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AUSTIN, Texas – Always ready, always there – that’s the motto, but if our individual readiness is not well maintained, we as a force cannot be successful.
Texas Guardsman are gearing up to meet a new directive from the National Guard Bureau called ARNG 4.0 which will bring citizen-soldiers closer to the Army’s operational tempo.
Army National Guard’s Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, director of the National Guard Bureau, said with the shift toward a new standard of readiness to meet emerging threats all over the world, “we’re shaping the Army National Guard not based on the last 100 years but what we’ll have to do the next 20 to 30 years.” The plan, he said, “isn’t something that just came out of the blue. We’ve been moving toward this point since the late ‘70s with the all-volunteer force.”
Combat readiness is the Army’s top priority. Through ARNG 4.0 initiatives, the Texas Army National Guard will be better prepared, more responsive and require less post-mobilization training time to get to the fight. To ensure Texas soldiers have guidance moving forward, the Texas National Guard has its own set of strategic objectives.
As members of the Texas Military Department, we’re all aware of our Adjutant General’s priorities – “people first,” “relevant and ready” and “communicate and partner.” These priorities guide everything we do – in and out of uniform, said Texas Army National Guard’s Brig. Gen. Tracy Norris, commander of the Texas Army National Guard.
The Texas National Guard’s first strategic objective of “people first” includes medical readiness, fitness and education.
When defining individual readiness, Texas Army National Guard’s Command Sgt. Maj, Kristopher Dyer, Army senior enlisted advisor for the Texas Army National Guard said, “it’s not only height and weight and the Army Physical Fitness Test. It’s professional military education, it’s duty Military Occupational Specialty, it’s individual weapons qualification, it’s medical readiness, it’s dental readiness and it’s being slotted correctly in the position that you’re assigned,”
“Brig. Gen. Norris has ensured the Texas Medical Command has a full-time provider on orders at the Austin Soldier Medical Readiness Center to handle Periodic Health Assessment at all the medical facilities throughout the month,” said Col. Tyra Swanson, commander of the Texas Medical Command. “You are not relevant if you are not ready! Training people who don’t meet medical standards or who are indeterminate is a waste of money.”
Physical fitness is an integral part to sustaining combat readiness. Dyer said PT is part of the job. “When you put a uniform on, there’s a standard. The standards aren’t going to change for you, you have to be part of the standard. If you can’t be part of the standard, then you need to go somewhere where there aren’t any standards.”
Making sure that the soldiers have their professional military education is Dyer’s number one priority and goal. “Get people educated, get them qualified for the job that they’re in,” said Dyer. The focus is getting the soldiers qualified and ready for that next rank so they can be promoted.
Individual readiness will ensure soldiers are trained and able to respond when the mission calls. “Regardless of whether or not soldiers will have additional training days, unit readiness begins with individual readiness,” said Kadavy, “In fact, individual soldier readiness is more critical than ever and Army National Guard members need to be mentally and physically strong, up to date with their job requirements, proficient with their individual weapons and cleared of any dental or medical problems.”
The second strategic objective is to remain adaptable to meet the needs of Texas and the nation. Doing so requires us to remain relevant and ready which empowers us to become a combat multiplier in today’s competitive environment.
Norris is confident the Texas Air National Guard is in great shape. “If we have an opportunity to serve our state and nation in new and more robust ways, we’re eager to do so,” said Norris. The Texas Air National Guard strives to remain fully trained and always ready. If the nation has a need and the Air National Guard is given the task, Texas Guardsmen will get it done.
Finally, the third strategic objective involves “communicating and partnering.”
“In today’s interconnected world, Guard members must develop contacts and partnerships within the military, within the local, state and federal government and within the international community,” Lengyl said.
The Texas National Guard operated side-by-side with the local, state and federal government when faced with the devastating disaster of Hurricane Harvey. This storm left great destruction in its path as it made landfall on August 25, 2017. Texas Guardsmen partnered with these first responders, resulting in saving lives and living up to the Texas Military Department’s motto: “Texans serving Texas.”
Texas is also involved with the State Partnership Program. The SPP is a joint Department of Defense security cooperation program, managed and administered by the National Guard Bureau and sourced by personnel within the National Guard. The Texas National Guard is currently partnered with the Czech Republic and Chile under the State Partnership Program. The SPP has partnered for over 20 years with 68 partnerships involving 74 nations across the world.
The Texas Military Department is operating based on the changing needs of the Army and designing our training to respond quicker and more effectively to missions worldwide.
“The Texas Army National Guard’s strategic objectives go a step further to ensure every Texas soldier has a clear path to execute the Adjutant General’s priorities.” The National Guard’s motto “Always Ready, Always There” is more prevalent than ever. “If called up to react quickly, the Texas Army National Guard is prepared and ready for whatever the situation is. Individual readiness is a key component of always being there and always being ready,” Dyer said.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2018 15:32 |
| Story ID: | 279838 |
| Location: | AUSTIN, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The Texas National Guard builds the bench to be relevant and ready in today’s competitive environment, by SFC Melissa Bellman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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