'Let's do it'

The 120th NGAUS General Conference in Milwaukee was a resounding success. The dedicated men and women of the Wisconsin National Guard were exceptional hosts and deserve our grateful recognition.

One of the conference's most notable moments occurred during the States Dinner. Just before dinner arrived, Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson brought the floor to a standing ovation with a passionate call for Total Army unity.

"If Washington would like to see a strong, integrated force," he exclaimed, "what power, if you got all the governors, all the National Guard members working in harmony with the reserves and the regular Army. Nothing could stop us. And we could get the dollars necessary if we work together. Let's do it."

What power, indeed!

It's difficult to recapture the spirit of that moment, but I assure you those words will echo through the halls of the Midwest Express Center for a long time to come. Gov Thompson unmistakably distinguished himself as an ardent National Guard champion. And new Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, our other special dinner guest, was clearly inspired by the remarks and moved to genuinely pledge his support for strengthening the National Guard and Reserve.

Many congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (see story on page 20), addressed the conference during the business sessions, offering a great deal of support.

They then returned to Washington and honored their commitments, passing a defense appropriations bill that provides $775 million more for the Army and Air National Guard than the Pentagon requested. And that means an awful lot to the men and women of the National Guard.

In 1999, every Guard member is expected to receive a 3.6 percent pay increase, doubled commissary privileges, a 20 percent increase in Montgomery GI Bill allowances and substantial increases in training and operations and maintenance funding. The 105th Congress, which includes at the end of this session, was all about the restoration of the National Guard.

Congress' 1999 fiscal year budget sends a clear message to the Pentagon the National Guard is vital component of our nation's defense force.

Thanks to our association, our governor's and congressional delegations, we have reestablished our Founding Fathers fundamental architecture for a militia nation. We still have a great deal of work to do to ensure the efficacy of the National Guard, but we've definitely got some momentum. As Gov. Thompson said in Milwaukee, "Let's do it."

As your new president, I'm anxious to start working with a whole new cadre of National Guard and Defense Department leaders. Lt Gen Russell Davis, the new chief of the National Guard Bureau, brings an incredible amount of experience, expertise and enthusiasm to the job. He is a proven Guard advocate and fighter for the best interests of a militia nation. Gen Davis also has superb Army Guard and Air Guard directors in MG Roger Schultz and Maj Gen Paul Weaver. Both made presentations at our Milwaukee conference and were the subjects of informative interviews in the August edition of NATIONAL GUARD magazine.

In addition, MG Richard C. Alexander, our association past president, will be replacing the dynamic, irrepressible Maj Gen Edward J. Philbin, as our full-time executive director.

With Gen Alexander's leadership and direction, our organization will not miss a stride as we proceed toward preserving and strengthening our more than 361-year-old uniquely American institution.

If this column sounds optimistic, it's meant to be. I really think the National Guard is on a roll. We've got a lot going for us right now, and I'm determined to do everything I can to keep the ball rolling.

In the months ahead, I expect to be sharing ongoing success stories. Your membership in this team-and I cannot stress this enough is vital to our ongoing efforts to secure the rightful place of the Guard in our national defense strategy. Our states and nation need you to keep up the good work.

Together we can do it.

Copyright National Guard Association of the United States Oct 1998
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