of Supply, 155th Logistics Squadron, Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln

Air National Guard Base, Nebr.

3. April 1998 - September 1998, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 155th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Air

Refueling Wing, Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebr.

4. September 1998 - August 2003, Commander, 155th Maintenance Squadron, Air Refueling Wing,

Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebr.

5. August 2003 - November 2003, Commander, 155th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Air Refueling

Wing, Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebr.

6. November 2003 - September 2006, Executive Staff Support Officer, Air National Guard, Joint Force

Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebr.

7. September 2006 - June 2007, J-3, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Nebraska Joint Force

Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebr.

8. June 2007 - April 2010, Director of Staff - Air, Nebraska National Guard, Nebraska Joint Force

Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebr. (December 2008-May 2009, Senior Air Reserve Component Advisor for

Air Force Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)

9. April 2010 - July 2013, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Nebraska National Guard, Nebraska Joint

Force Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebr.

10. July 2013 - Present, The Adjutant General, Nebraska National Guard, Nebraska Joint Force

Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebr.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. September 2006 - June 2007, J-3, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Nebraska Joint Force

Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebr. as a Colonel

2. July 2013 - Present, The Adjutant General, Nebraska National Guard, Nebraska Joint Force

Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebr. as a Major General

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force)

Legion of Merit

Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal

Army Commendation Medal

Air Force Achievement Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant Aug. 11, 1988

First Lieutenant Aug. 11, 1991

Captain Oct. 3, 1993

Major Aug. 15, 1998

Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 15, 2002

Colonel Aug. 2, 2006

Brigadier General April 4, 2010

Major General Feb. 12, 2014
6/1/22, 8:49 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2164.html 3/3

(Current as of February 2021)

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.
6/1/22, 8:51 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/3/3711.html 1/2

National Guard

Major General (VT) GREGORY C. KNIGHT

The Adjutant General, Vermont

Colchester, VT

Since: March 2019

SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE OCS

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES

Johnson State College - BA - History

Post University - MS - Education

United States Naval War College - MA - National Security and Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED

Armor Officer Basic Course

Armor Captain's Career Course

United States Army Command and General Staff College

United States Naval War College

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S) None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT

2LT 24 Aug 97

1LT 30 Nov 99

CPT 7 Feb 02

MAJ 28 Aug 07

LTC 6 Apr 12

COL 1 May 17

BG 30 Jul 20

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT

Mar 19 Present The Adjutant General, Vermont, Colchester, Vermont

May 18 Feb 19 Commander, 124th Regiment Regional Training Institute (RTI), Colchester, Vermont

Jul 16 May 18 G1, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Army National Guard, Colchester, Vermont

Jul 15 Jun 16 Student, United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island

Oct 12 Jul 15 Deputy Commander, 124th Regiment Regional Training Institute (RTI), Colchester, Vermont

Sep 08 Sep 12 Commander, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Colchester, Vermont

Jun 07 Sep 08 Battalion S3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB), 86th Brigade, Rutland,

Vermont

Jun 06 Jun 07 S3, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry, St. Albans, Vermont

Jan 06 Jun 06 Task Force Battle Captain, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Ramadi, Iraq

Jan 05 Jan 06 S-3 Air, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Ramadi, Iraq

Jun 01 Jan 05 Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Enosburg Falls, Vermont

Jun 00 May 01 Battalion Support Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Squadron, 172nd Armor, St. Albans, Vermont

May 98 May 00 Tank Platoon Leader, Company C, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Morrisville, Vermont

Aug 97 May 98 Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, 42nd Military Police Company, Montpelier, Vermont
6/1/22, 8:51 AM National Guard Biography

https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/3/3711.html 2/2

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE

Task Force Battle Captain, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion,

172nd Armor, Ramadi, Iraq

Jan 06 - Jun 06 Captain

S-3 Air, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Ramadi,

Iraq

Jan 05 - Jan 06 Captain

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

Bronze Star Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Air Force Commendation Medal

Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Coast Guard Achievement Medal

Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation

Navy Unit Commendation

Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal

National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star)

Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Campaign Stars)

Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and "M" device)

Army Service Ribbon

Army Overseas Service Ribbon

Basic Recruiting and Retention Badge

German Proficiency Badge in Gold

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

28th Infantry Division Association

Adjutants General Association of the United States

American Legion Post #19, Bristol, VT

Association of the United States Army

Cavalry and Armor Association

National Guard Association of the United States

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 792, Montpelier, VT

U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Alumni Association

As of: 11 Sep 20

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.