2022 NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU 

POSTURE STATEMENT 

YEAR OF THE GUARD

A RECORD OF BEING " ALWAYS READY, ALWAYS THERE"
YEAR OF THE GUARD

CONTENTS

12 WARFIGHT

 Two decades of investment 

and modernization in the Guard 

has paid measurable dividends 

to our Joint Force’s lethality 

and our nation’s security

15 HOMELAND

 Proven and prepared, the 

National Guard met every 

overseas and homeland 

mission in 2020

23 PARTNERSHIPS

 Enduring Guard relationships 

benefit our Combatant 

Commands and impact 

global security 

25 PEOPLE

 Programs supporting Guard 

members and their families 

are making a difference
EXECUTIVE 

OVERVIEW

Today’s complex and evolving 

security environment requires 

greater reliance on the Guard

3 Executive Overview
Continued investment 

in the National Guard 

ensures future threats are met

T 

he National Guard is a lethal, cost-effective, dual-role operational force 

that provides strategic depth to the Army, Air Force, and Space Force, 

and responds to crises in our homeland. We are capable of operating in 

a complex global security environment, and continue to invest in modernization 

and readiness to prepare for the threats of the future. Today’s National Guard is 

an integral part of addressing the gravest challenges facing the Joint Force. 

Globally, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and violent extremist organizations 

continue to present significant threats to U.S. prosperity and security. At home, 

our adversaries use of cyber-attacks and disinformation threaten our democracy, 

while the growing frequency and severity of hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and a 

global pandemic challenge the safety of our citizens and communities.

The year 2020 was unprecedented and historic. National Guard members 

supported every Combatant Commander around the globe and met every 

mission here at home. On June 6, 120,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen 

were mobilized in support of overseas and domestic missions, one of the highest 

levels of National Guard support to our nation since World War II. 

Given the uncertain future and budget priorities, we expect the Department 

of Defense (DOD) to rely on the National Guard more, not less. Therefore, 

we must be ready to execute our three core missions: fighting America’s wars; 

securing the homeland; and building enduring partnerships that support our 

nation’s strategic objectives. Continued investment in the National Guard 

ensures we can meet today’s demands while preserving the capability, capacity 

and deterrence our nation needs against a broad spectrum of potential future 

threats.

Executive Overview continued 4

By Gen. Daniel Hokanson Chief, National Guard Bureau
5 Executive Overview continued

WARFIGHT 

The National Guard is the primary 

combat reserve of the Army and 

Air Force, and provides operational 

capability to the Space Force. We 

provide enduring, rotational, surge, 

and follow-on forces to meet any 

Joint Force mission. Today, thanks to 

the substantial investment in training, 

equipment and readiness by Congress 

and DOD leaders, we have become 

the most capable, professional, ready, 

and combat-proven National Guard in 

the history of the United States.

 

In 2020, Soldiers with the North 

Carolina Army National Guard’s 30th 

Armored Brigade Combat Team, 

who tested their combat skills at the 

National Training Center in 2019, 

returned from their deployment to 

Kuwait and Syria and began supporting 

their communities’ COVID-19 

response efforts and civil disturbance 

missions. The Idaho Air National 

Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing also 

deployed their A-10s and Airmen 

to the Central Command Area of 

Responsibility in 2020. The 124th’s 

deployment, the wing’s second-largest 

ever, required pilots, security forces, 

maintainers, medical personnel, special 

warfare tactical air controllers and 

staffers to support operations across 

two continents. 

 

The National Guard is also a trusted 

space and cyber partner. For 25 

years, National Guard space units 

have provided operational, unitequipped, surge-to-war capability to 

protect our nation’s vital interests 

in this contested domain and today 

supply the Space Force with 20% of 

its space professionals and 60% of 

offensive electronic warfare capability. 

In addition, our cyber warriors bring 

their military and civilian skillsets to 

bear in support of Cyber Command’s 

global commitments. 

Two decades of investment and 

modernization in the National Guard 

has paid measurable dividends to our 

Joint Force’s lethality and our nation’s 

security. 

 
HOMELAND 

Unique to the National Guard is our ability to apply the 

training and equipment from our wartime missions to 

our state responses in the homeland. National Guard 

Soldiers and Airmen logged over 10.9 million days serving 

our communities in 2020 – more than four times as 

many as 2019.

The events of 2020 required an unprecedented 

response to various unforeseen events within the 

homeland. Most significantly, the men and women of 

the National Guard served more than 7.6 million days 

in support the COVID-19 pandemic – a mission that 

continues today. They provided over 632 million meals 

to neighbors, distributed over 539 million pieces of 

personal protective equipment to essential workers, 

and tested or screened over 16.1 million people for the 

virus across the 50 states, 3 territories and the District 

of Columbia (DC) in 2020. In addition, they were called 

to fight record wildfires in California with specially 

equipped C-130s, helicopters, MQ-9 drones and shovels; 

expedited recovery efforts after a record number of 

named hurricanes battered the Gulf Coast; and provided 

support to cyber security, cyber assurance and recovery 

from cyber-attacks at the local, state, and federal levels. 

In 2021, your National Guard continues to help with 

logistics, distribution, and vaccination efforts in the 

communities they serve. To date, Guard Soldiers and 

Airmen have vaccinated millions of civilians, administering 

well over 150,000 shots a day – with those numbers 

continuing to grow.

The National Guard’s skills and abilities developed for 

the warfight – such as leadership, training, logistics, 

and communications – coupled with its unique array 

of authorities and trusted local, state, and federal 

partnerships, make it a natural choice for tackling some 

of the most difficult challenges we face at home.

Executive Overview continued 6
PARTNERSHIPS

Building enduring partnerships at the international, 

federal, state, and local levels contributes to our nation’s 

strength and readiness. Our approach makes the 

National Guard a force other nations and organizations 

are eager to partner with.

At the international level, 

the National Guard’s State 

Partnership Program (SPP) 

is a key pillar to the DOD’s 

focus on alliances and 

partnerships. Through 

the SPP, the National 

Guard maintains longterm relationships 

that strengthen 

alliances, enhance 

interoperability, 

reassure allies 

and deter our 

adversaries. 

Improving the military, security and emergency response 

capacity of partner nations improves their resilience, 

benefiting the entire international community. Through 

82 SPP relationships, the National Guard is engaged 

with 89 nations, 45% of the world’s nations, and ensures 

the Department of Defense has capable, trusted and 

interoperable partners at our side.

At the federal and state levels, the National Guard 

maintains productive interagency relationships with the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department 

of Homeland Security, Department of Health and 

Human Services, and U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection that contribute to rapid and unified 

responses when disasters strike. Additionally, the 

National Guard runs several counterdrug schools 

that offer in-person training courses to federal, state 

and local law enforcement personnel. 

At the local level, we develop partnerships and 

connections in the communities we serve through 

efforts such as the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe, 

and DOD’s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) 

and STARBASE programs. Youth ChalleNGe is a 

community-based program that leads, mentors and 

trains 16-to-18-year-old, at-risk youths on values, 

life skills, education, and the self-discipline required 

to become productive citizens in America’s future. 

The IRT program connects annual military training 

opportunities with the needs of disadvantaged or 

remote communities to produce mission-ready forces, 

civil-military partnerships and strong communities. 

The STARBASE program also exposes our 

nation’s most underrepresented youths 

to activities in the Science, 

Technology, Engineering, and 

Math (STEM) career fields 

through a hands-on learning 

experience at National 

Guard and other DOD 

installations across the 

nation. 

7 Executive Overview continued
Executive Overview continued 8

I am honored to serve with you as the 29th Chief of the 

National Guard Bureau. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of 

Staff, I provide input on every decision impacting our Joint 

Force. I also advise the Secretary of Defense on all matters 

involving the National Guard and the capabilities we provide 

our nation. 

My goal over the next three years is to build a sustainable 

operational force by focusing on our core missions of Warfight, 

Homeland and Partnerships through four priorities: People, 

Readiness, Modernization and Reform. To do this, the National 

Guard Bureau will work in concert with the 54 states, 

territories and DC to prioritize our efforts.

Those efforts will focus on providing a sustainable balance for 

our Soldiers, Airmen, space professionals, families and civilians 

when it comes to their military career, civilian career, and their 

family. It will also include access to the resources needed 

to maintain their resilience. Maintaining the welfare of our 

force also means ensuring we continue to promote inclusion, 

equality, diversity and resilience, with zero tolerance for abuse, 

harassment or discrimination. 

Today’s National Guard is the most modern, ready and 

interoperable Joint Force in our 384-year history. However, 

our adversaries do not rest. 

Today’s leaders will have to contend with budget pressures, 

training shortfalls, time constraints and modernization gaps. 

We must develop leaders capable of performing at today’s 

pace of change. We must also redefine how we train forces 

and approach readiness, and seek to become more joint- and 

multi-domain-minded. This is critical as we look to normalize 

the capabilities of an operational National Guard within the 

DOD’s processes.

We must continue to build a National Guard that is stronger 

and more responsive; a force with greater lethality, global 

influence and the combat readiness to deter aggression. 

CHIEF, NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU
Serving with the 443,000 men and 

women of the National Guard is 

an honor. We provide combat proven 

formations to the Joint Force and 

tirelessly help our communities where 

we live. We stand ready to face the 

threats of today, and prepare for the 

challenges of tomorrow. Serving in 

nearly every ZIP code, and answering the 

call in nearly every corner of the globe, 

the National Guard remains 

Always Ready, Always There! 

9 Executive Overview continued

Always 

Ready, 

Always 

There!
Army Guard 

SNAPSHOT SNAPSHOT

PROVIDES THE ARMY 

39% OF ITS OPERATIONAL

FORCES

OVER 336,000 SOLDIERS

10 Executive Overview

 8 Divisions

 27 Brigade Combat Teams

 2 Special Forces Groups

 1 Security Force Assistance Brigade

 42 Multifunctional Brigades

 56 Functional Support Brigades and Groups

 13 Command & Control Headquarters

 1,462 aircraft 

 24,687 buildings, 1,397 firing ranges, and 

110 training centers in 2,416 communities
PERSONNEL CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIVE CORE AREAS:

 10% of Air, Space and Cyber Superiority

 13% of Command and Control / Intelligence, Surveillance and 

Reconnaissance

 40% of Agile Combat Support

 20% of Rapid Global Mobility

 17% of Global Strike

1,053 AIR GUARD AIRCRAFT 

 Provides 36% of Air Force’s Tanker capability

 Provides 26% of Air Force’s Fighter / Attack capability

 Provides 30% of Air Force’s Strategic / Tactical Airlift capability

 Operates 15 of 16 Aerospace Control Alert sites

 Provides 13% of Air Force’s overseas MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned 

Aerial Vehicle capability

Executive Overview 11

Air Guard Air Guard

SNAPSHOT SNAPSHOT PROVIDES THE AIR FORCE 30% 

OF ITS OPERATIONAL FORCES

108,100 AIRMEN 

ACROSS 90 WINGS
FIGHTI GN

AMERI

CAS 

WARS 

THE PRIMARY COMBAT RESERVE OF

THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE

12 Fighting America’s Wars
Force for the Future 

 The National Guard has supported more than 

one million overseas mobilizations to Iraq, 

Afghanistan, Kuwait, the Balkans, Guantanamo Bay, the 

Sinai, and other overseas locations since 9/11.

 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen served more 

than 10.2 million personnel days supporting 

warfight missions in 2020.

 More than 20,000 National Guard Soldiers 

and Airmen are currently deployed in support of 

missions in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, 

Ukraine, Poland, Kosovo, Eastern Europe, the Horn 

of Africa, Central and South America, and the Sinai 

Peninsula.

 Two National Guard brigades will deploy to 

the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. this 

year: Mississippi Army Guard’s 155th Armored Brigade 

Combat Team in June; and Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry 

Brigade Combat Team in July.

Three National Guard brigades will deploy to 

the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La. 

this year: Ohio’s 37th Infantry Brigade Combat 

Team in June; Arkansas’s 39th Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team in July; and Indiana’s Security 

Force Assistance Brigade in August. 

Fighting America’s Wars 13
14

Overseas Presence

 More than 1,200 Guard Airmen from 48 units served in nine 

different locations while filling 33% of the Total Force’s civil engineer

needs overseas last year.

 The Air Guard is providing 25% of the Total Force’s Distributed

Common Ground System (a system that produces military intelligence 

for multiple military branches) capacity in direct support of the overseas 

Combatant Commanders.

 The Louisiana Army Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat 

Team is deployed to Iraq providing Security Forces and conducting Advise

and Assist missions with Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and partner units to 

enhance capabilities and secure critical sites in support of Operation 

Inherent Resolve.

 The Washington Army National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade 

Combat Team is deployed to Ukraine providing training to the Armed

Forces of Ukraine to help them develop defense capabilities and build 

interoperability. 

 The South Carolina Army Guard’s 678th Air Defense Artillery 

Brigade is providing command and control to air and missile defense in

the U.S. European Command in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. 

 The South Dakota Army Guard’s 196th Maneuver 

Enhancement Brigade is deployed to the Horn of Africa

to promote regional security, dissuade conflict, and protect

U.S. and coalition interests.

 The Texas Army Guard’s 36th Infantry Division 

is deployed to Kuwait and provides division-level command 

and control of Army forces in Kuwait and Jordan in support 

of Operation Spartan Shield. The Ohio Army Guard’s 

16th Engineer Brigade is also supporting Spartan Shield by providing

engineering expertise, project management, and command of subordinate 

engineer battalions. 

 The California Army Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade 

is providing command and control of all Army aviation units in Kuwait in 

support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.

 Nearly 1,500 Army Guard Soldiers and 64 aircraft are supporting

U.S. Central Command aviation missions in Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Fighting America’s Wars
PROVEN AND PREPARED , THE NATIONAL GUARD MET

EVERY OVERSEAS AND HOMELAND MISSION IN 2020

SECURING

THE 

HOMELAND 

Securing the Homeland 15
16 Securing the Homeland

Trusted in the Homeland

 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen served their 

communities a record 10.9 million days, supporting 

missions such as COVID-19, wildfires, civil disturbances and 

hurricanes. 

 Air Guard personnel protect the airspace over America 

by operating 15 of the 16 NORAD Aerospace 

Control Alert (ACA) sites and the Eastern and Western 

air defense sectors. Guard ACA pilots flew 2,058 sorties in 

FY 2020 – 1,825 scramble sorties (practice and real-world) 

and 233 Operation Noble Eagle sorties.

 To allow effective communication between local, state and 

federal emergency agencies, National Guard Joint Incident 

Site Communications Capability teams set-up and 

operated a self-contained communications package at the 

Super Bowl and numerous other major events and exercises 

last year.

 The 57 full-time National Guard Weapons of Mass 

Destruction Civil Support Teams (CST) carried out 

2,475 missions in FY 2020 ranging from no-notice callouts to identify substances, to supporting national security 

events, to training and assisting state partners. CSTs typically 

respond in 1 to 3 hours.

 The National Guard runs 17 battalion-sized (nearly 

2,400 people) Chemical, Biological Radiological Nuclear 

(CBRN) Enhanced Response Force Packages, or CERFPs, in 

17 states capable of responding in 3 to 6 hours.

 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen comprise 55% of the 

DOD’s chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear response 

capability.
Securing the Homeland 17

Cyber Centric

 There are more than 3,900 Army and Air National 

Guard personnel serving in 59 DOD cyber units in 

40 states.

 1,219 Guard members detected 57 “vulnerability 

events” while supporting the Nov. 3, 2020 

national election. They provided their state’s IT 

support, vulnerability assessments, network monitoring, 

vehicle / foot traffic control, and COVID-19 screening 

and sanitizing.

 290 National Guard cyber warriors from 15 

states also responded to 33 reported state cyber 

events in 2020.

Taking Drugs 

off the Streets

 More than $11.2 billion of illicit drugs, 

weapons, property, and currency are off the 

streets thanks in part to the efforts of over 2,600 

National Guard Counterdrug professionals assisting 

civilian law enforcement agencies throughout the 50 

states, three territories and DC.

 National Guard counterdrug operations 

supported 1,362 law enforcement agencies 

and over 439 community-based organizations.

 Five National Guard counterdrug schools trained 

nearly 60,000 law enforcement personnel 

in 2020, using subject matter experts who are able to 

draw upon their military education, operational 

experience, and knowledge of DOD capabilities.
18 Securing the Homeland

10.9 

MILLION 

DAYS

When COVID, 

Wildfires, Civil 

Disturbances and

Severe Weather hit 

home in 2020, Guard 

members in each 

state, territory and 

DC left their jobs 

and families to serve 

their communities – 

responding in record 

fashion.
Securing the Homeland 19

PANDEMIC 

RESPONSE 

 632 Million: Meals provided by 

Guard members in 2020.

 36.9 million: Masks made by Guard 

members in 2020. 

 16.1 million: People tested or 

screened for COVID-19 virus by 

Guard members in 2020.

 11.5 million: Miles driven to deliver 

supplies in 2020.

 2.4 million: Calls answered, made at 

call centers in 2020.

 71,259: Facilities deep cleaned by 

Guard members in 2020.

 19,211: Increased bed capacity at 

Alternate Care Facilities in 2020.

COVID-19 COVID-19
WILDFIRES

20 Securing the Homeland

 Guard members from 19 states logged 155,108 

days responding to 52,834 wildfires covering 

over 9.5 million acres in 2020. 

 C-130 crews, equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular 

Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, flew 470 missions 

and logged 549 flying hours while dropping over 

1.3 million gallons of fire retardant. 

 More than 1,700 National Guard hand crews cleared 

over 341,000 acres of land, while Army Guard 

helicopter crews logged over 743 hours fighting fires.

 Air Guard fixed-wing and MQ-9 Remotely Piloted 

Aircraft crews logged over 2,000 hours providing 

real-time fire mapping; evacuation route identification; 

and new fire / hot spot detection.

 Two California National Guard helicopter crews were 

awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 

bravery by the president after saving over 200 

stranded residents from the Creek Fire. 

Fighting Fires

WILDFIRES
CIVIL DISTURBANCES

Securing the Homeland 21

CIVIL DISTURBANCES

Supporting Peace

 Guard members from 38 states 

logged 627,659 days supporting 

law enforcement agencies in 2020 by 

providing crowd control, monument and 

infrastructure security, traffic control, and 

roving patrol missions.

 At its peak on June 7, 2020, 43,351 

Guard Soldiers and Airmen were 

providing civil disturbance support.
SEVERE

WEATHER

22 Securing the Homeland

Bringing Calm 

after the Storms

 Guard members from 22 states 

supported 22 severe weather 

events, to include a record 12 named 

storms in 2020.

 During hurricane responses, Guard 

members rescued 9,812 people,

and distributed over 6 million 

meals, 12.1 million gallons of water, 

1.6 million bags of ice, and nearly 

319,000 tarps in 2020. They also 

cleared over 2,700 miles of road to 

assist recovery efforts. 

 Guard members logged 118,748 

personnel days responding to 

hurricanes and tropical storms; 36,767 

days for earthquakes; 11,340 days for 

floods; 5,106 days for severe weather; 

3,502 days for tornadoes; and 1,174 days 

for winter storms in 2020.

SEVERE 

WEATHER
PARTNERSHIPS

BUILDING

ENDURING GUARD RELATIONSHIPS BENEFIT OUR

COMBATANT COMMANDS AND IMPACT GLOBAL SECURITY

Building Partnerships 23
PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

 Competition with rivals demands greater 

cooperation with partners. The National Guard’s 

network of 89 allies and partners through 

the State Partnership Program provides our nation 

a great advantage and directly supports competition 

objectives outlined in the National Defense Strategy.

 Through the SPP, National Guard and partner 

nation personnel learn together, work together, and 

prepare – if necessary – to fight together.

 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted 

more than 1,200 SPP activities worldwide 

in support of Geographic Combatant Commands in 

Fiscal Year 2020.

 Since 9/11, 27 SPP partner countries 

have contributed troops to coalition 

operations – 15 of those SPP countries 

deployed forces alongside their National Guard 

partners.

 The SPP is a cost-effective program that provides 

DOD decision-makers a proven tool to help 

address today’s security challenges and a 

wide range of potential future threats. 

 The National Guard’s reputation in disaster 

response at home and proven combat 

capability overseas makes it an attractive 

partner to nations faced with military and nonmilitary threats.

 The National Guard plans to grow two new 

partnerships per year.

 In the homeland, planning and training with 

local, state and federal responders has 

resulted in unified and rapid responses to manmade and natural disasters – ultimately saving more 

lives and property.

Building Partnerships 24
PROGRAMS SUPPORTING

GUARD MEMBERS AND

THEIR FAMILIES ARE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

SOLDIERS, AIRMEN

ANDFAMILIES

25 Soldiers, Airmen An s, Airmen And Families
 Army National Guard Child and Youth Services 

conducted over 2,598 events for over 

66,800 National Guard youth ages 6-18 in an 

effort to promote resilience and sustain the quality 

of life through high-quality support services and 

enrichment programs. Coordinators transitioned 202 

events into virtual / online programming that might 

have otherwise been canceled as a result 

of COVID-19.

Programs Making a Difference

Soldiers, Airmen And Families 26

 The Air National Guard Home 

Community Care Program is 

available at over 42 Air National 

Guard Wings with state-accredited 

providers offering free child care to 

Guard members. In FY20, the Home 

Community Care Program, provided over 

27,000 hours of child care, 

spending $290K in support of Air 

National Guard families. 

 The Joint Yellow Ribbon Reintegration 

Program helped over 31,229 service 

members and families connect with their local 

community support services before, during, and 

after deployments by overseeing 440 nationwide 

events in 2020. The Army National Guard conducted 

419 events and supported 26,319 Soldiers

and family members, while the Air National Guard 

conducted 21 events for 4,980 Airman and 

their families.
 The NGB Employment Support 

Program reached 102,141 Guard 

members and provided assistance to 

45,385 Guard members, their families, 

veterans and other Reserve Component 

service members seeking jobs. The 

effort resulted in over 4,100 job referrals 

and nearly 900 hires. Each state has a 

program support specialist.

 The Employer Support of the 

Guard and Reserve is a DOD 

program established in 1972 to promote 

cooperation and understanding 

between Reserve Component service 

members and their civilian employers. 

The network of 3,300 volunteers

across the nation bring a vast wealth of 

experience to help members resolve 

conflicts arising from an employee’s 

military commitment.

 Transition Assistance Advisors 

impacted the lives of nearly 

189,026 service members and 

veterans in FY20 by providing support, 

advocacy and information. Advisors 

are located at each National Guard 

Joint Forces Headquarters to provide 

resource and referral information for 

such issues as education, employment, 

VA healthcare enrollment, and disability 

claims. 

 The Army Guard provided over 

$36 million in Federal Tuition 

Assistance benefits to more than 

19,000 Soldiers enrolled in over 

71,000 courses in FY20.

27 Soldiers, Airmen And Families

Programs Making a Difference 

continued
 The National Guard’s Strong Bonds conducted 

over 630 virtual retreats and events for over 

17,600 Soldiers, Airmen, and their families

to increase family readiness and resilience through 

relationship education and training. 

 Army Guard Survivor Outreach Service 

coordinators assisted 46,708 surviving family 

members in FY20, an increase of 2% over last fiscal 

year.

 The National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention 

and Response Program provided training, services 

and advocacy to victims of sexual assault with its 134 

full-time, nationally certified Sexual Assault 

Response Coordinators. There are also 1,618 parttime, nationally certified Sexual Assault Response 

Coordinators and victim advocates.

Soldiers, Airmen And Families 28

Programs Making a Difference 

continued
 The Army Guard’s Funeral Honors team rendered honors 

at 94,285 service member funerals in FY20. The funeral 

honors team is projected to conduct over 104,147 requests to 

render burial honors for veterans and retirees in FY21.

 Due to the Army National Guard resilience program’s robust 

training platform, they received the Army’s only exception-to-policy 

to conduct a two-week Master Resilience Training certification 

remotely during the pandemic. The team used the lessons learned 

to conduct nine one-week and two-week trainer certification 

courses, helping to offset attrition caused by three canceled classes 

due to the pandemic. The resilience program trained 648 total 

Master Resilience Trainers in FY20, bringing the 

total number of MRTs trained to 7,297. 

 The MRT schoolhouse in Wisconsin is now certified to 

bring any resilience, suicide prevention and substance abuse training 

to the 50 states, 3 territories and DC upon request. Three Army 

Guard MRT Mobile Training Teams provided resilience, risk 

reduction, and suicide prevention training 25 times

last year.

 The Army National Guard provides 54 Suicide Prevention 

Program Managers, one to each state, territory, and DC. 

They provided advanced training to 76,479 Soldiers and 

family members in FY20, enabling them to recognize the signs 

of suicide, giving them the skills to intervene appropriately, and 

connecting those in need to military and community resources.

 The Army National Guard provides between one-tofour contracted Risk Reduction and Prevention 

Coordinators in each state, territory and DC to help 

commanders assess high-risk behaviors that are counterproductive 

to readiness – such as substance abuse, sexual crimes, family 

violence, and suicide. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, coordinators 

were able to survey over 150,000 Soldiers in FY20, resulting 

in remote drills, risk mitigation plans for 2,588 units, and nearly 

3,000 prevention training events.

29 Soldiers, Airmen And Families

Programs Making a Difference 

continued
 The Chief, National Guard Bureau established NGB 

Warrior Resilience and Fitness to ensure multiple 

programs supporting the well-being and resilience of Guard 

members and their families are synchronized into a holistic 

and integrated model that leverages the Total Force Fitness 

framework.

Warrior Resilience and Fitness developed a Compendium of 

Warrior Resilience and Fitness Strategies with over 167 

research-informed programs aimed at preventing and 

responding to suicide, sexual assault, and substance abuse. 

Warrior Resilience and Fitness Innovation Incubator 

provides funding and technical assistance to 22 pilots 

across 29 states and territories to assist with 

implementation and evaluation of programs that promote 

resilience and prevent harmful behaviors. 

 NGB signed a memorandum with the Veteran’s 

Administration to provide greater access to behavioral 

health services for Guard members during drill weekends. 

The initiative has seen an increase in the number of Guard 

members receiving services during drill weekends (14%) and 

at Vet Centers (44%). 

 SPRINGboard is the first National Guard-specific 

readiness tool that will help leaders make more informed 

decisions about the health of service members. 

 NGB partnered with the Uniform Services 

University and Purdue University to train 

community-based behavioral health providers in military 

culture. More than 800 providers have received specialized 

training.

 NGB signed a memorandum with Psych Hub

to provide Guard members with access to the COVID-19 

Mental Health Resource Hub that has over 600 videos and 

podcasts that support mental health and reduce stigma 

about seeking care.

 NGB and the Marines partnered on the first 

Innovation, Prevention, and Outreach forum to improve 

behavioral health, access to care, and overall well-being for 

geographically dispersed Reserve Component members and 

their families.

Resilient Warriors

Soldiers, Airmen And Families 30
 Forty National Guard Youth ChalleNGe and five Job 

ChalleNGe academies across the country have graduated more 

than 187,923 cadets since the program’s inception in 1993. The 

5-1/2 month Youth Challenge in-residence course takes at-risk 16- to 

18-year-olds and teaches them the life skills and self-discipline needed 

to succeed, while helping them to earn credits toward high school 

diplomas or prepare them for a GED. The 5-month Job Challenge inresidence program allows some Youth ChalleNGe graduates to obtain 

job certifications, credentials or apprenticeships to facilitate obtaining 

living wage jobs.

 Nearly 83% of all ChalleNGe graduates earn their high 

school diploma, GED or obtain college credits; nearly 32% go on 

to attend additional college or other schools.

 The per-student-cost for a ChalleNGe graduate averages 

$21,450 compared to the almost $63,000 per-year cost

for a youth in juvenile custody.

GIVING TEENS A SECOND CHANCE

31 Soldiers, Airmen And Families
"

"

25 YEARS IN SPACE

 The National Guard provides our nation and DOD partners a proven 

capability by supplying 100% of its unit-equipped, surge-to-war

operational reserve forces.

 Currently, the Air National Guard provides 60% of the Space Force’s

offensive space electronic warfare capability.

 The Air National Guard operates the nation’s only survivable 

and endurable strategic missile warning / nuclear detection 

capability and provides one-third of the nation’s strategic missile warning

within the U.S. 

 In support of DOD space missions, Guard members conduct training that 

bolsters space capabilities and enables homeland protection. 

 The Air National Guard’s 14 space units in seven states (AK, 

CA, CO, FL, HI, NY, and OH) and one territory (Guam) are conducting daily 

missions in support of global Combatant Command operations. 

 Long-standing partnerships and civilian employment with state

and local space entities, in both the public and private sectors, allow for 

access, seamless integration and immediate response.

The National Guard retains decades of depth and expertise in space operations. 

Guardsmen are masters of their trade and many work directly with the space 

industry. Every day, Guardsmen conduct missile warning, satellite command 

and control, analyze space intelligence, and conduct space electronic warfare 

operations on behalf of Combatant Commanders around the globe.

— GEN. JOHN W. RAYMOND 

U.S. Space Force’s Chief of Space Operations