Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Barnett | Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and the highest ranking...... read more read more
TOPEKA, Kan. - “When I come out here and I have the chance to see the great Army and Air Guardsmen from Kansas and across the states, I see the huge value that exists in the Guard today,” stated Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and the highest ranking National Guard officer in the U.S. military. “There is nothing like it. It is very economical to maintain for the nation and for the governors to respond to their communities.”
Grass spoke to soldiers and airmen of the Kansas National Guard about staying in the fight amidst the federal deficit predicament during a Town Hall meeting Aug. 5 at the State Defense Building, Topeka, Kan.
“The Guard is the best buy for the money,” said Grass.
The National Guard, a more than 463,000 member force, makes up approximately 10 percent of the defense budget. Currently, 150,000 of those Guardsmen are deployed to almost every military operation around the world, while at the same time, another 8 to 10,000 are just getting home and another 8 to 10,000 are getting ready to deploy, according to Grass.
“This generation of guardsmen and women expect to deploy," said Grass. “[Deployments] are not going to stop. We will see a shift though from combat to support skills; transportation, engineers and quartermasters.”
Grass said he spoke with Gen. Ray Odierno, U.S. Army chief of staff, about keeping Guard units involved in traditional deployments to Kosovo, Kuwait, the Sinai Peninsula and the Horn of Africa in coming years. Grass would also like to see the Guard continue missions in other countries for several months conducting humanitarian relief allowing traditional soldiers and airmen to deploy for a two- or three-week annual training.
He also noted the National Guard is not exempt from the Budget Control Act of 2011.
“When you work inside the national capital region,” said Grass, “you sometimes deal with some frustrating issues for all the right reasons.”
“We have to deal with the Budget Control Act,” continued Grass. “We have to figure out how we are going to obtain the saving for the future. We have to deal with the deficit as a nation.”
In the Kansas National Guard, the recent furloughs ordered by the Department of Defense, affected 54 percent of the full-time employees of the Kansas National Guard, including approximately 1,100 technician positions. Grass said the balancing act is maintaining the Guard's size and readiness while still finding efficiencies.
Due to efforts at the Department of Defense and help from Congress, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced a reduction in furloughs from 11 days to six for civilian employees just a day after Grass’ visit, Aug. 6.
During his visit, Grass met with Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, and senior leadership of the Kansas National Guard. Tafanelli said he and Grass discussed several ways Kansas is partnering with agencies to stretch resources and capabilities.
Before visiting the Kansas National Guard, Grass also met with Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.
Grass assumed his duties as NGB chief Sept. 7, 2012. Prior to this assignment, Grass was deputy commander of the U.S. Northern Command.
The chief of the National Guard Bureau became a statutory member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dec. 31, 2012.
Grass routinely visits the National Guard headquarters in states to discuss NGB issues and policies and hear about state concerns from the adjutants general.
“It’s really just a great opportunity to come out and look into the eyes of our great men and women that serve our nation,” said Grass.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2013 17:08 |
| Story ID: | 112294 |
| Location: | TOPEKA, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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