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

    Posture Statement

    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

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    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
 New manpower chief vows to strengthen Army family By Staff Sgt. S. Patrick McCollum
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. - President Barack Obama's nominee for assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs said May 12 at his confirmation hearing that he is aware of the concerns about dwell time, which directly affects families. "We've seen it with our reserve component," said Thomas R. Lamont, who has served for 25 years as a judge advocate in the Illinois Army National Guard. "These are serious concerns. They all tie together. And I will certainly take your comments to heart in our policy discussions." Lamont testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee saying that if confirmed, "it would be my distinct honor to help ... accomplish the complex and challenging missions our nation asks the Army to perform." He was confirmed May 18. "When a Soldier deploys, his family goes to war [too]," Lamont said. "They are confronted with many of the same concerns – housing and education or financial issues that mirror society, but yet it's exacerbated with the loss of a loved one." As a result, Lamont said he will make family support a priority. "I think it behooves us to do everything in our power to ensure the strength of our family support program," he said. "Because if we are able to sustain the volunteer Army, we need to sustain that family support group." Lamont told the senators that he is not "totally familiar" with all the resources currently available to families and won't say that the Army needs more or less. "Clearly, I think we're always open to doing whatever we can to support our families," he said. "All families share in the sacrifices that their loved ones are going through." One way to sustain the Army family, he said, was to provide a good education to the approximately 700,000 children that are Army dependents. "Beyond housing, there is nothing more important than education in the minds of the family support groups at home,' Lamont said. "We must do whatever we can to provide them with ... not just an adequate education, but a good education." Lamont said end strength is another important issue in the Army, and he bristled at any potential recommendation to reduce the recruiting budget. "I would suggest that was not done without full and deliberate consultation with our senior Defense leaders. And I look forward to determining – in realizing – what those discussions were." Finally, Lamont lamented the increase in suicides in the Army. "This is a terrible tragedy," he said. "It somewhat mirrors society and again, exacerbated by the long deployment and the lack of a family support group." Lamont said much more needs be done to recognize behavioral and risk factors, and added that he is aware the Army has initiated "a great deal of new training regimens ... to try to recognize those risk factors among our troubled Soldiers."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 5 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 12 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 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