WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – More than 200 North Carolina National Guard Association members and its executive committee listened to Maj. Gen. Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina speak at their business session here today. The key topic of his speech was the strong partnership between the NCNGA and the North Carolina National Guard and how to remain a relevant organization at state and national levels with today’s competitive and fiscally constrained environment.
Lusk displayed pictures of various African watering holes with different types of animals drinking from them and used the picture as a metaphor to represent the current fiscal environment of the Department of Defense. He elaborated about how after 12 years engaged in combat operations, humanitarian and disaster response, as well as other missions; the “water hole” will continue to get smaller and smaller each month. This, Lusk said, will require strong relationships between our various partner organizations in order to ensure the NCNG remains relevant to key decision makers at the local, state and national levels.
“If we are not at the table, we will be on the menu,” Lusk emphatically stated. “The watering hole is drying up, making it extremely competitive to determine who will remain relevant and who will only get scraps.”
Lusk’s views of a more competitive environment between Reserve forces and Active Duty component are not unfounded. In a recent Army Times article by Michelle Tan, she stated, “Almost 9,500 Army National Guard soldiers have been off ramped from overseas deployments in fiscal 2013 and 2014, raising concerns among the Guard and its advocates that the reserve component will be left out as the Army transitions from 12 years of war amid ongoing budget cuts.”
Lusk concluded by saying, “it will take creative ideas and solutions to remain the military force of choice for the state and nation, and with the NCNGA and our over 12,000 soldiers and airmen that make up the NCNG, I am certain we will have a spot at the watering hole and continue to show that the NCNG is always ready.”
The NCNGA is a Legislative voice for the soldiers and airmen of the North Carolina National Guard. NCNGA held its annual convention here; the convention spans 3-days of business sessions, a golf tournament, dinners and ceremonies and finishes with a combined Enlisted and Officer Ball.
Editors and producers: For any questions, please contact the North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs Office at pao@ng.army.mil or by phone at 919-664-6242
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