NC Guardsman contributes story to Homeland Defense Magazine

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Leticia Samuels | Lt. Col. David W. Smith, Army North Carolina National Guard deputy personnel officer (G1) shows his article he wrote for Homeland Security Defense Journal at the N.C. Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. The article, published in the August edition of the magazine explains how to better synchronize planning and execution between states and other military branches during domestic operations. Smith, who began researching and writing the article in 2010, developed a possible strategy to implement a five-step cycle into the National Guard dual mission of domestic operation readiness. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs/Released)  

RALEIGH, NC, UNITED STATES

08.20.2013

Story by Sgt. Leticia Samuels 

North Carolina National Guard

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina National Guardsman, Army Lt. Col. David Wayne Smith, (G1) deputy personnel officer for the N.C. Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh N.C., had his article published in the online journal, Homeland Security Defense, recently.

Smith, a 25-year veteran, was recognized in the HSDJ for a publication entitled “The Plan, Type, Source, Report Cycle: A Unifying Concept for National Guard Preparedness.”

Smith’s main focus explained a strategy that could be used to enhance the preparedness of the National Guard which reflects the “Ready, Reliable, Relevant, and Responsive” motto emphasized by Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina.

Smith, a graduate of North Carolina State University, said he joined the Army in order to fulfill his obligation to carry the torch of military service and to also ensure operational and fiscal responsibility at the highest levels.

Born in Southern Maryland, Smith spent most of his childhood in Raleigh, where he found that becoming an officer in the Army would best fit his desire for responsibility.

Upon receiving his commission as a second lieutenant, Smith immediately put his skills to work, as he obtained a position working in the future military operations (J7) section of NCNG JFHQ, which emphasizes joint operational training between military branches.

During that time, the director of Operations and Military Support began the planning and coordination to execute large operations by using joint operations between the military branches as the primary vehicle, i.e. the Air force in North Carolina’s case.

The National Guard’s mission is not only to support the president of the United States by combating foreign enemies, but also to support the Governor’s call in domestic operations as well.

Smith used the skills and institutional knowledge gained from his stent in J7, along with the knowledge of his counterparts in order to form the dialogue of his article.

“It’s almost like a relief,” said Smith about having the article published.

After witnessing first-hand just how much research and work it takes to put an idea like this on paper, Smith was very grateful for the opportunity to be published.

Smith, who began his three-year journey of researching and writing the article in 2010, has developed a possible strategy to implement a five-step cycle into the National Guard dual mission of domestic operation readiness.

Smith said implementing the plan may prove difficult because getting all of governor’s from the 54 states and territories on the same page is not easy.

Still, Smith hopes to use this piece along with other variables to influence the future direction of the National Guard’s overall domestic operational readiness.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2013
• Date Posted: 08.26.2013 17:29
• Story ID: 112619
• Location: RALEIGH, NC, US