NCNGA Weekly Guardsman for August 13, 2020
August 13, 2020
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IN THIS EDITION:
Loh Takes Over as Air National Guard Director AF Mag
The 2020 NCNG Biennial Survey is now available NCNGA
NGAUS 142nd General Conference, A Virtual Experience: Registration is now open. NCNGA
The July-August Tarheel Guardsman is now available NCNGA
U.S. to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany but nearly half to stay in Europe Reuters
2,410 Airmen Selected to Transfer to the Space Force AF Mag
August 13th — Today in Guard History National Guard
Loh Takes Over as Air National Guard Director AF Mag
Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh pinned on a third star and took over as the Air National Guard’s 13th director in a July 28 ceremony at the Pentagon. Then-National Guard Bureau Chief Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel presided.
The Senate confirmed Loh, who most recently served as the adjutant general of Colorado, in a July 20 voice vote. He succeeds Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, who retired Aug. 1, according to ANG spokesperson Lt. Col. Devin T. Robinson.
“I think we’re an enabler for the National Defense Strategy, and Mike, under your leadership, I just know that you’re going to continue to build on what Scott Rice did,” Lengyel told Loh during the ceremony.
Loh is a F-16 fighter pilot with more than 120 hours spent in combat. He has worked at Air Combat Command, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, 14th Air Force, and for the Air Force chief of staff, among other positions.
As Colorado’s adjutant general, Loh also had a unique perspective on the Pentagon’s push to see outer space as a potential area of conflict. Colorado is home to multiple bases with Air Force-led space missions that now fall under the Space Force. Guardsmen bolster those forces as well as the state’s space industrial base.
The 2020 NCNG Biennial Survey is now available NCNGA
This survey is a tool for senior leaders to review and gain a sense of the overall climate within the North Carolina National Guard by assessing various critical areas that impact our organization. Your individual responses are vital to the health of our organization as we strive to be the most Ready, Reliable, Responsive, and Relevant military force for our State and Nation. The survey remains open through 15 September 2020.
Click here to take the survey!
NGAUS 142nd General Conference, A Virtual Experience: Registration is now open. NCNGA
NGAUS is bringing the 142nd General Conference to you.
In a year like no other, the association will conduct a conference like never before — livestreamed from the National Guard Memorial in Washington, D.C., to your computer, tablet or mobile device. You will have a front-row seat to see and hear senior defense officials and to catch up with old friends.
The event is set for August 28-29. Help craft NGAUS priorities for fiscal 2022 budget deliberations. Learn the way ahead. Enjoy some state and Guard pride. You won’t want to miss it!
The July-August Tarheel Guardsman is now available NCNGA
The July-August Tarheel Guardsman is now available!
U.S. to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany but nearly half to stay in Europe Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military on Wednesday unveiled plans to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany, in fallout from President Donald Trump’s long-simmering feud with Berlin but said it will keep nearly half of those forces in Europe to address tension with Russia.
Trump announced his intention last month to cut by about a third the 36,000-strong U.S. troop contingent in Germany, faulting the close U.S. ally for failing to meet NATO’s defense spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of the United States on trade.
“We don’t want to be the suckers any more,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday about the decision. “We’re reducing the force because they’re not paying their bills; it’s very simple.”
2,410 Airmen Selected to Transfer to the Space Force AF Mag
The U.S. Space Force has selected 2,410 Airmen out of more than 8,500 Active-duty volunteers to transfer to the new service beginning Sept. 1, the service announced July 16.
The accepted volunteers are all in the space operations (13S) and space system operations (1C6) Air Force Specialty Codes, and include a mix of officer and enlisted personnel.
“This is an exciting and historic time for these space operators who will be some of the first members to join the Space Force,” Lt. Gen. David “DT” Thompson, U.S. Space Force vice commander, said in a release. “Each one of them has an important responsibility to contribute bold ideas to shape the Space Force into a 21st Century service.”
Selected members who are awaiting a pending promotion board will transfer after meeting with the board. Space operators who did not volunteer to transfer to the new service may apply to retrain into another career field, transition to the reserve component, or apply for separation or retirement if eligible, according to the release. When the transition period ends “sometime around 2022,” organic space specialties will fall under the Space Force and will no longer be available to members of the U.S. Air Force.
August 13th — Today in Guard History National Guard
1898
Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands – When the U.S. declared war against Spain in April it was to help the Cubans gain their independence from Spanish colonial rule. Nothing was said about Spain’s other colonies, including the Philippines. However, as part of America’s war effort, it was quickly decided to take the islands as a colony of the United States. Commodore George Dewey’s decisive naval victory destroying the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1st opened the way for land forces to be used to capture the colonial capital city of Manila on the island of Luzon. By June American troops, most of them in state volunteer units, began arriving to besiege the city. Among these units was the “Utah Battery” actually composed of two batteries each armed with3-inch rifled guns. As the U.S. soldiers arrived they were confronted by two armies, one composed of Spanish soldiers and the other of Philippine rebels who wanted their freedom from Spanish rule. American political leaders want the islands too, so a three-way stand-off was in the making. When enough American troops were in position around Manila it was decided to attack the city; however, Spanish officials agreed to surrender to the Americans only after a brief, honor saving, attack. So on this date the Utah batteries found themselves firing in support of almost uncontested American advances into the city. This soon changed when the rebels also attacked, trying to seize the old part of Manila, containing most of the government buildings. American troops got into fire fights with Filipinos while attempting to save Spanish lives from marauding rebels out for revenge. By the end of the day, most of the city was in American hands and an uneasy peace settled over the area. While coming under enemy fire at least once and forced to change position several times during the engagement the Utah units lost no men in action.
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