New York National Guard Continues Commitment to Families

Courtesy Photo | Surrounded by spouses and children of the New York National Guard, The Adjutant General for New York State's Military Forces and the state Command Sgt. Major and their spouses signed the Army Family Covenant. The ceremony symbolized a recommitment of the state's military forces to support the Army Guard family.  

UNITED STATES

02.22.2008

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

By Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg
N.Y. Army National Guard

JOINT FORCES HEADQUARTERS, Latham, N.Y. – Surrounded by spouses and children of the New York National Guard, The Adjutant General for New York State's Military Forces and the state Command Sgt. Major and their spouses signed the Army Family Covenant.

The ceremony symbolized a recommitment of the state's military forces to support the Army Guard family.

"Susan and I are extremely proud of what we've done in New York to support our families," said Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, The Adjutant General. "I'm very proud of our reintegration process and our network of available to support to our Families. We have got something that is a model for other states."

"I've heard this from the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. (George) Casey himself and I agree with him when he said that family programs are not something we talk about. They are something we do," Taluto said.

Spouses, family members and family readiness group volunteers remain an integral part of the National Guard. Guard leaders frequently mention that the force recruits Soldiers, but retains Families.

"We cannot forget the volunteers who are the heart of caring for our families," said Beverly Keating, Director of the Nye work Army National Guard Family Program. "Without each one of them, we could never accomplish this huge task, so we thank them for their time, efforts, skills and the experience they bring to the table."

The covenant reaffirms the commitments the Guard and the Army have to the sacrifices that military families make every day. Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt read the covenant to the assembled families prior to signing. "We recognize the strength of our Soldiers comes from the strength of their Families," Van Pelt, "and we are committed to providing Soldiers and Families a quality of life that is commensurate with their service."

"The Army National Guard Family Covenant is a formal way to show our recognition and recommit to our families," Keating said. "I'm proud to say it's the way the New York National Guard does business."

The covenant signing had more symbolism of the Guard's commitment than a real change to the way the New York National Guard and Family Programs office supports the Citizen Soldier and their Family, Taluto said.

"Not that we need to sign a piece of paper to show that we're committed," Taluto said to the group.

• Date Taken: 02.22.2008
• Date Posted: 02.22.2008 18:25
• Story ID: 16618
• Location: US