Photo By Tech. Sgt. Sarah McClanahan | Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, JTU, former chief of the National Guard...... read more read more
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Linda L. Singh, adjutant general of Maryland, and officials of the Maryland National Guard hosted the renaming of Gunpowder Military Reservation as H Steven Blum Military Reservation during a ceremony Aug. 7, 2019, in Glen Arm, Maryland. The reservation was named after U.S. Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, former chief of the National Guard Bureau and longtime Maryland resident.
“Every recruit that comes through here [is] going to see [the new name] and ask the question, ‘well who’s that?’ said Singh. “Then we get to talk about a great leader.”
Blum served as deputy commander, United States Northern Command and was the first National Guard officer to serve as a deputy combatant commander. Blum previously served as CNGB in Arlington, Virginia. As chief, he was the senior uniformed National Guard officer responsible for formulating, developing, and coordinating all policies, programs, and plans affecting more than half a million Army and Air National Guard personnel.
Appointed by President George W. Bush, Blum served as the principal adviser to the secretary and chief of staff of the Army, and the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force on all National Guard issues. As CNGB, he served as the Army's and Air Force's official channel of communication with the governors and adjutant generals.
“We thought about what we wanted to do and we started talking about just what [Blum] meant to the state of Maryland, what [Blum] meant to every single soldier and airman as the CNGB, and some of the things [Blum has] done for the guard,” said Singh. “The one thing I have learned over my life is that we don’t always understand the impact we have on others until you see things starting to come to fruition.”
Blum received his commission from Officer Candidate School on Aug. 28, 1971. He has commanded at every level to include a Special Forces Operational Detachment-A, a light infantry battalion and an infantry brigade, and a division support command. Prior to commanding the 29th Infantry Division (Light), Blum served as assistant adjutant general, Maryland Army National Guard; and assistant division commander (support), 29th Infantry Division (Light). He also served as the commanding general for Multinational Division (North) Stabilization Force 10 in Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“It was a humbling and [honored] experience,” said Blum on the renaming. “Today was a gathering of soldiers, comrades in arms, people who genuinely love and support one another, and [who] have fought and protected this country and this state for almost 50 years.”
The Maryland National Guard has been using this 253-acre property for training since 1983. The area has two active weapons ranges, a rappel tower, an obstacle course, a live-fire shoot house, a gas chamber, and a prisoner-of-war training site divided into five training areas. The readiness center on the reservation is the base for B Company, 20th Special Forces Group and other special operations units.
“It was an extraordinary gathering of talent,” said Blum. “It speaks volumes about what’s so special about special forces and the National Guard in general. It’s all about people, and these are the finest people that this generation has ever produced.”
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2019 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 334931 |
| Location: | GLEN ARM, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 3,407 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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