Photo By Jessica Green | Command Chief Master Sergeant Denise Jelinski-Hall, senior enlisted leader of the...... read more read more
Subscribe
FRESNO, Calif. - California National Guardsmen were recognized and praised for their hard work and continual vigilant service through a year of transition by the senior enlisted leader for the National Guard Bureau (NGB) during her visit to California, March 1-4.
“2011 was a big year for the National Guard; it’s important to pause and reflect on our accomplishments,” said Command Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall. “The contributions made by National Guard warriors are incredible, and with a force the size of California’s in the fight every day, all over the world, let’s just say it’s impressive. On behalf of [NGB Chief] General McKinley and myself, I want to say thank you for serving California and the United States, and please extend our gratitude for your service to your families.”
She met with more than 1,200 Guardsmen during her whirlwind four-day, six-city tour of the California National Guard. She spoke with enlisted members at the California Military Department’s headquarters, Joint Task Force Domestic Support–Counterdrug, Yellow Ribbon Program and Incentives Task Force in Sacramento. She then spent time at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station and the 147th Combat Communications Squadron in San Diego, and she met with troops who were training at Camp Roberts in San Miguel and the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
Jelinski-Hall reminded soldiers and airmen to remain flexible and stay focused. She encouraged them to be the best Guardsmen they can be, as the National Guard continues to work through the budget and reshaping the force.
“This year started out with a significant announcement. Gen. McKinley (NGB Chief) was statutorily placed on the chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This is a big year for leadership transition. Many key leaders (active and guard) will retire and new leaders will be transitioning into new roles,” she said. “During these times of change and uncertainty, let leadership worry about the budget and personnel changes. Our airmen and soldiers need to be focused on the mission and their personal/family readiness.
“Be that well-rounded soldier or airman,” Jelinski-Hall added. “Focus on [physical fitness] and [professional military education], work on your civilian education as well. Go above and beyond. Understand the tipping points and seek to acquire additional skills like enrolling in Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education.”
Guardsmen today and of the future are likely to hold multiple occupational specialties. Being a part of such a transitional force, Soldiers and Airmen need to continue to be adaptable and reliable, willing to change plans and possibly re-train to continue to support the mission, Jelinski-Hall said.
“Many Guardsmen are feeling the turbulence; nothing is guaranteed.” She added, senior leadership tells us that everything is on the table for review. It’s important to ask yourself, “What’s your backup plan?”
The Army National Guard is following suit with its active duty counterpart by providing its soldiers with non-commissioned officer evaluation reports. The Air National Guard is planning to implement the Air Force’s enlisted performance report system as well, she said.
“As supervisors, it’s our responsibility to provide every enlisted Guardsman with strong leadership. We owe it to them to hold them accountable for their responsibilities and to provide feedback,” the chief said while speaking to a group of senior enlisted members. “They need to receive course correction and hear congratulations ~ well done.”
During performance feedbacks and appraisals, she said, service members should ask, “What do I need to stop doing, what do I need to start doing and what do I need to continue to do?” Supervisors also need to take advantage of that touchstone moment and get to know their soldiers and airmen, ask them how things are at home, at their civilian job, what their ideas or suggestions are to improve the workplace and ensure they are on track with their career goals and civilian lives, Jelinski-Hall said.
As the senior enlisted leader to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, Jelinski-Hall advises Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley on all matters affecting enlisted National Guard soldiers and airmen and reports directly to him. McKinley serves as a military adviser to the president, the secretary of defense and the National Security Council, and he is the Department of Defense's official channel of communication to the governors and adjutants general of each state.
“We need to hear your concerns and ideas,” Jelinski-Hall said. “You need to tell us what’s working at the state level and what’s not working”. NGB will work hard to keep and adequately fund the programs needed by our soldiers, airmen and your families”. “One of my main focuses is taking care of our people. In the National Guard, if our soldiers or airmen have a need, we have a resource available to assist them,” Jelinski-Hall said.
Both Army and Air National Guard units on Jelinski-Hall’s trip were interested in her comments on ancillary training. Guardsmen are often required to complete 30 or more hours of ancillary training, when there are only 16 hours of training time during a drill weekend. Leadership at the highest levels are keenly aware of this issue and are working to find solutions, Jelinski-Hall said.
“An hour might come off, but we’ve just added three more. There hasn’t been much progress, but we’re fighting for you,” she said. “Leaders will have to do a risk analysis to determine what tasks need to be done to complete the mission, whether it’s ancillary training or technical training.”
The chief also stressed the importance of professional associations and the support they can provide to service members and their families. It’s important to be actively involved and engaged with current issues.
She mentioned organizations such as the Association of the U.S. Army, the Air Force Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the Military Officers Association of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and specifically highlighted the National Guard Association of the United States and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.
“The associations are the ones fighting hard up on [Capitol] Hill for us and working to help us keep our benefits,” Jelinski-Hall said. “[Spend] that extra $10 to $15 to join an association that is going to better benefit our families and careers.”
Additionally, Jelinski-Hall reminded Guardsmen how essential the support of civilian employers is to their military career.
“With about 75 percent of our force being traditional Guardsmen, it’s imperative that we support and thank those civilian employers,” she said. “We owe it to them to communicate and provide our drill, inspection and deployment schedules.”
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, is a national Department of Defense committee that works with employers, service members, military leadership and volunteer committees to promote cooperation and understanding in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR also administers an awards program designed to recognize employers who support a strong National Guard and Reserve force.
“It makes a difference for your boss to have their Patriot Award hanging on their wall when you walk into their office with a set of orders saying you have to miss work again,” she said. “Those of us that serve our country have families that are serving in many ways too. The Patriot Award can be extended to your spouse’s employers as well.”
Wrapping up her tour, Jelinski-Hall said it was an honor to recognize many of the enlisted members she met on her tour for excellence and for a job well done.
“We [at NGB] will continue to fight the good fight for our National Guard members,” she said.
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2012 14:32 |
| Story ID: | 85906 |
| Location: | FRESNO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NGB senior enlisted leader visits CNG, by Jessica Green, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT