In the current fiscally constrained environment, our federal government is facing difficult choices in prioritizing federal programs. Some of the most contentious discussions are taking place within the Department of Defense as they grapple with the drawn down of the wars and settle on new strategic priorities for the future. These decisions about military end strength, force structure and... Read Full Story
The NGAUS Blog
Disasters in our homeland can occur at any time. Yet we now pretend that they will not occur between July 8 and Sept. 30 because the National Guard is being forced to furlough the military personnel who enable the military response to disasters in each of our states.
Under the sequester and in accordance with the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Defense Department will furlough for one day a... Read Full Story
For the last 22 years, the National Guard’s Counter Drug Program has been a vital partnership with federal, state local law enforcement and private groups interested in safeguarding their communities from drug and drug violence. They have joined together to train and coordinate in drug enforcement activities.
That could all soon be in jeopardy if the Defense Department gets its way.
The... Read Full Story
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will decide soon on the length of the furlough affecting over 800,000 DoD civilian employees, including National Guard military technicians.
After the initial announcement that DoD would furlough its civilians for 22 weeks through September 30, Hagel reduced the number to 14 weeks. Congress and NGAUS have requested that he go further.
The National Guard... Read Full Story
Samsung smartphones and Blackberry 10 phones are now OK to use on DoD networks.
Furloughs may not affect some National Guardsmen as badly as expected. It seems that at least one state expects military technician furloughs to be less severe than originally thought.
United HealthCare, the largest provider of TRICARE for military families, is under fire for failures... Read Full Story