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
 Representing Guard Enlisted at Conference ‘an Inherent Responsibility,’ Says Whitehead By Air Force Master Sgt. Erich B. Smith,
                National Guard Bureau
 COLUMBUS, Ohio – The National Guard’s senior enlisted leader recently participated in a three-day conference attended mostly by commissioned officers. For Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, the SEA to Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, representing the Guard’s enlisted force at the annual National Guard Association of the United States conference is “an inherent responsibility.” “I think any senior noncommissioned officer has to start feeling that way,” he added. “I often talk to senior NCOs about building muscle memory before they make chief master sergeant or sergeant major because, at some point, they might be the only enlisted person talking on behalf of other enlisted personnel.” Whitehead said such conferences are paramount to his success. In addition to tapping into the pulse of enlisted issues, Whitehead said he can “best advise General Hokanson on how to effectively utilize the Guard’s enlisted corps by listening to the things that are happening amongst the ranks of our officers.” The Aug. 26-29 conference – hosted by NGAUS – featured keynote addresses from Hokanson and two other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army, and Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chief of staff of the Air Force. The senior leaders’ speeches addressing recruiting and retention challenges and how military organizational structure should never hinder mission success resonated  with Whitehead. He thought it was important to hear the speakers talk about the need for military members “to weigh in on making changes that help execute the things that need to change within our respective organizations – so that we can accomplish the mission.” During the conference, Whitehead also engaged in breakout sessions that helped him better understand the challenges Guard officers – from all levels up to major general – face when implementing established policies and procedures that affect enlisted personnel. “This helps me bring it back to General Hokanson and our senior staff,” he said. “Talking to those at the tactical level and finding out if the challenges they have are making it up to the strategic level. If they’re not, then that’s my responsibility to do that.” The theme of the conference, “In the Heart of It All,” was a fitting tribute to honoring the past and embracing the challenges of today, Whitehead said. “Any military organization in our nation has its roots in our National Guard,” the SEA said. “The Citizen-Soldier gave birth to that.” That kind of commitment to service, Whitehead added, is evident in the events of the past couple of years. “We see what our Soldiers and Airmen are doing today – defending the homeland, [responding] to natural disasters, national emergencies, civil unrest, and protecting our interests abroad and those of our partners,” he said. Whitehead visited the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus as part of conference events. Walking slowly past the exhibits, photos and multimedia presentations and absorbing all the feelings the museum intended to evoke, he met retired Brig. Gen. Charles O. Dillard, one of the first Black generals in the Ohio National Guard. “I’m always humbled when I meet an African American leader from our past, especially if it was shortly after the integration of our military forces in 1947,” Whitehead said. “You find there’s a level of resilience we can learn from today. There isn’t bitterness, there isn’t regret – just an opportunity to look for ways to do things better and to do them in a more efficient, effective and inclusive manner.” Whitehead said he gets “energized and empowered” when coming across people like Dillard. “There’s still more work that I can do not only as an African American, but as a leader,” he said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  National Guard senior enlisted leader
 SEA
 Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead
 NGAUS
 
 National Guard Leaders Visit Troops Deployed in Middle East
 By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  National Guard Unveils Senior Enlisted Advisor Positional Colors
 By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Pena,
  Lt. Gen. Jensen: Army National Guard Better Than Ever
 By Capt. James Mason,
  More
 Oregon Guard Sharpens Combat Skills Before Deployment4/24/2024Alaska Army Guard, Marine Corps Enhance Aviation Tactics4/24/2024Guard Chief Visits Pennsylvania Guard, Aviation Training Site4/23/2024 View more Guard News »
 Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024
US, Canadian Special Forces Forge Partnerships in Jamaica4/8/2024
Deployed Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Earn Their Combat Patch3/27/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 Guard, Partner Nation Leaders Collaborate at Annual State Partnership Program Conference4/26/2024

North Carolina, North Dakota, Maine Honored for State Partnership Work4/25/2024

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