Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter, the acting director of the Army National Guard, addresses the 132nd General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 21, 2010. "We are actually turning people away from our organization," Carpenter said. "Who would have guessed that almost nine years into two wars we would have a volunteer Army that is turning people away?" (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

AUSTIN, Texas – Leadership, screening recruits for compatibility with military service and better post-deployment follow-up are among solutions the acting director of the Army National Guard recently suggested for the spike in Soldier suicides.

Speaking at a breakout session of 132nd general conference of the National Guard Association of the United States here last month, Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter continued sounding the alarm about the current suicide rate. “We [could] be at 100 suicides by the end of this year,” he said.

But Carpenter said it is not an intractable problem. “We have an incredible amount of brainpower to put against this,” he said. “We can solve this.”

One piece of the suicide prevention mosaic: Leadership at every level.

Navy Adm. James Winnefeld, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, addresses the 132nd general conference of the National Guard Association of the United States in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 22, 2010. The National Guard is "NORAD and NORTHCOM's indispensable partner," Winnefeld said. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

“I would not be able to accomplish my many missions were it not for you, the National Guard – this wonderful, agile, efficient, uniquely American institution,” Navy Adm. James Winnefeld, Jr., the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and its sister NORTHCOM, told about 5,400 people attending the 132nd general conference of the National Guard Association of the United States here.

The theme of this year’s conference is “The National Guard: America’s solution.” But Winnefeld said his theme is, “The National Guard: NORAD and NORTHCOM’s indispensible partner.”

“I am a strong believer in and supporter of our National Guard: Who you are, what you do and how well you do it,” he said, making a series of pledges about how he will do business, including:

Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, addresses the 132nd general conference of the National Guard Association of the United States in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 21, 2010. "Maybe for the first time in our 364 years, we're more operational than we've ever been for a sustained period," he said. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

AUSTIN, Texas — Civilian and military leaders said here on Saturday that the National Guard is America’s solution in a time of constrained budgets, increased missions and the necessity of developing greater partnership capacity.

“The National Guard has repeatedly proven itself to be ready and a very accessible force,” Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, told about 5,400 people attending the 132nd general conference of the National Guard Association of the United States here this week.

“We validated the Total Force concept by showing that the men and women in our formations are ready to answer the call to be mobilized, to deploy overseas, to return home and then to become prepared to do it all over again,” he said.

“We … are facing a potentially momentous year,” Dennis McCarthy, the assistant secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs said. “There are going to be some decisions made this year that will have significant impact on the way the young men and women, who are wearing the uniform right now and those who will follow them are going to serve over the next couple of decades.”

Leaders sketched a picture of an environment in which budgets will be tight, the operational tempo will remain high and the Defense Department is looking for ways to boost partnership capacity worldwide.

“We’ve got challenging times ahead,” McKinley said.

All agreed on three key points: The National Guard has reached a peak of excellence since a transformation that began, arguably, with Desert Storm/Desert Shield and certainly since the 9/11 attacks.

Although senior level discussions and a dozen studies are underway about the future of the Guard and Reserve, no one wants to see it return to the Cold War-era strategic reserve.

And the National Guard is a key part of America’s solution to changing times. “We are one of the most efficient, effective organizations in our nation today,” McKinley said.

Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Army Gen. William "Kip" Ward, commander, U.S. Africa Command, meet with National Guard adutant generals and Defense Department leaders at the 2010 National Guard State Partnership Program Conference at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, on Aug. 11, 2010. The 62-nation SPP is a superb tool for Africa Command, the combatant commander has said. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

STUTTGART, Germany — National Guard adjutants general and Defense Department leaders here this week are hearing how the Guard’s 17-year-old State Partnership Program is boosting the partnership capacity of one of the nation’s newest combatant commands.

“The benefits … are many and impressive,” Army Gen. William “Kip” Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in his 2010 posture statement.

Adjutants general whose states are partnered with countries within AFRICOM’s 53-nation area of responsibility and leaders including Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Dennis McCarthy, assistant secretary of defense for Reserve Affairs, are here for the 2010 State Partnership Program Conference hosted by AFRICOM. Ward is scheduled to speak to the group today.

The SPP started with European Command partners in 1993 following the collapse of the Iron Curtain. EUCOM spawned AFRICOM in 2007, and there are now eight National Guard states partnered with African nations.

State partnerships foster military-to-military, military-to-civilian and civilian-to-civilian cooperation.

“The [SPP] delivers programs and activities that build broad capabilities with our African partners,” Ward said. “The habitual relationships this builds adds tremendous value to our efforts. This program is very valuable to [AFRICOM], and we look forward to expanding it as our African partners request greater participation.”

Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, tells about 1,800 Guardmembers attending the 39th Annual Conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States in St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 8, 2010, that the National Guard likely will continue to play a significant role in overseas contingency operations for the foreseeable future. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

ST. LOUIS – The National Guard likely will continue to play a significant role in overseas contingency operations for the foreseeable future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here Aug. 8.

“Just like we have in Kosovo for 14 years and the Sinai (and) the Horn of Africa, I think the National Guard will be asked to stay longer … and give (our) civilian-acquired skills to … emerging government,” Gen. Craig McKinley told about 1,800 Guard members attending the 39th annual conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

The Guard already is making a significant military-to-civilian contribution through the agribusiness development teams on the ground in Afghanistan, a program born in Missouri, he said

“The things that we bring from our civilian occupations will mean that the National Guard will be in huge demand for years to come,” McKinley said.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, talk before addressing about 1,800 Guardmembers attending the 39th Annual Conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States in St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 8, 2010. The National Guard is an essential element of overseas mission success, the governor said. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The National Guard is making an essential contribution to the overseas warfight, Missouri’s governor said here today.

Recently returned from a Middle East visit, Gov. Jay Nixon told about 1,800 Guardmembers attending the 39th annual conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) that commanders repeatedly told him the Guard is vital to the mission.

“Without the Guard, the job just could not get done,” Nixon said. Governors are the commanders-in-chief of their state’s National Guard, while they are in state status.

“I salute you for your service to our country,” he said. “Your readiness, willingness and ability to step into the breach on behalf of our fellow Americans have been demonstrated countless times over the decades and especially in the homeland here since 9/11 as a key part of a highly trained, highly dedicated military force that is second to none.”

Retired Army Maj. Drew Dix, a Medal of Honor recipient, tells Guardmembers attending the 39th Annual Conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States in St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 8, 2010, that leadership at all levels is key to cutting the spike in servicemember suicides. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Leadership at all levels is the key to lowering the suicide rate among servicemembers, a Medal of Honor recipient told National Guard members here today.

Retired Army Maj. Drew Dix received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam. Now, he has been talking with servicemembers about resiliency and suicide prevention.

Suicide rates have spiked in the Army and Air National Guard, as they have in other components of the armed forces.

“This problem … is a leadership problem,” Dix told Soldiers and Airmen gathered for the National Guard Enlisted Awards luncheon during the 39th annual conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS). “It’s not going to be solved at the top level.”

Sheila Casey and her husband, Army Gen. George Casey, the chief of staff of the Army, talk with attendees at the 2010 National Guard Family Program Volunteer Workshop in New Orleans, La., on Aug. 3, 2010. Mrs. Casey emphasized military spouses taking care of themselves as well as their loved ones, and Gen. Casey praised the National Guard's contributions to the war effort since Sept. 11, 2010. “We – the United States Army – could not have done what we have done the last nine years at war without the Guard,” he said. “No one wants to go back to the Guard being just a strategic reserve." (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

NEW ORLEANS — Returning the National Guard to its Cold War-era strategic reserve posture is not the answer when Defense leaders discuss the future, the Army’s chief of staff said here yesterday.

“No one wants to go back to the Guard being just a strategic reserve,” Gen. George W. Casey Jr. said during a visit to the 2010 National Guard Family Program Volunteer Workshop. “We have come way too far. Half of the Guard are combat Veterans. That’s a fundamentally different force and, as a result, it’s a fundamentally different Army.”

The United States is in an era of persistent conflict, Casey said, adding that he anticipates a significant operational tempo for the next decade. That follows nine years of war in which the National Guard has already played a crucial role.

“We are actively working through a study that will answer the question for us: ‘What should the role of the Guard and Reserve be in an era where we’re likely to have to rely on them continuously for a long period of time?’” he said.

The Army could not have accomplished what it has over the last nine years without the National Guard, Casey said. “It’s Minutemen and women that are holding this force together,” he told the group. “Thank you for what you have done to support this Army and this country.”

Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks with Elaine Wright, who volunteers with the Maryland National Guard's family programs, at the 2010 National Guard Family Program Volunteer Workshop in New Orleans, La., on Aug. 2, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

NEW ORLEANS – Military readiness is directly tied to family readiness, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told National Guard family program volunteers here today.

“This is our ninth year at war,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said. “We continue at a level that has generated extraordinary results from the best military that I have ever been associated with in some 40-plus years.”

Family support has been a vital ingredient. “We couldn’t be anywhere close to where we are without you,” Mullen said.

The National Guard has transformed since Sept. 11, 2001, Mullen said. “There’s no institution where things have changed more dramatically than in the Guard,” he said. “We would not be anywhere close to where we are in terms of our execution of mission without the Guard and Reserve.”

And like other elements of the armed forces, the Guard has improved its family programs.

A U.S. Army National Guard soldier, a member of an entry identification team, watches the U.S./Mexico border near Nogales, Ariz., on Jan. 17, 2007. National Guard soldiers and airmen participating in operation Jump Start are acting as the eyes and ears for the Border Patrol in securing the border. DoD photo by Sgt. Jim Greenhill, U.S. Army. (Released)

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. — National Guard troops in four states are in training today as they prepare to join colleagues already supporting Border Patrol agents on the nation’s Southwest border.

“The National Guard has been providing Southwest border support for a number of years through our Counterdrug … program,” said Army Maj. Gen. Peter Aylward, who is coordinating the latest operation at the National Guard Bureau. “Today we have more than 360 folks providing that kind of support. For this new mission, we have 150 folks, and we’ll ramp up as part of a phased, deliberate operation to as many as 1,200.”

These Guardsmen will support Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.