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November 17, 2011 – Given the unique state and national security role of the National Guard in the 21st Century, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson cosponsored legislation introduced today to elevate the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“Over the past decade, the National Guard has undergone a historic transformation and now works shoulder to shoulder and around the world with America’s active duty military. Giving the Guard a seat at the table with the Joint Chiefs will help ensure its nearly 500,000 members receive the appropriate training, equipment and resources to serve our states and our country in the 21st Century,” said Senator Nelson.
“In times past, the Guard was sent into missions so ill-equipped that people were buying walkie-talkie units from local stores and sending them to their family members who were activated,” Nelson added. "What we really want to say with this elevation here is, 'Never again.'
“This comes down to making sure the Guard has a seat at the table and an equal voice in the room.”
Today, Nelson joined nearly 70 Senate colleagues cosponsoring the National Guard Empowerment Act that Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont introduced as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. The defense bill sets America’s national defense policies. The Guard measure would elevate the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Currently, the Joint Chiefs includes the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
For years, the National Guard served as a “strategic reserve” force to the active duty force. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Guard has become an “operational reserve” that has deployed in regular rotation with the active duty and reserve forces.
Today, Army and Air National Guard troops from around the country shoulder both overseas responsibilities and respond to domestic and disaster relief missions in the states.
“The Guard is unique in its dual role to serve the nation’s governors for state emergencies, and the President for military missions,” Nelson said. “That dual role is best advocated by the Guard Chief.”
Elevating the Guard to membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff is supported by Nebraska’s Adjutant General Judd Lyons and adjutants general nationwide.
In the Fiscal Year 2008 defense authorization bill, Nelson supported elevating the Chief of the National Guard from a three-star general to a four-star general, equal to the rank of the chiefs of the active duty military forces.
Nelson worked closely with the Nebraska National Guard during his two terms as Nebraska governor. During his tenure in the Senate he has continued working the Nebraska Guard to make sure its members have the resources they need for their dual mission. In 2010, he received the National Guard’s highest honor, its Harry S Truman Award.
According to the National Guard, the Harry S Truman Award is given to individuals who “have made a substantial contribution to the security and defense posture of the United States in a manner worthy of recognition at the national level.” Past recipients of the award begun in 1969 include Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush; Senators Christopher Bond of Missouri, Patrick Leahy of Vermont and John Warner of Virginia; and Rep. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery of Mississippi.
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