Photo By Master Sgt. Paula Aragon | Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell Brush, senior enlisted advisor for the National Guard...... read more read more
SANTA FE, N.M. - National Guard Bureau’s senior enlisted advisor, Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell Brush, visited the New Mexico National Guard Dec. 16-17, 2014. He toured many of the armories, held two town hall style meetings along with a host of additional informal discussions in order to speak with the Soldiers and Airmen serving here.
Brush reminded the service members of the 378 year history of the organization as well as where it currently stands with a four-star general sitting at the table with fellow armed service leadership.
Brush made it a point to converse with the Soldiers and Airmen garnering their input on the way forward. He touched on the requirements to fulfill annual training but asked for input on methods of delivery. Brush passionately commented on the less-than-ideal use of computer-based training that detracts from face-to-face interaction and individual skills training during the limited time available for each service member.
Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Gomez suggested an alternative to all the screen time.
“We can do all this stuff with a ruck on our back,” he said. “We can do all this stuff moving. We can do all this stuff communicating. But we’re not. We’re doing it in classrooms. We’re doing it sitting down. Who wants to sit down? But if we’re active, we’re engaged, doing something, then it might sink in. Then Soldiers might learn to treat themselves like a Soldier and not like a victim.”
Continuing on with the overview of the current state of affairs, Brush spoke of the three-pronged mission of the National Guard. Partnerships, warfight and homeland are the words emblazoned on the new graphic depicting the trifecta. The purpose of those in uniform is to defend the homeland here and abroad in combat he said. The partnerships are seen in NGB’s State Partnership Program where states are paired with countries and an exchange of information and training is fostered. New Mexico National Guard and Costa Rica have been partners in this program since 2006.
The third element for the National Guard is the homeland mission - the state mission. New Mexico National Guard has responded to fires, floods, and feeding and clothing fellow residents. As a highly-trained and professional force made up of citizen-Soldiers and Airmen who work and live in the local communities, Guard members are uniquely skilled and positioned both at home and abroad.
One story Brush recounted occurred while visiting troops overseas when he came in contact with the 4th Infantry Division command sergeant major, the highest enlisted leader of more than 8,000 Soldiers. The enlisted leader said he could spot a National Guard Soldier from 100 feet away.
“They just seem to carry themselves differently,” Brush quoted the enlisted leader. “They’re more mature, they’re more focused and they know how to take care of each other better.”
It’s that self- and buddy-care that needs to be heightened now to combat some of the internal struggles plaguing the armed services. Brush did not gloss over the issues of sexual harassment and assault. Nor did he discount the dire need to squash the rate of suicide amongst service members. He likened trying to understand and fix the issue of suicide to grabbing smoke.
Soldiers attending the town hall meeting commented on all the training undergone for identifying signs and symptoms of suicidal service members. However, they asked for ideas for training families of those serving and touched on the need to get back to basics and simply check in on one another consistently.
Brush listened to the requests and suggestions vowing to continue to work at the highest level of NGB to implement positive change where it’s needed. He asked that each Soldier and Airmen do their part by telling the story.
“In order for people to fight for the National Guard, I need you to tell them why it’s important,” Brush said. “The citizens of New Mexico need to know who the National Guard is. We’re going to win or lose this fight on Capitol Hill through our citizens, through our communities, through our state and national level representatives.”
He charged each Soldier and Airmen with reaching out and sharing the Guard story at every opportunity. The rich legacy of New Mexico National Guard is blanketed with community involvement, service members helping fellow citizens, successful deployments both abroad and on U.S. soil. The individual stories are just as important and vital to the continued strength and reputation of the National Guard as a whole.
Brush closed his remarks by reminding the audience to do three things. First is to take better care of yourself. Second is to take care of the future. He noted that whoever replaces you should be better than you. Finally, tell your family thank you. Without the individual and community families, the Guard family would not be as resilient as it is.
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2014 18:23 |
| Story ID: | 150827 |
| Location: | SANTA FE, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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