Page 6 - The Dispatch May 2019

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, testifies
to members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on De-
fense, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., March 26, 2019.
(U.S. Army National Guard Photo By: Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill)

NGB CHIEF BRIEFS LAWMAKERS THAT NATIONAL

GUARD AT HIGHEST READINESS LEVELS IN HISTORY

Story By: Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill The Guard’s most senior officer, who is also a member of
National Guard Bureau Courtesy Feature the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that while counterinsurgen-
cy operations remain a core competency the 2018 Nation-
WASHINGTON – Readiness is the National Guard’s number al Defense Strategy refocused the Defense Department,
one priority, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told including the National Guard, on “great power competi-
lawmakers Tuesday. tion” with China and Russia, and on the security threats
presented by Iran, North Korea and non-state actors.
The Guard’s focus on readiness supports the National De-
fense Strategy, Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel told mem- “It is imperative the National Guard remains an opera-
bers of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on De- tional force, as part of our Army and Air Force, that helps
fense. protect and secure our interests at home and abroad,”
Lengyel said.
“Your National Guard’s three core missions of fighting
America’s wars, protecting the homeland, and building The National Guard is the principal combat reserve of the
partnerships directly support the [strategy’s] three lines of Army and the Air Force, providing 20 percent of the entire
effort: building a more lethal force; strengthening allianc- Joint Force.
es and attracting new partners; and reforming the Defense
Department for greater performance and affordability,” “There is only one standard of readiness in fighting Amer-
said Lengyel, who provided written and spoken testimony ica’s wars,” Lengyel said. “This readiness requires the Na-
to lawmakers who are studying budget appropriations for tional Guard to be deployable, sustainable, and interoper-
the 2020 fiscal year. able with our active components.”

6 TheDISPATCH May 2019