No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

National Guard Chief nominee says new world requires agile forces

AmeriForce Exclusive
by AmeriForce Exclusive
July 1, 2016
National Guard

Today’s National Guard is in the best shape it’s been in for its almost 380 years of history, President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the National Guard Bureau told the Senate Armed Services Committee June 21.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel, Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, receives a brief about the capabilities of MUTC
Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, receives a briefing at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana, April 23, 2016. Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Runser

Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel has been nominated to succeed Army Gen. Frank Grass. He currently is the Guard Bureau’s vice chief, and if confirmed by the Senate, he will receive his fourth star and serve as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The National Guard Bureau is a joint Defense Department activity embracing both the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. The two components have roughly 453,000 service members. In normal times, the guardsmen come under the authority of state governors. Once federalized, they come under the Defense Department.

Extraordinary times

“We are living in extraordinary times, with incredible advances in technology, globalization and commerce that give great cause for optimism and hope for the future,” Lengyel told the senators. “Yet this optimism is tempered by unprecedented challenges in the global security environment.”

The general cited transregional, multidomain and multifunctional threats ranging from near-peer competitors to violent extremist organizations as reasons for the military to become more agile and for the government as a whole to use all elements of national power.

The National Guard has changed considerably since 9/11. Air guardsmen regularly fly missions around the world. Army guardsmen have fought on all battlefields in the war on terror alongside regular component soldiers, the general noted.

“Since 9/11, the operational National Guard has mobilized roughly 780,000 times in support of the war,” Lengyel said. “As the combat reserve of the Army and the Air Force, if confirmed, I will ensure we continue to work seamlessly as part of the joint force to help bring security around the globe.”

Applying combat experiences to the homeland

Those experiences in combat zones around the world have application in the homeland, he said. “Our experience overseas enables us to protect the homeland and work with our governors and adjutant generals to answer the call when disaster strikes here at home,” he said. “On any given day, we have between 3,000 and 4,000 guardsmen conducting domestic operations, and the National Guard remains at the forefront of building enduring partnerships with local, state, federal and global partners.”

The National Guard traces its lineage to 1636, and Lengyel told the senators that although he is proud of the history, he is more excited about the future.

“The Guard’s evolution as an operational force is a chapter in our nation’s security at home and abroad that is written through the incredible skill and devotion of America’s citizen soldiers and airmen,” he said.

He vowed that the development of these volunteers will be his most important task. “If confirmed, I will strive to grow and train leaders who innovate and motivate the force,” he said.

This article was written by by Jim Garamone, DoD News, Defense Media Activity.

Read comments
Tags: Gen. Frank GrassJoint Chiefs of StaffLt. Gen. Joseph L. LengyelNational GuardNational Guard BureauNGB Chief nomineeSenate Armed Services Committeevice chief of the National Guard Bureau
AmeriForce Exclusive

AmeriForce Exclusive

Related Posts

Marine Corps Reserve veteran reflects on ‘fly on the wall’ view of Iraq War

by Kari Williams
2 days ago
0
Iraq

When talk of the Iraq War began, retired Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Hoh was a junior officer for the Secretary...

Read more

AFRC, Mercy hospitals training agreement benefits multiple parties

by Allison Churchill
2 weeks ago
0
Mercy

An agreement between Air Force Reserve Command and Mercy allows reservists in medical fields to train at the Catholic hospital...

Read more

Ohio Guard quietly removed guardsman guilty of making ghost guns last year

by Military.com
2 weeks ago
0
Ice covers the "Minuteman" statue in front of the Ohio Air National Guard Headquarters building, Dec. 20, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood\Released)

The Ohio National Guard says it booted a guardsman who was sentenced for making ghost guns from its ranks months...

Read more

National Guard, reserve veterans among IAVA’s advocacy all-stars

by AmeriForce Staff
3 weeks ago
0
IAVA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's (IAVA) All-Star Advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill included several reserve component veterans.

Read more

Military services will amend COVID vaccine-refuser records so they aren’t passed over for promotions

by Military.com
3 weeks ago
0
Vaccine

All military services are reworking their policies to adjust separation & promotion records for those who refused the COVID-19 vaccine.

Read more

Space National Guard gets renewed push from lawmakers

by Military.com
4 weeks ago
0
Space National Guard

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are once again backing a bill that would create a Space National Guard.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW

Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • AMP
    • View AMP version