January 05, 2017

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2016: Floods, fires & new partners  NGAUS  

The National Guard saw a busy 2016, meeting challenges both at home and abroad, deploying overseas, responding to large-scale emergencies and natural disasters at home while also taking part in a number of milestone events and transitioning to new roles. One of those new roles included a change in leadership when Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel took the helm as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau in September. He took over from Gen. Frank J. Grass, who retired after four years as the chief and 46 years of service. Read More…

NCNGA 56th Annual Convention registration open  NCNGA 

Our North Carolina National Guard Association and Time and Place Committee are proud to announce that this year’s 56th annual Convention will be hosted at Sea Trail Resort in Sunset beach between March 18-19. It has been a number of years since we have been at Sea Trail and the coast, we are happy to bring it back by popular demand. With the great accommodations and amenities at the resort we believe this year will surpass previous years’ attendance, so we encourage you to book early. We are currently wrapping up items like our agenda, entertainment and Convention theme. Once we have these locked in we will push it out through our Facebook page and Weekly Guardsman. We appreciate your support and encourage you to take full advantage of our Early Bird prices. You can register and see more details at www.ncnga.org/convention. Read More…

Gen. James Mattis goes back to Capitol Hill  Military Times 

Defense secretary nominee James Mattis is well-liked by most members of Congress, but that doesn’t mean his confirmation process will be easy. The retired Marine Corps general’s path to the top of the Defense Department marks an early test for President-elect Donald Trump, and his ability to work with Congress as he sets and pursues his agenda. Mattis retired in 2013, so he’ll need a waiver from Congress to get around federal rules mandating seven years between military service and assuming the top Pentagon post. Congress in December approved an easier process for that at the start of next session, but lawmakers will still have time for debate on the issue. Read More…

Study seeks NC military families  USO  

The Promoting Strong Military Families is a research study seeking North Carolina military families from Craven, Cumberland, Harnett, Mecklenburg, Onslow, Wake and Wayne counties. Families with children age 10-12 are being sought for participation in the study. Read More…

DoD issues new guidance for veterans seeking discharge upgrades, military record corrections  Military Times 

The Defense Department announced Friday a renewed effort to ensure veterans know how to request a review of their service records. Over the years, the Defense Department has released guidance related to discharges stemming from PTSD and the now-repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Read More…

The long guns: History of US military rifles  Military.com 

The U.S. Army’s upgraded M4A1 combat rifle is just the latest development in a category of weapons that American soldiers have carried since the country’s earliest days. Even before there was actually a “United States” there was what could arguably be considered the first true “American rifle.” Read More…

The VA hooked veterans on opioids, then failed them again  The Wall Street Journal 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledges its role in creating a large population of opioid-addicted veterans by overprescribing painkillers for injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA is now struggling to undo the damage. Read More…

Making the hard choices in leadership  By Betty Boyd 

Leadership is difficult, but you were chosen because you know how to get things done. However, there will be tough choices to make, and these times will not be glamorous or well liked. Every decision you make has consequences. Right or wrong, this is part of leadership and life. These difficult choices should not be ignored, but should be embraced. Here are some of those hard choices that all leaders will make. Read More…