Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Australian Army captain continues to serve with DC National Guard By Senior Airman Amanda Bodony
                D.C. National Guard
 WASHINGTON - January's inauguration support by the National Guard was unique in many ways, with more than 26,000 National Guard members activated from all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia. Among them was an Australian Army reservist, on duty as a Capital Guardian. Australian Army Capt. Dustin Gold, a reserve officer from the Royal Australian Artillery's 9th Regiment, participates in a Reserve Forces Foreign Exchange Program with D.C. National Guard. Like most reservists, Gold has a full-time civilian job holding a diplomatic posting in Washington, D.C. Gold, who has previously served on border protection operations and defense assistance to Australia's civil community, has been serving in D.C. National Guard Joint Force Headquarters Plans section for over a year. For the inauguration, Gold served shoulder to shoulder with his American counterparts in the Joint Task Force Headquarters, Current Operations section. A reciprocal arrangement between the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom enables reservists and Guard members to continue their service while living abroad. The program is an international exchange between reserve NATO forces to cultivate intercultural competence, regional expertise and interoperability. "When I think about the Australian Army Reserve and how our role has broadened over the last two decades, I can't help but think there is a lot we can continue to learn with our U.S. counterparts, especially D.C. National Guard," said Gold. "Capital Guardsmen can respond to virtually any mission as espoused in the Guard's vision: 'a relevant, resilient and responsive professional joint force ready at a moment's notice for virtually any...mission.'" Since starting his exchange with the DCNG, Gold has had the opportunity to learn a lot about domestic operations, a growing area of focus for the Australian Army Reserve. "The DCNG is closely linked with civil organizations; they conduct complex interagency planning and contribute in a visible way to the community," said Gold. "It has been an absolute privilege to serve as an honorary Capital Guardian over the last year and especially supporting such a historic event." While exchanges between the Reserve Forces of Australia and the United States are less commonplace than their active-duty and full-time counterparts, their value cannot be understated. "To be able to work in a Joint Task Force Headquarters, coordinating the tasking, movement and logistics support of over 26,000 military personnel is an experience I'll never forget – and one I would not have had without undertaking this exchange," said Gold. "While many of our procedures and training are very similar, the opportunity to exchange different approaches, based on our different experiences, has been of tremendous value." "Capt. Gold brings invaluable expertise in data collection and management," said Brig. Gen. Robert K. Ryan, commander of the Joint Task Force, D.C. National Guard. "Cross-cultural partnerships allow us to learn from each other and enable D.C. National Guard to always be ready to serve the National Capitol Region whenever we are called. His team-spirit attitude during this mission is evidence of the interoperability within our partner nations." Gold said, "The relationship between Australia and the United States is more than just an alliance, it is the embodiment of the mateship between our countries." The term mateship, commonly used in Australia, refers to camaraderie and friendship. For Australia and the United States, that friendship has been steadfast for over 100 years, ever since Australian and U.S. forces fought side by side in World War I.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  DC National Guard
 Inauguration2021
 Capital Guardian
 
 DC National Guard trains with partners in Puerto Rico
 By Capt. Edwin Nieves,
  National Guard security mission at U.S. Capitol concludes
 By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes,
  Nevada National Guard trio honored for aiding crash victim
 By Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie,
  More
 Maryland Guard Joins Homeland Disaster Response Exercise4/30/2024Georgia Guard Provides Airborne Safety Training4/29/2024California Guard, U.S. Forest Service Train on Aerial Firefighting4/29/2024 View more Guard News »
 New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024
US, Canadian Special Forces Forge Partnerships in Jamaica4/8/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 Guard, Partner Nations Collaborate at State Partnership Program Conference4/26/2024

North Carolina, North Dakota, Maine Honored for State Partnerships4/25/2024

Ohio Guard Air Control Squadron Trains with NATO Partners4/23/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil