Photo By Capt. Stacy Gault | A screen shot from the CNN Presidential Town Hall, Sept. 28, in Fort Lee, Va., shows...... read more read more
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It is not every day that you get to ask the President of the United States a question in person. It is even rarer that your question and the president’s answer are broadcasted on live television for millions of people to see.
However, for Maj. Jonathan Yost, a 167th Airlift Wing Chaplin, that is exactly what happened when he was selected to participated in CNN’s Presidential Town Hall with President Obama in Fort Lee, Va., Sept. 28.
The event was designed to directly connect military members to the president and give them the opportunity to ask the president questions related to military, veteran and national security issues.
Yost, who works as a contractor assigned to the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, was one of the people chosen by CNN out of more than a thousand individuals to ask the president his question. However, Yost wasn’t just selected to ask a question, he was selected to ask the very first question to the president.
Yost, the only Air Force member to be featured in the town hall, said that “it was an honor to represent not just the Air National Guard but the entire Air Force on the national stage.”
Not only was Yost representing the Air National Guard and the Air Force as a whole but, he was identified specifically as a member of the West Virginia Air National Guard, putting the state and its military service members in the national spotlight.
“It was a humbling experience to represent the state and [open up the questions to the president],” Yost said.
The question Yost asked was one he feels relates directly to the Air National Guard and their role in defending the homeland at a local level:
“Mr. President, since you assumed office in 2009, there has been a substantial increase in terror attacks around the world. Likewise, here in the U.S., we've had major attacks in large cities such as Orlando, New York City, and elsewhere. Sir, my question to you, are we doing anything now greater to combat Islamic jihadists?”
“I think it is very telling that my question was the first to be asked, it shows you where we are today as far as national security is concerned,” Yost said. “We as a wing serve globally but we also serve locally and at the state level. If we have an attack at a local or state level, we are likely to be some of the first responders.”
For Yost, the event was an opportunity to not only discuss real and relevant issues and concerns military members have but, to spotlight the National Guard, a military component that people may be unfamiliar with.
“People are amazed when they find out how much we as the Guard do,” Yost said. “We are, very much so, in the fight operationally. I think there is still a lot of [information] that needs to be put out in regards to what we as the Guard do for our country and its security.”
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2016 11:44 |
| Story ID: | 211268 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 550 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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