NGAUS Notes: 12/8/2006
OEF/OIF Museum Exhibit Opens at Guard Memorial.
The National Guard Educational Foundation (NGEF) dedicated its new exhibit honoring Guardsmen serving in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) at a ceremony at The National Guard Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday.
"This will help the national leaders, members of the National Guard family and the members of the society we call the United States ... to remind them of what the men and women of the National Guard have done, are doing and continue to do to secure the safety and the peace of the United States," said Jason Hall, NGEF director.
The new exhibit features images of the Guard in action since 9/11, including a touch-screen display that helps tell the Guard story.
At the ceremony, Mr. Hall introduced five OEF/OIF veterans, three of whom donated artifacts to the exhibit.
"Somewhere in this country, probably as we speak, a man or a woman is raising their right hand, taking an oath that will make then part of something they may only know as simply 'the Guard,'" Mr. Hall said. "As long as we continue to have men and women such as these we will always have a safe and secure 54 states and territories."
Items donated by Guardsmen from each combat theater include a Battle Dress Uniform and flight suit worn in Iraq and a flight tunic from Afghanistan.
The exhibit was a yearlong project for NGEF and NGAUS.
After board approval last summer, nearly 100 donors raised more than $58,000 to put the exhibit in motion.
The National Guard Memorial Mu-seum is the only national museum dedicated to the National Guard. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
For more information, please visit NGEF.
National Guard to Celebrate 370th Birthday.
What is a few years younger than the Mayflower Compact (1620); a lot older than the Declaration of Independence (1776) and U.S. Constitution (1787); predates the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps by 139 years; and is 311 years older than the Air Force?
Answer: The National Guard.
Known originally as the militia, the National Guard turns 370 Dec. 13.
It all started in 1636 when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which functioned as the colony's legislature, ordered existing militia companies from the towns surrounding Boston to form into three regiments: North, South and East.
While other English colonies, such as Virginia and Spanish colonies like Florida and Puerto Rico, had individual towns with militia companies before 1636, Massachusetts was the first place in the New World where the population was large enough to justify organizing companies into regiments for command and control.
Although their names have been changed and individual companies have come and gone, the three regiments still exist in the Massachusetts Guard.
In retrospect, a string of 20-year career enlistments divides the Guard's life span into more than 18 generations.
The differences between generation one and 18 are countless.
Yet, even as the National Guard has transformed many times, it remains in line with its first role as the citizens' Army. In addition, the Air Guard has served as the citizens' Air Force for the last three generations.
Now, a force of more than 450,000 men and women serve voluntarily and can be deployed anywhere in the world.
Corporate Representatives Get Inside Information at Industry Day.
About 225 attendees representing 111 companies and associations heard top National Guard and association officials explain how to do business with the Guard at the 9th Annual NGAUS Industry Day at The National Guard Memorial Wednesday.
Brig. Gen. James Nuttall, Army Guard deputy director, told NGAUS Notes after his presentation that the best help the Guard can get from industry partners is when they know what the Guard needs.
"Regardless of whatever piece of equipment it is, it doesn't really matter," he said. "Come to us and say, 'This is a validated requirement, it's a war fighting requirement,' and check with us and ensure that ... if you're going to help us in any manner at all, ensure that the funding is sufficient."
He suggested looking at the Guard's top 25 list to find pathways to the Guard's biggest needs.
In the near future, he stressed the need to focus on Army aviation.
He also said the up-armored Humvee, tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles are top priorities, due to today's focus on combat brigades.
"We just don't have enough of those," he said.
Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, Air Guard director, emphasized the need to ensure the Air Guard has what it needs, even with the ever-shrinking size of the force.
"For an Industry Day, we need to categorize the environment that we're living in both the fiscal environment and the environment we see in the world," he said after his presentation. "[Industry] can help us in ways that we need, but we can't find that venue back at the Pentagon."
Communications Dept. Seeks Seasoned Staff Writer
The National Guard Association has an immediate opening for an experienced staff writer. Selected candidate will contribute to National Guard, the association's monthly magazine, NGAUS Notes and the NGAUS Web site.
Duties include writing short news stories and covering a variety of hearings on Capitol Hill and elsewhere.
For the magazine, the successful candidate will contribute at least one substantial feature story each month and assist in editing and producing the final product. Some travel is required.
Candidates must have five years of reporting experience. Familiarity with the military and the National Guard is preferred.
Interest in writing about military/legislative topics a must. Car required. Salary: low- to mid-40s. Excellent benefits include health and dental coverage and a 401k plan. Convenient Capitol Hill location.
Please send cover letter, resume and three writing samples to:
This Week in Guard History.
Dec. 8, 1941: Oahu, Hawaii - In the early morning hours, Cpl. David M. Akui, a member of the 298th Infantry of the Hawaii National Guard, captures the first Japanese prisoner of war in World War II. Corporal Akui spots the man coming out of the water and orders him to halt.
The stranger was quickly taken into custody and turned out to be Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, the commander of one of the five two-man "midget" Japanese submarines that were supposed to be used in the Pearl Harbor attacks. Corporal Akui, became an instant hero and served throughout the war. His was a member of the famed Merrill's Marauders fighting the Japanese in Burma.
NGAUS History.
The National Guard Memorial Library opened in 1991, upon completion of The National Guard Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The library currently has more than 4,000 military related cataloged books, National Guard archives, historical artifacts, photographs, documents and other materials. It is staffed and operated by the National Guard Educational Foundation (NGEF).
The library's mission is to promote public awareness of the National Guard by providing information about the history and traditions of the Guard and serve as an information and research center for NGAUS members and staff, the Guard community and the public.
The library is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays. Catalog listings and an online Guard history are available on the NGEF Web site at NGEF.org.
The National Guard Educational Foundation (NGEF) dedicated its new exhibit honoring Guardsmen serving in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) at a ceremony at The National Guard Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday.
"This will help the national leaders, members of the National Guard family and the members of the society we call the United States ... to remind them of what the men and women of the National Guard have done, are doing and continue to do to secure the safety and the peace of the United States," said Jason Hall, NGEF director.
The new exhibit features images of the Guard in action since 9/11, including a touch-screen display that helps tell the Guard story.
At the ceremony, Mr. Hall introduced five OEF/OIF veterans, three of whom donated artifacts to the exhibit.
"Somewhere in this country, probably as we speak, a man or a woman is raising their right hand, taking an oath that will make then part of something they may only know as simply 'the Guard,'" Mr. Hall said. "As long as we continue to have men and women such as these we will always have a safe and secure 54 states and territories."
Items donated by Guardsmen from each combat theater include a Battle Dress Uniform and flight suit worn in Iraq and a flight tunic from Afghanistan.
The exhibit was a yearlong project for NGEF and NGAUS.
After board approval last summer, nearly 100 donors raised more than $58,000 to put the exhibit in motion.
The National Guard Memorial Mu-seum is the only national museum dedicated to the National Guard. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
For more information, please visit NGEF.
National Guard to Celebrate 370th Birthday.
What is a few years younger than the Mayflower Compact (1620); a lot older than the Declaration of Independence (1776) and U.S. Constitution (1787); predates the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps by 139 years; and is 311 years older than the Air Force?
Answer: The National Guard.
Known originally as the militia, the National Guard turns 370 Dec. 13.
It all started in 1636 when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which functioned as the colony's legislature, ordered existing militia companies from the towns surrounding Boston to form into three regiments: North, South and East.
While other English colonies, such as Virginia and Spanish colonies like Florida and Puerto Rico, had individual towns with militia companies before 1636, Massachusetts was the first place in the New World where the population was large enough to justify organizing companies into regiments for command and control.
Although their names have been changed and individual companies have come and gone, the three regiments still exist in the Massachusetts Guard.
In retrospect, a string of 20-year career enlistments divides the Guard's life span into more than 18 generations.
The differences between generation one and 18 are countless.
Yet, even as the National Guard has transformed many times, it remains in line with its first role as the citizens' Army. In addition, the Air Guard has served as the citizens' Air Force for the last three generations.
Now, a force of more than 450,000 men and women serve voluntarily and can be deployed anywhere in the world.
Corporate Representatives Get Inside Information at Industry Day.
About 225 attendees representing 111 companies and associations heard top National Guard and association officials explain how to do business with the Guard at the 9th Annual NGAUS Industry Day at The National Guard Memorial Wednesday.
Brig. Gen. James Nuttall, Army Guard deputy director, told NGAUS Notes after his presentation that the best help the Guard can get from industry partners is when they know what the Guard needs.
"Regardless of whatever piece of equipment it is, it doesn't really matter," he said. "Come to us and say, 'This is a validated requirement, it's a war fighting requirement,' and check with us and ensure that ... if you're going to help us in any manner at all, ensure that the funding is sufficient."
He suggested looking at the Guard's top 25 list to find pathways to the Guard's biggest needs.
In the near future, he stressed the need to focus on Army aviation.
He also said the up-armored Humvee, tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles are top priorities, due to today's focus on combat brigades.
"We just don't have enough of those," he said.
Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, Air Guard director, emphasized the need to ensure the Air Guard has what it needs, even with the ever-shrinking size of the force.
"For an Industry Day, we need to categorize the environment that we're living in both the fiscal environment and the environment we see in the world," he said after his presentation. "[Industry] can help us in ways that we need, but we can't find that venue back at the Pentagon."
Communications Dept. Seeks Seasoned Staff Writer
The National Guard Association has an immediate opening for an experienced staff writer. Selected candidate will contribute to National Guard, the association's monthly magazine, NGAUS Notes and the NGAUS Web site.
Duties include writing short news stories and covering a variety of hearings on Capitol Hill and elsewhere.
For the magazine, the successful candidate will contribute at least one substantial feature story each month and assist in editing and producing the final product. Some travel is required.
Candidates must have five years of reporting experience. Familiarity with the military and the National Guard is preferred.
Interest in writing about military/legislative topics a must. Car required. Salary: low- to mid-40s. Excellent benefits include health and dental coverage and a 401k plan. Convenient Capitol Hill location.
Please send cover letter, resume and three writing samples to:
- Communications Department
National Guard Association
One Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Fax: 202-682-9358.
E-mail: Chris Prawdzik.
This Week in Guard History.
Dec. 8, 1941: Oahu, Hawaii - In the early morning hours, Cpl. David M. Akui, a member of the 298th Infantry of the Hawaii National Guard, captures the first Japanese prisoner of war in World War II. Corporal Akui spots the man coming out of the water and orders him to halt.
The stranger was quickly taken into custody and turned out to be Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, the commander of one of the five two-man "midget" Japanese submarines that were supposed to be used in the Pearl Harbor attacks. Corporal Akui, became an instant hero and served throughout the war. His was a member of the famed Merrill's Marauders fighting the Japanese in Burma.
NGAUS History.
The National Guard Memorial Library opened in 1991, upon completion of The National Guard Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The library currently has more than 4,000 military related cataloged books, National Guard archives, historical artifacts, photographs, documents and other materials. It is staffed and operated by the National Guard Educational Foundation (NGEF).
The library's mission is to promote public awareness of the National Guard by providing information about the history and traditions of the Guard and serve as an information and research center for NGAUS members and staff, the Guard community and the public.
The library is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays. Catalog listings and an online Guard history are available on the NGEF Web site at NGEF.org.
posted by Rosemary Welch at 12/08/2006 01:09:00 PM
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