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
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 National Guard enlisted ranks hear from senior leaders during conference By Tech. Sgt. David Eichaker
                National Guard Bureau
 PHOENIX, Ariz. —Roughly 1,000 members of the National Guard gathered here Aug. 9-14 to attend the 43rd Annual National Conference and Expo of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States. The primary mission of EANGUS is to provide a voice on Capitol Hill for issues facing the enlisted force of the National Guard. At the conference, senior leaders of the National Guard spoke to attendees about the Guard and discussed topics that affect the rank and file. “I want to thank you all for what you do every day; you’re .73 percent of our population,” said Army Gen. Frank Grass, chief, National Guard Bureau.  Grass also noted that since 9/11, the National Guard has mobilized some 760,000 Soldiers and Airmen. When leaders gather in one location to address the enlisted ranks, attendees often get a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at the national level. This conference is an opportunity for Guard members to get a chance to see how senior Guard leaders work at the strategic level, said Chief Master Sgt. Mitch Brush, senior enlisted advisor to the chief, National Guard Bureau. The Army and Air Guard usually have their own separate issues, which gives the leadership of each component an opportunity to discuss them with the force. “One of the biggest issues we look at on the field advisory council is (the basic allowance for housing) rate changes when (Airmen are) in formal schools,” said Chief Master Sgt. James Hotaling, command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard. According to law, when an Airman is at a technical school for more than 180 days, that Airman loses the housing allowance for their home of record and receives the rate at the training location.  The BAH rate change could have an adverse affect on that Airman if the TDY rate is lower than the Airman’s permanent home of record. The Army National Guard is not without its own concerns. Soldiers have to wait 12 months after joining the Army Guard to receive tuition assistance, said Command Sgt. Major Brunk Conley, command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, but the active component does not. “Our (Soldiers) want to go to school right away and we want them to go to school,” Conley said, adding that the year-long waiting period can have a negative impact on Soldiers. “Schooling to us is very important ... we want to make sure our young Soldiers have access to every benefit we can provide to them,” he said. The conference also provided attendees from the 54 states, territories and District of Columbia the opportunity to come together in one location and network with other Guard members. “You don’t make relationships over a (video teleconference),” Conley said, adding that relationships are built by face-to-face conversations while sharing stories and ideas. The national conference provided a platform for senior National Guard leaders to directly answer questions from the enlisted ranks. One attendee from the 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, questioned the promotion process between officer and enlisted ranks.  The Airman voiced rumors about staffing, positions and funding that can stall enlisted promotions. “There is a difference in the enlisted and officer development program,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III, director, Air National Guard.  Clarke said the Guard is trying to create a better force development program that will help address that concern. Some attendees talked about their experiences during the week-long event. Soldiers hearing information directly from senior leaders of the National Guard has more meaning, said Army Staff Sgt. Cody Espinoza, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group. Guard members can make a difference for one another when they have the opportunity to discuss concerns with National Guard senior leaders, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Libby Muller, 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard. Attendees can get senior leaders’ position on issues that would otherwise get lost in translation, she said.
 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 • 3 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 11 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 11 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