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NGAUS offered company-grade officers a peek behind the legislative curtain during the Capitol Summit conducted April 13-15.
The first summit of 2025 gave the CGOs who attended an inside look at how the legislative process affects them and the Guard units in their states or territories.
“It’s an invaluable opportunity to witness firsthand how [NGAUS] advocates on our behalf and shaping legislation that strengthens the future of our force and improves the lives of our current Soldiers and Airmen,” said Capt. Ashley Estep (pictured center in the above photo), a Missouri Army Guardsman.
The event — which was held at the National Guard Memorial, the association’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. — featured speakers from the NGAUS legislative team, lawmakers and senior military leaders.
The summit’s participants heard remarks by Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Van Hipp, chairman of American Defense International, among others.
The event also gives attendees an opportunity to network with other Guardsmen.
“There are a ton of hidden nuggets that you learn about when you deep dive at these events and learn so much more than just reading a brochure,” said 1st. Lt. Justin Garner (pictured left in the above photo) of the Alabama Air Guard.
Attendees also received a tour of Capitol Hill and an opportunity to speak to elected officials and their staffers.
“My takeaway was the fact that they are definitely tracking our issues,” Garner said. “To hear directly from the members of their states puts a real-world situation with the concerns we brought up.”
Estep said that visiting the Hill and engaging with the offices of elected officials was “eye-opening.”
“I learned that even though we may be a small voice, we can have a significant impact when we speak with the right people and share our stories,” she said.
Estep said Capitol Hill engagements provided her and the other attendees a better insight into how the legislative process works.
“It gave me a new appreciation for the work being done behind the scenes to support our service members.”
The Capitol Summit is open to Army and Air Guardsmen who are NGAUS members ranking from second lieutenant to captain or warrant officer 1 to chief warrant officer 2.
Each of the Guard’s 54 organizations nationwide can select one participant and NGAUS will cover that person’s lodging, travel and meals related to the event.
The event drew 42 attendees representing 41 states and territories.
The next Capitol Summit event is set for October.
— By Donald Lambert
