2014 National Guard Bureau Posture Statement

www.nationalguard.mil/features/ngps/2014_ngps.pdf
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Proven in Combat and our Community

Operational Missions:

• Critical component to Defense Department war fighting mission

• A flexible, cost-effective, proven force 

Domestic Response:

• Lifesaving capabilities and immediate homeland response

• Protection of critical infrastructure

Global Engagement:

• Enhancing security through productive relationships 

• Interagency partnerships achieving stability and prosperity

Soldier, Airman, and 

Family Readiness:

• A competent, capable, diverse, and healthy workforce

• Outreach to state, county, and local communities through 

targeted programs
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General Frank J. Grass

Chief, National Guard Bureau

Joint Chiefs of Staff

Executive 

 Overview
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Executive Overview

General Frank J. Grass H H H H Chief, National Guard Bureau H H H H Joint Chiefs of Staff

Postured for the future

A

s we near the conclusion of America’s 

longest, continuous period of war, a 

time also marked by natural and manmade disasters of magnitudes rarely seen in 

any similar period of our nation’s history, the 

National Guard remains a proven, dual-mission 

force powerfully interlaced with Main Street 

America. 

The strength of grass-roots America has been 

tested and repeatedly brought to bear in both a 

military and non-military sense. The connection 

between America and its military is as essential 

today as it ever was. In this regard, the National 

Guard continues to represent value to America 

beyond being a ready, relevant and costeffective military force.

Going forward, the need for the powerful 

connection the National Guard provides 

cannot be overstated. Difficult, national 

budgetary realities come at a time of emerging 

and increasingly asymmetric and disruptive 

threats. These realities are compounded by new 

vulnerabilities present in the information age, 

our dependence upon a global economy, greater 

urbanization, and consequent increases in the 

risk from high-impact natural disasters.

Constitutionally Unique – 

Always Ready, Always There

Constitutionally unique, the National Guard 

remains capable and ready to rapidly respond to 

complex civilian and military challenges going 

forward. From the local to national scene, the 

National Guard remains a proven performer at 

home and abroad. Today’s threats demand the 

full capability the National Guard currently 

provides, and its potential to adapt to meet 

critical future missions such as cyber threats and 

complex infrastructure system protection.

The National Guard rapidly and competently 

expands the operational capacity of the Army 

and the Air Force by providing trained, equipped 

and ready Soldiers, Airmen and units. These units 

range from small, elite teams to highly effective 

brigade, division and air wing organizations across 

the spectrum of combat, combat support, and 

combat service support functions. Over the past 

decade, Guard members have deployed more than 

750,000 times in support of operations in Iraq, 

Afghanistan, the Balkans, the Sinai, the Horn of 

Africa, and other locations across the globe. Our 

nation has invested tens of billions of dollars in 

the National Guard and it has yielded a return 

that has produced one of the best trained, best 

equipped dual-mission forces in our 376-year 

history. The National Guard also blends military 

and civilian skills, including substantial untapped 

cyber expertise well-suited to understanding 

and working in an increasingly complex global 

environment. 

Having created the world’s most capable 

operational reserve force, the United States 
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Executive Overview

can maintain superior military capabilities at 

minimum cost throughout the coming austere 

years. The National Guard will take every 

possible step to maintain its current broad 

spectrum readiness. History is replete with 

incidents of attacks on neglected defenses—

but few nations will attack a nation with fully 

competent and prepared active and reserve 

forces that can defend against all possible 

threats.

At home, National Guardsmen reside in 

thousands of communities, living and working 

with the residents of the 50 states, 3 territories 

and the District of Columbia. They serve as 

their Governor’s most visible measure of 

resolve when disaster or emergency strikes. 

Applying seasoned leadership and hardwon military and organizational skills and 

experience, the National Guard rapidly and 

expertly expands the capacity of local and 

state first responders to protect the American 

people and critical infrastructure. Immediate 

application of organized, disciplined, trained, 

and equipped military manpower resident in the 

National Guard’s Essential 10 capabilities have 

proven time after time to save lives, mitigate 

suffering, and restore a measure of normalcy 

to communities after a damaging blow. The 

National Guard is the most immediate and 

significant provider of military capabilities 

and options to support elected leaders, first 

responders, and other federal agencies as they 

work to restore vital life supporting systems 

such as power, water, communications, and 

transportation. This wide range of options allows 

policy-makers to develop flexible plans that take 

advantage of the capabilities the National Guard 

provides. 

Not Just Cost Effective – Valuable 

Many Defense Department policy-makers 

freely acknowledge the cost-effective nature 

of the National Guard and its sister Reserve 

Components. Cost, however, should not be the 

primary consideration as our leaders grapple 

with national security and other threats, natural 

and man-made. 

When determining the correct National Guardactive component mix, top consideration needs 

to be given national security requirements and to 

sizing a total force that is able to rapidly respond 

to and endure against threats and incidents here 

and abroad. Then, the requirements of the national 

security strategy, coupled with budget reduction 

demands, sets the conditions to determine the 

mix and deliberate operational use of a capable, 

well-connected and geographically-distributed 

force, like the National Guard. This latter point 

becomes comparatively more important in a world 

where the nature of “threat” has become more 

diffused and America is less protected by oceans 

and distance from potential adversaries than in the 

past. Preserving the right portion of our operational 

capabilities outside the active component can 

provide the nation a critical operational and 

strategic hedge for both homeland and international 

applications. 

A strong, agile force able to meet immediate needs 

with the quality, capability, and core characteristics 

unique to the National Guard is necessary to 

support civilian authorities in many catastrophic 

situations. The very appearance of uniformed 

Guardsmen and women provides an immediate 

measure of reassurance to desperate and frightened 

victims. Their familiar uniforms, bearing, 

knowledge, and obvious competence reassure 

stricken victims that capable and experienced help 

is on the scene. 
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Executive Overview

Expeditionary Localism

The same competence and professionalism 

applies to the National Guard’s role in national 

defense. In light of current threats, our national 

security strategy, and tough fiscal realities, 

policymakers need a proven force that adds 

value to develop and offer viable homeland 

protection and international military training and 

mentoring solutions. For 20 years, the National 

Guard’s involvement in the State Partnership 

Program has provided an unparalleled model 

of how to build trusting and enduring security 

relationships. The 65 long-lasting partnerships 

with more than one-third of the countries around 

the world tie Main Street America to military 

and community leaders of state and country 

partners. The recently established partnership 

between Oregon and Vietnam is truly historic. 

Our unique ability to keep the same units and 

many of the same individuals partnered with 

our foreign counterparts year after year allows 

the National Guard to maintain effective and 

efficient partnerships like no other military 

organization. 

Enriching Defense Processes

Recent legislative changes have expanded 

DoD authorities, given service secretaries new 

access to the National Guard for programmed 

and budgeted operational needs, established the 

Council of Governors, and made the Chief of 

the National Guard Bureau a full-member of the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Reorganization of the National Guard Bureau 

has enabled the Bureau to more effectively 

execute its role in support of the Chief, National 

Guard Bureau as a member of the Joint Chiefs 

of Staff. Our aim is to not simply represent 

National Guard matters, but to fully enrich 

JCS and Defense Department corporate 

processes and solutions. National 

Guard inputs to the Joint Chiefs of Staff 

process introduce a new perspective 

toward defining military requirements 

and approaches to protecting and 

defending our homeland. The National 

Guard will use its new access at 

these levels to ensure that National 

Guard capabilities and solutions 

raise the effectiveness of our 

collective national defense policies. 

The National Guard intends to add this 

value through bringing its Title 32 and 

State Active Duty resources, capabilities, 

and perspectives into critical defense 

policy discussions. 

Strategic Priorities: Guardsmen, 

Families, Employers and the Future

To continue its long tradition of service and to 

remain ready to meet upcoming challenges, the 

National Guard will focus on four key priorities. 

In concert with the states, territories and the 

District of Columbia, the Department of Defense 

and our interagency partners, the National Guard 

will deliver value to America by: 

Ô Providing trained and ready operational 

forces;

Ô Enhancing accountability and becoming a 

fully effective steward of resources;

Ô Supporting and sustaining the National 

Guard community, its members, their 

families and their employers; and 

Ô Constantly analyzing future threats and 

opportunities.

Readiness

Both the U.S. Army and Air Force have recognized 

the importance of being able to rapidly and 

competently increase size and capabilities 

on demand. As the largest part of the reserve 

component, the National Guard must continue to 

maintain its combat capability and remain a critical 

part of the U.S. national defense. This includes 

ensuring our men and women continue to gain 

critical operational experience in real-world DoD 

missions. As it organizes for the future, the National 

Guard must continue to work with the Army and the 

Air Force to develop, field and sustain a versatile 

and affordable mix of equipment and force structure 

that will enable Guard members and their units to 

succeed across the range of military operations, 

including in the homeland. 

The National Guard also has the critical 

responsibility to defend American lives. The 
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homeland is a unique and challenging operational 

environment with constraints imposed by law, 

policy and tradition. A trusted interagency partner, 

the National Guard’s connection to communities 

enhances its readiness to operate in the homeland 

and within civil constructs and the political 

subdivisions of local, state and federal government. 

The National Guard continues to make ready and to 

apply its federally-organized capabilities to protect 

citizens, vital assets and critical infrastructure from 

man-made and natural disasters. The National 

Guard must continue to work with Governors, the 

Army, Air Force, and all the combatant commanders 

to ensure the American people receive the most 

effective and efficient response.

Caring for Guardsmen and Families

Sadly, not all is well within the National Guard. 

The rates that National Guard men and women take 

their own lives, experience sexual assaults, or 

die because of risky behavior is unacceptable. 

The National Guard must work to honor its 

commitment to the men and women who serve 

America. We will do all we can to ensure 

those who have so honorably served return to 

strengthen America’s communities with strong 

values and relevant skills. Further, we must 

join forces with those civilian resources in our 

communities that are willing, able, and ready 

to help those who have served. The Army and 

Air National Guard developed campaign plans 

to ensure immediate and enduring solutions 

promoting resiliency among our Soldiers, 

Airmen and Family members and to develop 

leader skills to recognize and mitigate high 

stress and at-risk factors and to facilitate the 

longer-term reduction in these factors. 

Stewardship

There are other areas needing 

further attention. The National 

Guard will ensure continuous 

accountability for its public 

resources. Effective stewardship 

of public funds is a critical 

National Guard priority. 

The National Guard is 

committed to providing 

proper accountability for 

the resources the taxpayers 

entrust to us. Congress 

has mandated accurate 

auditing and the Department 

of Defense has made audit 

readiness a top priority. 

Responsible fiscal management 

ensures the men and women 

of the National Guard have the 

resources they need to execute their missions. In an 

era of declining resources, confidence in the National 

Guard’s fiscal stewardship is essential. National Guard 

ability to protect and defend the homeland depends 

on improving its financial processes, controls, and 

information at all levels. In an effort to improve 

stewardship of these resources, the National Guard 

Bureau has set a goal of conducting unqualified audits 

across all appropriations categories for the entire 

National Guard by Sept. 30, 2014. 

Emerging Strategic Risks 

As we address these priorities, we call attention to key 

considerations for Congress as our nation postures 

for the future. The National Guard Adjutants General 

assess top strategic risks to the homeland that align 

with the Department of Homeland Security, the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency policies and 

the Council of Governors. Today’s world presents 

unique challenges. Increased urbanization and our 

reliance on interconnected delivery systems make us 

vulnerable to cyber attacks and serious disruptions 

caused by catastrophes such as major hurricanes, 

earthquakes, tsunamis or weapons of mass destruction. 

In light of the National Guard’s dual nature, we must 

collectively evaluate and determine new homeland 

requirements as well as to fulfill our role as the 

primary reserve force for the Air Force and the Army. 

The investments made by Congress to ensure the 

National Guard have the equipment and authority 

to carry out its dual missions has helped greatly. 

The National Guard now has a voice and enhanced 

accessibility to combatant commanders and the 

services to address concerns. Additionally, its actions 

preserve our critical civil-military connection with 

America and posture us to provide solutions that 

address foreseeable future problems.

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Executive Overview
National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Executive Overview

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Constantly Analyzing Future Threats 

and Opportunities

Evolving threats -- indeed new threats -- emerge 

rapidly and require the strength of the entire 

nation. The National Guard reaches across the 

spectrum of government and maintains deep 

ties to local communities and industry via its 

members, promoting an uncommon flexibility 

for national leaders. If tapped by the Services 

and combatant commanders, an adaptable 

National Guard can be rapidly shaped to 

meet once unthought-of short or longer term 

requirements. From airport security across the 

nation to supporting expansion of Customs and 

Border Patrol capacity, deploying Agribusiness 

Development Teams in Afghanistan, and 

addressing the federal and non-federal nexus of 

cyber threats, the National Guard has proven its 

quick adaptability. This flexibility opens options 

as national security professionals plan for the 

uncertain future.

Summary

For nearly four centuries, the men and women of 

the National Guard have defended our nation and 

communities. As current overseas contingency 

operations come to a close and fiscal constraints 

tighten, the National Guard is postured to rise 

to new challenges. The fundamental mission of 

the National Guard remains the same: Defend 

America -- at home and abroad. The National 

Guard will continue to provide flexible, tailored 

and community-based solutions to domestic 

response and remain a critical reserve component 

for the United States Army and Air Force. 

To fulfill its mission, the National Guard must 

ensure its full range of capabilities is Always 

Ready, Always There. 

 
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Ready and Accessible 

Ô It is more cost effective and faster to mobilize 

National Guard units to meet a surge in demand for 

forces than it is to organize new units. 

Ô 97% of America lives within a five-hour response 

of a National Guard Homeland Response Force or 

Chemical, Biological Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) 

Enhanced Response Force Package.

Ô Specialized units like the National Guard’s Weapons 

of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams conducted 

1,720 response, standby, and assist missions in 

FY12. 

Ô Throughout history, National Guard members have 

answered every call and participated in every war. 

Ô At one time a Strategic Reserve, today the National 

Guard supports the full spectrum of domestic and 

global response.

Ô Civilian skill sets found in our Army and Air Guard 

members provide a diversity of experience and 

knowledge that cannot be matched. 

Ô The past decade has demonstrated the National 

Guard’s ability to meet even the highest rotational 

demands for its forces. 

Ô The overwhelming majority of Army and Air 

Guard overseas service is the result of volunteer 

deployment.
National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Executive Overview

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By the Numbers

Ô Authorized 358,200 Citizen Soldiers in 50 states, 

3 territories and the District of Columbia. 

Ô 2,511 readiness centers (armories) and 110 

training centers across the country.

Ô Consists of 8 division headquarters, 6 operational 

commands (including sustainment and air & 

missile defense), and 126 operational brigades 

and groups; this includes 28 Brigade Combat 

Teams (Infantry, heavy, and Stryker), 48 multifunctional support brigades (including combat 

aviation, surveillance and sustainment brigades), 

48 functional support brigades and groups 

(including military police, engineer and regional 

support) and 2 Special Forces Groups. 

Ô For the fifth year in a row, the Army Guard’s 

Military Construction execution rate has exceeded 

the Department of the Army’s goal of 90 percent.

Army National Guard 

provides 32 Percent

of Total Army force
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Executive Overview

By the Numbers

Ô 105,700 Air Guard members in 

50 states, 3 territories, and the 

District of Columbia. 

Ô 89 Wings and 175 geographically 

separated units across 213 

locations. 

Ô 72% of the facilities are located 

at civilian airfields.

Ô 1,160 aircraft in the ANG’s 

inventory contributes to roughly 

31% of the fighter capability, 

38% of the airlift capability, 40% 

of the tanker fleet and 15% of the 

Intelligence, Surveillance, and 

Reconnaissance capability of the 

total Air Force. Air National Guard

Operates 17 of 18 Aerospace 

Control Alert sites 

across the U.S.
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“As we draw down from these 

wars, we need to keep the 

National Guard operational ... 

This is the best investment we’ve 

made in the past 10 years.”

 Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta

Operational

 MISSIONS 
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

FY12 Overseas Mobilizations 

Army Guard

Ô Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) 15,993

Ô Kuwait, Balkans, Sinai, and additional locations 8,810

Ô Mobilized since 9/11 510,000

Air Guard

Ô Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) 4,340

Ô Balkans, Sinai, and additional locations 15,160

Ô Mobilized since 9/11 246,680

* The numbers include Soldiers and Airmen who supported 

mobilizations in support of overseas operations, 

some multiple times in FY12. 
“There have been no finer set of Soldiers 

than the National Guard who have deployed 

here (The Sinai). They have shown flexibility, 

adaptability and judgment that are frankly 

without peer.”

 Ambassador David Satterfield, 

Director General, Multinational Force and Observers

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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Battle Ready

Ô Since 9/11, National Guard Citizen Soldiers and Airmen have been 

mobilized by the Army and Air Force more than 750,000 times in support 

of the overseas missions, some multiple times. This does not include 

hundreds of thousands called up during that same period by their states for 

emergency response.

Ô Over 115,000 former and current Army National Guard Soldiers have 

mobilized more than once since 9/11.

Ô Air Guardsmen filled over 56,000 Air Force manpower requests in FY12. 

Nearly 90 percent of those were voluntary.

Ô More than 19,500 Air Guardsmen deployed to more than 60 countries and 

every continent last year.

Ô Since 9/11, the Air National Guard has 

deployed almost 250,000 Airmen, including 

over 185,475 who have served in support of 

overseas contingency operations, 42,000 of 

which have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Ô Since 9/11, our Air Guard has flown 

some 290,900 sorties and over 951,220 

flying hours in support of overseas 

contingency operations.

Ô Since 2001, the Air National Guard 

has flown more than 5,050 sorties 

and logged more than 8,000 flying hours intercepting air threats to 

America in support of the Aerospace Control Alert mission. 

Ô The Air Guard provided the great majority of fighter-bombers that 

deployed to Afghanistan during FY12, 70% of all A-10Cs and 85% of 

the F-16s.

Ô Army Guard fixed-wing crews logged 48,000 flight hours (6,000 8-hour 

days) hauling more than 60,000 passengers and 2 million pounds of 

time-sensitive and mission-critical supplies to Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, 

Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and the Horn of Africa in FY12. 

Ô Nearly half of current Army Guard Soldiers are seasoned combat 

veterans, many with multiple overseas deployments. 

Ô Eager to serve, Army Guard retention is at 99%. 

Ô Eighty percent of our Guardsmen have joined since 9/11. 

Ô America’s investment in upgrading the National Guard to an operational 

force has produced Soldiers and Airmen with training and capabilities 

that mirror the active component. 

Ô An experienced, equipped, and trained National Guard provides the 

nation a cost-effective force proven on the battle field and unequalled in 

domestic response.
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Force Rotation

Today’s Citizen Soldier is likely to have 

deployed at least once since 9/11 with 

an expectation that he or she will deploy 

again. Currently, the Army National 

Guard’s rotation cycle is averaging one 

year mobilized for every 3.3 years at home. 

However, the goal is to reach a ratio that 

allows for 5 years at home for every 1 year 

mobilized.

Since 9/11, annual mobilization rates have 

varied from about 17,000 to over 100,000 

Soldiers per year out of an authorized force 

of 358,200 Soldiers. The Army Guard has 

completed more than 510,000 individual 

mobilizations in support of domestic and 

overseas missions to Iraq, Afghanistan, 

Kuwait, the Balkans, Guantanamo Bay, 

Djibouti (Horn of Africa), the Philippines, 

and the Sinai and other locations. 

Protection from Above

Approximately 1,200 Air Guard members 

conduct Distributed Command and 

Control, Space Control, ground and 

space-based missile warning, satellite 

command and control, and National 

Reconnaissance Office (NRO) operations 

center augmentation across the United 

States, on a 24 / 7 basis. These operations 

provide critical day-to-day and wartime 

national security support to Air Force Space 

Command’s and U.S. Strategic Command’s 

global space superiority mission.
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Positioned for Cyber 

The Department of Defense is expanding its cyber security force over the next 

several years to defend against cyber attacks. The National Guard provides a cost 

effective and uniquely capable force that can provide capabilities for the DoD, 

homeland defense, and civil support. Ô With bases and armories in more than 3,000 communities, the National 

Guard has relationships with owners and operators of non-DoD owned / 

operated infrastructure vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Ô In nearly every zip code, Guard members are stationed close to where 

cyber events may occur. As the military’s first responders, Guard 

members can quickly assess and mitigate damage to critical 

infrastructure.

Ô State National Guard leaders possess local knowledge of cybervulnerable critical infrastructure. Ô Many National Guard members possess highly valuable cyber 

skills acquired through their civilian employment and non 

military training. 

Ô Nearly 8,000 Air Guardsmen perform expeditionary combat 

communications, expeditionary engineering and installations, 

base communications, cyber warfare, information operations 

and cyber intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance 

missions for Air Force major commands. 

Creating a Joint Information Environment (JIE)

The JIE is the first step in increasing command and control 

in cyberspace. JIE is a secure joint information environment, 

comprised of shared information technology (IT) infrastructure, 

enterprise services, and single security architecture. The aim of 

the JIE is to achieve full spectrum superiority, improve mission 

effectiveness, increase security and realize IT efficiencies. Ô The Army Guard is pursuing the consolidation of 2,998 post / camp 

/ station networks to achieve cost benefits in all 50 states, 3 territories 

and the District of Columbia.

Ô The Air Guard is migrating 89 wings and 208 separate units to the Air 

Force network and expected to be complete by the end of 2013. 
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Air Guard Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) 

On the leading edge of RPA operations from its infancy, and armed with 

a highly experienced, rated aviation force, the Air Guard is postured 

and capable of operating any follow-on or increasingly sophisticated 

manned, unmanned or optionally manned aircraft. 

The RPA’s long-term mission stability also is an attractive feature that 

allows the Air Guard to recruit and retain top-notch crews.

Ô National Guard Airmen from across the U.S. conduct RPA 

operations 24/7.

Ô To date, the Air Guard has logged well over 200,000 combat hours 

in the MQ-1 and MQ-9. 

Ô Air Guard schoolhouses have trained over 200 RPA operators and 

maintainers.

Ô In 2006, the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing (CA) began MQ-1 

Predator operations. Since then, the Air Guard has established a total 

of 7 RPA units.

Ô Air Guard Launch and Recovery Elements (LREs) are in CA, LA, 

ND, and NY. LREs launch aircraft for training sorties. 

Ô The Air Guard has one MQ-9 Reaper squadron at the 174th Fighter 

Wing in Syracuse, NY. The 174th is forecast to fly approximately 

7,300 combat hours (365 combat sorties) per year. 

Ô A Tennessee Air Guard unit is converting to the Reaper mission.

Ô The Nevada Air Guard boasts the only RPA associate unit supporting 

the formal and launch / recovery training, test, and weapons school at 

Creech and Nellis AFB, NV in concert with active component crews. 

Ô RPA provides ground commanders a highly capable armed 

intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform capable 

of finding, fixing, targeting, tracking, 

engaging, and assessing 

almost any given target.
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

The Army Guard is fully involved in two of the Army’s three primary UAS programs: Raven and Shadow. These 

systems are designed to provide UAS support to combat elements from platoon up through division level. 

RAVEN: A total of 982 systems (3 air vehicles each) of the RQ-11 RAVEN-B small UASs are being fielded to all 

battalions within the 28 Army Guard Brigade Combat Teams and 2 Army Guard Special Forces groups, as well as to 

selected military police companies (combat support), engineering companies (Sapper), and other units. By the end of 

FY13, the ARNG fielded 704 of its required 982 systems, with full completion projected by the end of FY15.

SHADOW: The Army Guard’s existing 30 platoons (28 BCT & 2 SFG) with the RQ-7B “Shadow” Tactical UAS 

completed their equipment fielding and are scheduled to upgrade to the improved RQ-7B(v2) “TCDL” Shadow 

system from FY14-18. 
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Air Guard Special Operations 

Air Guard Special Operations have supported Combatant 

Commanders during Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), 

Iraqi Freedom, Unified Protector (Libya) and Odyssey Dawn (Libya). 

Additionally, they supported Hurricane Katrina and Operation Unified 

Response (Haiti earthquake) relief efforts.

Ô 193rd Special Operations Wing in Harrisburg, PA flies the EC130J and specializes in Military Information Support Operations. 

Ô The 150th Special Operations Squadron out of Joint Base 

McGuire Dix flies the C-32 that supports Air Force Special 

Operations Command mobility operations. 

Ô The 123rd and 125th Special Tactics Squadrons, in Louisville, 

KY and Portland, OR respectively, provide combat controllers, 

pararescuemen, and Special Operations weather teams that direct 

and control the delivery of lethal and non-lethal airpower, conduct 

personnel recovery missions, and provide weather information. 

Army Guard Special Forces

Ô There are nearly 1,800 Army Guard Special Forces Soldiers.

Ô 17 states have National Guard Special Forces units with 2 additional states 

containing Special Operating Forces support units.

Ô Mississippi Army Guard Special Forces soldiers rescued 42 adults and 6 

children during Hurricane Isaac.

Ô Two National Guard Special Forces companies mobilized in support of an 

operation in Central America, while two Special Operations Detachments 

mobilized to Afghanistan.

Ô Army Guard Special Forces Soldiers conducted 12 crisis negotiation team and 5 

Joint Chiefs of Staff missions in FY12. 

Ô A battalion-sized Army Guard Special Forces element deployed to Iraq in 

support of Operation New Dawn in FY12. 

Ô Army Guard Special Forces Groups supported 18 joint combined exchange 

for training events in the Philippines, Nepal, El Salvador, Finland, Moldova, 

Greece, Croatia, Algeria, Morocco, Belize, Chile, Panama, Suriname, 

Guatemala, and Dominican Republic.
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Army Guard Aviation

UH-72A Lakota Ô The Army has approved purchase of 210 

Army Guard UH-72A Lakotas by end of 

FY15. As of FY12, there are 125 UH72As in the Army Guard. Lakota crews fly 

reconnaissance, observation, air transport, 

medical evacuation and aerial command and 

control for homeland defense and overseas 

operations. 

AH-64A/D Longbow Apache Ô The Apache is the world’s most advanced 

attack helicopter and continues to be 

upgraded using state-of-the-art technology. 

It is considered the U.S. military’s most 

capable, multi-role combat attack helicopter. 

As of FY12, the Army Guard has 74 AH64D Block I and 69 Block II Apaches in its 

inventory. The modernization of the Army 

Guard AH-64 fleet to AH-64D’s will be 

completed by Sept. 2013. 

UH-60A / L /M Blackhawk Ô The Army Guard’s UH-60 fleet in the oldest 

in the Army; 50 percent of the fleet is UH60A’s averaging 29 years old. The Army 

Guard has a requirement for 849 H-60 

helicopters (534 UH-60 utility and 315 

HH-60 MEDEVAC). As of FY12, the Army 

Guard possessed 814 H-60s, 71 of which 

are state-of-the-art, digitized H-60Ms. The 

Army Guard is scheduled to receive the 

remaining 35 H-60s needed to reach the 

849 requirement by FY17. The UH-60A 

Blackhawks are being replaced with the 

modern L and M models. Currently, the 

scheduled conversion will result in 201 

H-60Ms being fielded by FY19. 

CH-47, CH-47F Chinook Ô Thirty-seven of the Army Guard’s 161 

Chinooks are the advanced CH-47Fs 

(remaining are CH-47Ds). The D models 

are expected to be replaced with CH-47Fs 

by early FY18.

Many scheduled 

conversions completed 

and fielded by FY19
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National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Operational Missions 

Overseas Training 

Ô Army Guard Soldiers logged more than 351,170 duty days 

supporting combatant command exercises, the equivalent of 

employing a 1,000-personnel light infantry battalion for an 

entire year. The exercises focused on building partnerships, 

providing national and security assistance, and training in 

how to conduct humanitarian, peacekeeping, counterdrug, 

and counterterrorism operations. 

Ô The Army Guard provides over 60 percent of the Soldiers 

requested by the Army to support military exercises 

worldwide. 

Ô Nearly 20,307 Army Guard Soldiers from 50 states, 3 

territories, and the District of Columbia supported 41 

military exercises in 104 partner countries. 

Ô The Army Guard coordinated three unit and 79 individual 

exchanges between ARNG units and North Atlantic Treaty 

Organization countries in FY12.

351,170 

duty days 

supporting 

Combatant 

Command 

exercises
22

“The National Guard was probably our 

prime asset in response everywhere ... 

they can do a lot of things for you.” 

 Andrew Cuomo

New York Governor

Domestic

 RESPONSE 
23

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Domestic Response

Always Ready, 

Always There

Ô The National Guard responded 

to more than 100 natural disaster 

missions in FY12.

Ô Nearly 12,000 National Guard 

Soldiers and Airmen from 22 states 

and the District of Columbia to 

Hurricane Sandy. 

Ô Sandy relief missions included 

search and rescue, damage 

assessment, shelter, medical support, 

commodity and fuel distribution, 

power generation, communication, 

aviation support, and support to law 

enforcement. 

Ô Nearly 6,000 National Guard Soldiers 

provided security, transportation, 

logistics services, and aircraft for 

events such as the Republican and 

Democratic National Conventions, 

the G-8 and NATO Summits, and the 

Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation 

Summit. 

Ô Ninety-six percent of all emergencies 

in the U.S. are handled by civil 

authorities or the National Guard.

Ô Nearly 2,100 National Guard Soldiers 

have provided early interdiction, 

aerial detection, criminal analysts, 

and command and control personnel 

to secure our nation’s U.S. borders 

since 2010. 

Ô Guard members from 27 states 

logged more than 447,000 duty 

days responding to flood recovery 

missions in FY12.

Nearly 12,,000

National Guard 

Soldiers,, Airmen 

delivered relief

after Sandy hit
24

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Domestic Response

Proven Air Guard Domestic Support 

Ô Air National Guard C-27J, C-130, C-17 and C-5 crews from 16 units 

hauled more than 2,160 tons of equipment, food, water, and other needed 

supplies in support of Hurricane Sandy.

Ô Since 2005, the Air National Guard has activated more than 54,100 

Airmen in support of domestic operations. 

Ô Air Guard Personnel Recovery units have logged nearly 5,800 domestic 

support missions conducting search and rescue since 1993. 

Ô Air Guard crews flying C-130s equipped with Modular Airborne 

Firefighting Systems (MAFFS) have flown 570 sorties and dropped more 

than 13.5 million pounds of fire retardant and 1.49 million gallons of 

water on wildfires across the U.S. in support of the National Interagency 

Fire Center in 2012, protecting entire towns and neighborhoods from 

wildfires.

More than 54,,100

Airmen supported 

domestic operations
National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement

25

Domestic Response

On the Border

At its peak, 1,200 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, primarily from 

four southwest border states (California, Arizona, New Mexico and 

Texas), provided criminal analysts and ground surveillance teams for 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection since July 2010. The National Guard quickly and 

expertly stepped in to bolster the Department of Homeland Security’s 

efforts to detect, deter and disrupt transnational criminal organizations.

Ô There are currently more than 130 Guard members on the border.

Ô The National Guard’s border support bought the necessary time 

for Customs and Border Patrol to bring online more agents and 

equipment, and can quickly draw back down once no longer needed. 

Ô Increased border security resulted in lower cross-border flows of 

people and illegal narcotics.

Ô Contributed to decline in narcotics trafficking.

Counterdrug Program (CDP)

The National Guard’s CDP conducted 

nearly 7,000 federal, state, and local 

missions in support of law enforcement 

counternarcotics operations. 

The National Guard’s CDP is a consistent 

force multiplier to law enforcement 

because it enables federal, state and local 

counternarcotics officers to better fight 

transnational organized crime and other 

national security threats. 

Nationally, National Guard counterdrug 

specialists support state and local law 

enforcement agencies through detection and 

monitoring, criminal analysis, and civil operations 

missions. Globally, CDP soldiers and airmen employ 

these unique skills to assist Combatant Commands combat 

illicit drug trafficking. 

The National Guard CDP has developed a resource management 

blueprint. Their Threat Based Resource Model (TBRM) administers 

funding based on measurable metrics and threats by allocating resources 

to states and territories based on the severity of the narcotics threat.

The CDP also expanded its scope with their new Counter Threat Finance 

(CTF) mission. Counter Threat Finance analysts work to deny, disrupt, 

destroy and defeat finance systems and networks that negatively impact 

U.S. interests. 
Essential 10

Command and Control 

Aviation

Security

Medical 

Transportation

Maintenance

Communications

Logistics 

Engineering

CBRN 

26

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Domestic Response

Providing civil authorities 10 

critical core capabilities that 

save lives, protect property and 

help communities recover from 

catastrophic events 
27

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Domestic Response

Lifesaving Capabilities 

Ô 10 Homeland Response Forces, totaling 5,660 

Guard members. 

Ô 17 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, 

Nuclear (CBRN) Enhanced Response Force 

Packages, called CERFPs, totaling 3,332 

Guard members. 

Ô 57 Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil 

Support Teams (WMD-CSTs), each with 22 

full-time National Guard members, conducted 

in excess of 1,720 response, standby, and 

assist missions in FY12.

Homeland Response Force (HRF)

The National Guard has 10 Homeland Response 

Forces (HRFs), one in each of the 10 FEMA 

regions, with 566 personnel each. HRFs provide 

timely lifesaving capabilities within 6-12 hours 

of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear 

(CBRN) event. Each HRF operates alongside the 

Civil Support Teams and Chemical, Biological, 

Radiological, Nuclear Enhanced Response Force 

Packages to increase operational capabilities in 

response to chemical, biological, radiological and 

nuclear incidents. 

Ô Provides a fast, capable lifesaving CBRN 

response capability.

Ô Bridges a gap between initial National Guard 

response and Title 10 (active duty) capabilities.

Ô Improves command and control and operational 

flow for deployed National Guard CBRN forces.

Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)

The National Guard provides three Critical 

Infrastructure Assessment-Mission Assurance 

Assessment (CIP-MAA) teams to evaluate the 

vulnerabilities of critical Defense Industrial Base 

sites across the United States. CIP-MAA teams 

assessed over 200 industrial sites and critical U.S. 

Government infrastructure in FY12. 

Interoperable Communications 

Joint Incident Site Communications Capability 

(JISCC) is a rapidly deployable package that 

provides National Guard responders with 

communication capabilities required to enable 

effective domestic response. A JISCC package 

provides a mission control capability, and the 

ability to communicate and exchange information 

with federal, state and local responders, through 

multi-channel satellite connectivity and open 

Internet access. JISCC also allows Guard 

responders to communicate with disparate 

civilian radios. 
28

“Relationships matter more than ever. 

Coalitions and partnerships add 

capability, capacity and credibility 

to what we see as shared security 

responsibilities.” 

 Gen Martin Dempsey 

 Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Global

Engagement
29

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Global Engagement

State Partnership Program 

With 65 partnerships located in all six 

Geographic Combatant Commands, 

the State Partnership Program (SPP) 

builds enduring relationships that meet U.S. 

global security objectives. This innovative, 

low-cost, small footprint, and high impact 

program leverages funding from other DoD 

programs (such as reserve component annual 

training and humanitarian assistance) to deliver 

a significant return on investment by motivating 

partner countries to share in the burden of global 

security. 

The SPP is a Department of Defense joint 

security cooperation program administered 

by the National Guard Bureau and executed 

by State and Territory Adjutants General that 

supports combatant commander and U.S. 

ambassador objectives. 

The National Guard and its partner countries 

focus on small footprint activities, including 

exercises, rotational presence, and advisory 

services to achieve security objectives. 

The National Guard’s unique state-federal 

characteristics make it the ideal defense 

department component for interacting with 

foreign nation active and reserve forces, and 

interagency partners. Moreover, by focusing 

engagement at the state level, SPP comes in a 

package that is often more appropriately scaled 

and more easily understood by foreign-partner 

military organizations that are always much 

smaller than our active components. 

In a time of shrinking resources and evolving 

security challenges, the SPP presents an 

attractive and affordable means to engage in 

critical relationship building activities that 

promote common understanding and purpose 

to address global security challenges. 

Partnership Successes

Ô National Guard organizations have codeployed 14 times with SPP partner forces 

providing tens of thousands of troops for 

missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Ô 44 SPP countries have provided more than 

35,000 security forces in support of United 

Nations peacekeeping operations.

Ô The SPP helps reduce the pressure on U.S. 

forces worldwide. 

Ô The National Guard has established 

enduring and mutually beneficial 

relationships through 65 partnerships 

between American states and foreign nations 

that promote mutual understanding and 

shared purpose to advance regional security, 

stability and prosperity. 

Ô More than one-third of the world’s countries 

are partnered with the National Guard through 

SPP.

Ô The National Guard is working with 

combatant commanders to meet their requests 

for additional SPPs, especially within U.S. 

Africa Command and U.S. Pacific Command. 

Ô The value of SPP lies in its ability to 

concentrate a small component of U.S. defense 

structure - a state’s National Guard - on a 

single country in support of U.S. national 

security objectives. 

Ô “The capabilities of the United States’ allies 

and partners may be as important as its own, 

and building their capacity is arguably as 

important as, if not more than, the fighting the 

United States does itself.” Former Secretary of 

Defense Robert Gates.
30

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Global Engagement

Air National Guard 

Security Cooperation Efforts

Ô Provided over 1,200 personnel in security 

cooperation engagements supporting flying and 

maintenance programs to more than 20 countries 

to include India, Iraq, Croatia, Mexico and El 

Salvador.

Ô A primary training provider to allied and 

partner-nation Air Forces in all aspects of 

security assistance such as foreign military sales 

programs, combatant command support, and 

exchange programs; to include functional areas 

not found in the active component such as 

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems. 

Ô Supported joint terminal attack control 

training teams in Lebanon.

Army National Guard 

Security Cooperation Efforts

Ô More than 20,300 Army Guard 

Soldiers supported security cooperation 

efforts such as the State Partnership 

Program, joint military interaction and 

humanitarian training missions in FY12.

Ô 995 personnel supported the Beyond the 

Horizons humanitarian exercises in 

Guatemala and Honduras. 

Ô 515 personnel supported Ulchi Freedom 

Guardian 2012, an annual war fighting 

exercise in Korea.

Afghanistan Agricultural Mission

Ô Seven Afghanistan Agribusiness 

Development Teams (ADTs) are currently 

deployed to regional commands in 

Afghanistan.

Ô Deployed teams hail from Kentucky, 

Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Georgia, 

Mississippi, and South Carolina, all states 

with large agricultural sectors. Other states 

preparing to support the ADT mission are 

Tennessee and Idaho.

Ô To date, 49 teams (2,995 personnel) 

operated in seven provinces and contributed 

to more than 680 agriculture projects 

generating more than $42 million for the 

people of Afghanistan. 

Ô The ADTs train, advise and assist the Ministry of 

Agriculture employees to deliver basic services to 

the local farmers and herders to include building 

capacity in the Agriculture universities and high 

schools.

Ô Team members bring professional skill sets in 

agronomy (soil and seed science), irrigation, 

horticulture (plant cultivation), pest control, 

veterinary techniques, civil engineering, and 

energy management.

Ô Last February the citizens of Alingar District 

received 2,400 saplings as an Arbor Day 

education initiative. The trees (pomegranate, 

almond, and persimmons) were presented to 

village elders. Villagers currently travel great 

distances on foot to receive the same fruits and 

nuts from market vendors.

Ô The goal of the ADTs is to supplement current 

Afghan farming practices by introducing 

advanced farming techniques and methods 

already in practice in many other countries of 

the world.

Brigade Partnering 

Two Army Guard brigades are aligned with 

Combatant Commands in a non-global force 

management-sourced relationship by providing 

tactical-level planning, theater security cooperation 

events, command and control for exercises. 

Ô More than 1,340 Army Guardsmen from 

Missouri’s 35th Engineering Brigade logged 

26,834 duty days in support of U.S. Army 

South in FY12. 

Ô Nearly 900 Illinois Army Guard members from 

the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade 

logged 17,183 duty days supporting theater 

security objectives for U.S. Army Africa in 

FY12.
National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Global Engagement

state Partnership Program

Enhancing International Defense through National Guard Relationships

31

U.S. Southern Command - 22

Arkansas / Guatemala

Connecticut / Uruguay

Delaware / Trinidad-Tobago

District of Columbia / Jamaica

Florida / Venezuela

Florida / Guyana

Florida / Virgin Islands / Regional 

 Security System (E. Carib. Islands)

Kentucky / Ecuador

Louisiana / Belize

Louisiana / Haiti

Massachusetts / Paraguay

Mississippi / Bolivia

Missouri / Panama

New Hampshire / El Salvador

New Mexico / Costa Rica

Puerto Rico / Honduras

Puerto Rico / Dominican Rep.

South Carolina / Columbia

South Dakota/Suriname

Texas/Chile

West Virginia / Peru

Wisconsin / Nicaragua

U.S. Northern Command - 1

Rhode Island / Bahamas

U.S. Africa Command - 8

California / Nigeria

Michigan / Liberia

New York / South Africa

North Carolina / Botswana

North Dakota / Ghana

Utah / Morocco

Vermont / Senegal

Wyoming / Tunisia

U.S. Central Command - 5

Arizona / Kazakhstan

Colorado / Jordan 

Mississippi / Uzbekistan

Montana / Kyrgyzstan

Virginia / Tajikistan

U.S. Pacific Command - 7

Alaska / Mongolia

Hawaii, Guam / Philippines

Hawaii / Indonesia

Washington / Thailand

Oregon / Bangladesh

Oregon / Vietnam

Idaho / Cambodia

U.S. European 

Command - 22

Alabama / Romania

California / Ukraine

Colorado / Slovenia

Georgia / Georgia

Illinois / Poland

Indiana / Slovakia

Iowa / Kosovo

Kansas / Armenia

Maine/Montenegro

Maryland / Estonia

Maryland / Bosnia

Michigan / Latvia

Minnesota / Croatia

New Jersey / Albania

North Carolina / Moldova

Ohio / Hungary

Ohio / Serbia

Oklahoma / Azerbaijan

Pennsylvania / Lithuania

Tennessee / Bulgaria

Texas, Nebraska / Czech Republic

Vermont / Macedonia
32

“We recruit Soldiers 

and Airmen, but 

we retain families.”

Chief Master Sergeant Denise Jelinski-Hall

National Guard Bureau Senior Enlisted Advisor 

 SOLDIER, AIRMAN, 

 and FAMILY 

 

READINESS 
33

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Soldier, Airman, And Family Readiness

Success through Diversity

The National Guard’s Diversity program 

now has Joint Diversity Councils active in 

50 states, 3 territories and the District of 

Columbia to provide guidance and equip 

Guard members to serve in a multicultural 

world where differences in a person’s 

characteristics, background, attributes, and 

experiences are respected and valued. 

Throughout the nation, more than 150 Army 

National Guard and Air National Guard 

diversity practitioners promote a diverse 

workforce through recruitment and training of 

its members. 
Wounded Soldier and Airman Care

The Army Guard currently has more than 3,100 wounded warriors in Warrior 

Transition Units (WTUs). WTUs are focused on healing each injured Soldier 

as he or she either transitions back to military duty or leaves the military to 

assume a productive, responsible role in society. WTUs provide non-clinical 

support, complex case management, and transition assistance for Soldiers of all 

components at medical treatment facilities on Active Army installations.

More than 600 Army Guard Soldiers support the Army’s WTUs and 

Community-Based Warrior Transition Units (CBWTUs) in positions 

at all levels of the organization, from squad leaders to battalion 

commanders. The CBWTUs provide high-quality health 

care, administrative processing, and transition assistance 

for recuperating reserve component Soldiers; these 

units provide Soldiers the ability to live at home, 

close to their families, and transition with 

hometown support. 

34

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Soldier, Airman, And Family Readiness

There are 260 Air Guard Wounded Warriors enrolled in the Air Force 

Wounded Warrior Program. Nearly two-thirds of them (172) suffer from 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. 

Master Resilience Training (MRTs)

MRTs serve as the commander’s principle advisors on resilience and provide 

training as part of a comprehensive strategy to increase performance. 

Resilience training teaches specific resilience techniques through a program 

of continuous self-development designed to increase physical, emotional, 

social, spiritual, and family strengths.

Ô The Army Guard has trained 2,428 MRTs and more than 7,019 resilience 

trainer assistants. 

Ô Established two MRT courses: Fort McCoy, Wis. in July 2011 and Fort 

Custer, Mich. in May 2012. 

Ô The Air Guard has committed to send an Airman from each of their 89 

wings to attend an Air Force’s “Train-the-Trainer” course at Joint Base 

McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst, NJ. 
35

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Soldier, Airman, And Family Readiness

Suicide Prevention

The Army Guard trained 144 trainers in the 

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 

(ASIST) program in FY12, bringing the total 

trained to 459. These trainers will, in turn, train 

approximately 35,000 gatekeepers in advanced 

suicide intervention skills. In FY12, ARNG 

trained 6,761 gatekeepers. A gatekeeper is a 

Soldier who, by virtue of his position, must be 

able to recognize people in crisis, intervene to 

keep them safe, and refer them to help. 

Psychological Health

The National Guard Bureau Psychological 

Health Program has more than 170 licensed 

behavioral health counselors providing clinical 

assessment and referral, consultation, and 

education and information in 50 states, 3 

territories, and the District of Columbia, the 89 

Air Guard wings and the Army and Air Guard 

Readiness Centers. 

Ô Army Guard clinicians have screened more 

than 8,000 Soldiers; 2,000 were referred for 

ongoing care in FY12. 

Ô Army Guard behavioral health 

counselors provided informal 

consultations to 30,000 Soldiers 

and family members; 1,400 of 

these consultations led to further 

psychological care in FY12. 

Ô Army Guard counselors 

conducted more than 2,000 

briefings and training sessions to 

Soldiers and their families in 

FY12.

The National Guard Bureau Joint 

Surgeon’s Office (NGB-JSG) has 

established a National Guard Psychological 

Health Program. With NGB-JSG guidance, 

the Army and Air Guard have placed licensed 

behavioral health providers known as State and 

Wing Directors of Psychological Health (S / 

WDPHs) in every Wing, state and territory.

Ô In the last 18 months, DPHs actively 

mitigated 954 high risk situations; to include 

suicidal, homicidal and assault cases.

Ô DPHs are embedded advisors to leadership 

to promote psychological health that 

normalizes “help seeking” culture. 

Ô Established suicide awareness and 

prevention and other support resource 

websites such as: www.wingmanproject.org 

and www.jointservicessupport.org

Ô Aggressively promote Soldier and Wingman 

culture and fitness / resilience.

DPHs work for the Wing commanders, senior 

leaders, and others to advise leadership on 

psychological health issues. These counselors 

also provide immediate 

expertise for Soldiers and Airmen as consultants 

for individual and family psychological issues; 

then offer professional clinical assessments and 

referrals to help navigate complex systems of 

care. In the last 18 months, DPHs have provided 

14,177 consultations and 2,881 clinical referrals. 

Follow-up and case management services are 

also provided to ensure the behavioral health 

treatment received is successful. 

Yellow Ribbon Reintegration 

Program (YRRP)

The YRRP provides information, services, 

referrals, and proactive outreach to military 

members, families or designated representatives, 

and employers throughout the deployment 

cycle: alert / pre-deployment, deployment, 

and post-deployment / 

reintegration.
36

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Soldier, Airman, And Family Readiness

Ô The National Guard’s YRRP matured 

significantly in FY12, sponsoring 1,400 

events that supported 103,111 service 

members, and 99,809 family members or 

their designated representatives. 

Ô The Army Guard conducted more than 1,200 

Yellow Ribbon events that impacted more 

than 147,840 military families.

Sexual Assault Prevention and 

Response Programs (SAPR)

The National Guard SAPR program is 

committed to creating a command climate that 

encourages victims to report sexual harassment 

or assault to any of the 144 trained Sexual 

Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) or 

thousands of victim advocates in the Army and 

Air National Guard. These trained personnel 

are available to assist National Guard sexual 

assault victims with their reporting options and 

resources. 

The SAPR program uses the bystander 

intervention prevention method that equips 

service members with skills to recognize 

situations where a potential assault may develop 

and to learn how to safely intervene to prevent 

offenders from committing sexual assaults. 

Commanders are responsible to take conscious 

steps in promoting an environment that does 

not tolerate sexual assault and holds offenders 

accountable for their crimes. 

Each state Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) 

and each Air National Guard Wing, have trained 

SARCs in place who meet the DoD Sexual 

Assault Advocacy Credentialing Program 

(D-SAACP) training standards for victim 

advocacy. 

Ô Full time JFHQ SARCs act as the state 

SAPR program manager for the Adjutant 

General. 

Ô JFHQ SARCs oversee the ARNG 

Sexual Harassment Assault Response 

and Prevention (SHARP) program 

implementation. 

Ô Army Guard and Air Guard have D-SAACP 

trained victim advocates in place at the 

battalion and wing levels.

Ô The Army Guard’s FY13 goal is to ensure 

1,500 Soldiers receive the 80-hour SHARP 

program training. 

Family Assistance Centers (FACs)

Created to be “one-stop” shops, FACs exist in 

all 50 states, 3 territories, and the District of 

Columbia to provide information and referral, 

assistance with identification cards and the 

Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting 

System, assistance with TRICARE and dental 

issues, legal assistance, financial issues help, 

and employment issues referral to Employer 

Support of the Guard and Reserve. 

Ô The FACs addressed more than 2 

million in queries, including cases, 

outreach calls, and quick tracker 

inquiries in FY12. 

Ô More than 300 Army Guard family 

readiness support assistants helped 

more than 430,000 family members in 

FY12. 

Ô More than 11,000 youth events were 

held in FY12 impacting more than 

45,000 youths. 

Ô Army Guard FACs generated more than 37,594 

cases, addressing issues from geographically 

dispersed members of all services and service 

components. 

Your Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC):

Copyright © 2010 Men Can Stop Rape Photography by Lotte Hansen

WE DON’T LET 

OUR GUARD DOWN

So we got our friend away from that 

guy pushing drinks on her.

MyDuty.mil

PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT IS EVERYONE’S DUTY.

HURTS ONE. AFFECTS ALL.
37

National Guard Bureau 2014 Posture Statement Soldier, Airman, And Family Readiness

National Guard Youth 

ChalleNGe Program

This award-winning, community-based program 

leads, trains, and mentors high school dropouts 

to become productive citizens through unique, 

military-inspired, and evidence-based youth 

development that instills youths with the skills and 

values necessary to become productive members 

of society. ChalleNGe has 34 sites in 28 states, 

DC and Puerto Rico, offering a five-month “quasimilitary” residential phase and a one-year postresidential mentoring phase for at-risk youth ages 

16-18.

Ô More than 8,700 cadets graduated from the 

program in 2012.

Ô Since its inception in 1993, the National Guard 

Youth ChalleNGe Program has given a second 

chance to more than 113,000 high school 

dropouts.

Ô In 2011-2012, cadets across the country 

performed over 565,000 hours of service to 

community worth an estimated $11.1 million 

in lifetime public benefits.

Ô ChalleNGe is one of the largest mentoring 

programs in the United States.

Ô In 2012, the RAND Corporation study 

highlights the ChalleNGe program as having a 

significant return on investment by providing 

a return of $2.66 for every dollar spent to 

operate the program. 

Ô RAND Corporation also reports that the 

estimated return on investment in ChalleNGe 

is considerably higher than that estimated for 

other rigorously evaluated social programs that 

seek to alter the life course of disadvantaged 

youth. 

Ô Based on the Alliance for Excellent Education 

(Nov 2011); nearly 12 million students will 

dropout over the next decade, costing the 

U.S. about $1.54 trillion in services and lost 

productivity.

Air Guard Youth Care

Ô More than 7,630 children (ages 2 weeks to 8 

years) of Air Guard members across 31units 

benefitted from the Home Community 

Care’s (HCC) in-home, no-cost child care 

services in 2012. 

Ô The child care is provided by state-licensed 

providers in homes within 20 miles of the 

unit while the Guard member is attending 

their one-weekend-a-month Unit Training 

Assembly.

Ô More than 380 Yellow Ribbon program 

events were attended by over 3,200 children 

of Air Guard members in 2012.

Ô There is an Air National Guard Airman 

and Family Readiness Program Manager 

(A&FRPMs), the sole point of contact 

for ANG family readiness, in each 

of the 89 ANG wings to assist 

individuals and families.

Employment Outreach

More than 1,100 Army Guard 

Soldiers landed full-time jobs thanks 

to the efforts of the Army Guard’s 

employment outreach section. 

The section helps Soldiers and 

their family members with resume 

development, job skills training, 

employer networks, and apprenticeship 

job training opportunities by helping states 

to leverage and synchronize pre-existing 

federal, state, and local employment programs 

and partnerships. 

Ô The Guard Apprenticeship Program Initiative 

partners with the Department of Labor 

Office earn national certification in chosen 

occupations.

Ô The Job Connection Education Program 

(JCEP) improves the service members and 

spouses’ ability to research, obtain, and retain 

civilian employment through one-on-one 

career counseling, job skill searching, job 

fairs, and local employer partnerships.

Ô The Employment Partnership of the Armed 

Forces (EPAF) links service members 

and employers to mutually beneficial 

employment resources and career employment 

opportunities. 
2014 National Guard Bureau Posture Statement

National Guard Bureau 1636 Defense Pentagon Washington DC 20301-1636

http://www.nationalguard.mil/features/ngps/2014_ngps.pdf