Rhode Island National Guard

Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course 08-001

NARRAGANSETT, RI - On Sunday afternoon, 13 April 2008, the 243rd Regiment (RTI) graduated BNCOC Class #08-001 at Camp Varnum, RI. In ceremonies emceed by MSG James Loffler and MSG Edward Houle, 12 graduates received Phase I completion certificates. All graduates will have a subsequent Phase II courses to complete based upon their Military Occupational Speciality (MOS). CSM John McDonough, State Command Sergeant Major spoke to the class on the importance of this training to enable the graduates to "take care of soldiers". The Honor Graduate of the cycle was SGT Liam Burke. The following soldiers completed the cycle which ran from October 2007-April 2008:

SSG Kraig J. Banach, SGT Nathan D. Banville, SGT Liam P. Burke, SSG Christopher M. Carvalho, SGT Maria G. Freudigmann, SSG Paulo J. Furtado, SGT Michael P. LaFountain, SSG George Pedro, SSG Arthur P. Pine, SGT Eugene J. Porter, SGT Joel C. Testa, and SSG Johnny Vargas.

The Instructors for the cycle were: SFC Russell Howard, SFC James Duncanson, and SSG James Schroeter.

USNORTHCOM Commander to Visit Rhode Island Joint Force Headquarters

CRANSTON, RI – Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, Commander, U.S. Northern Command, will visit the Rhode Island National Guard Joint Force Headquarters May 6 to observe state and federal hurricane response operations as part of Ardent Sentry 2007.

U.S. Northern Command, when directed by the President of Secretary of Defense, provides defense support of civil authorities, including consequence management operations.

Gen. Renuart will be hosted by Army Maj Gen. Robert T. Bray, the Rhode Island National Guard Adjutant General, Director of Homeland Security, and the Director of the State Emergency Management Agency.

The tour will include a visit to the Rhode Island National Guard’s Joint Operation Center and the State Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operation Center.

A National Guard Joint Force Headquarters provides command and control of all National Guard forces within the state or territory for the governor. It also acts as a joint service headquarters during national level or contingency response efforts.

The Ardent Sentry Exercise will demonstrate multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional unity of effort in support of a civilian-led response to a national crisis through collaboration with local, state, and federal responders.

The Rhode Island State Emergency Management Agency and the Rhode Island National Guard agreed to be the host state for the 2007 capstone hurricane response exercise.

A press conference will be held a 1 p.m. in the Rhode Island Joint Force Headquarter. For more information and to confirm attendance please contact:

-Lt. Col. Denis Riel, Rhode Island National Guard State Public Affairs Officer at, 401-275-4193

-Mr. Randall Noller, National Guard Bureau, 703-607-2613, for general queries on the National Guard.

-Ms. Kyle Combs, 719-243-6883, for information concerning U.S. Northern Command.

Adjutant General Clarifies New DoD Mobilization Policy

MEMORANDUM FOR All Officers, NCOs, Enlisted Personnel, Army and Air

SUBJECT: Clarification of Secretary of Defense Memo dated 11 January 2007

1. The purpose of this memorandum is to advise all members of the Rhode Island National Guard about the recent change in mobilization policy as announced by Defense Secretary Gates on 11 January 2007. The information contained here-in represents the latest and best interpretation of this broad guidance and is being provided to you in order to avoid the widespread dissemination of rumors and innuendo.

2. Mobilization and remobilization of Reserve Component (RC) troops shall now operate under the following guidelines:

a. Mobilizations will now be managed on a unit basis as opposed to an individual basis. This will allow for greater unit cohesion and predictability for training and deployments. State adjutant generals and governors shall assume responsibility for the training and certification of troops, through the Director for Army, National Guard Bureau.

b. Maximum mobilization time shall be one-year, to include pre and post mobilization activities. In select instances, where critical skill sets are required, units or individuals may be activated for longer than a period of one-year, however the planning objective shall be no more than one-year. Respective units shall know at least one-year in advance of their mobilization date. Individual units shall be expected to prepare their troops for unit certification and deployment by utilizing drill and annual field training periods in the year leading up to their deployment date. The cumulative involuntary activation cap of no more than 24 months in a five-year period is abolished effective immediately.

c. The policy objective for involuntary mobilization of RC troops shall be one-year mobilized followed by five-years demobilized (1:5). However, today’s global demands will require a number of select RC units, who have already been mobilized since 9-11, to be remobilized earlier than the established policy goals.

d. A new program to compensate individuals, in both the Active and Reserve Component forces, who are required to mobilize earlier than the established policy standards of 1:5, shall be developed. The exact nature of the compensation has not yet been determined.

e. Commands are directed to review their administration of the hardship waiver program to ensure that exceptional circumstances for individuals is properly taken into account when considering mobilization tasking.

3. These new guidelines will pertain to units already in the queue for mobilization. How their pre-mobilization training shall be conducted is yet to be determined but we are aggressively seeking guidance in this matter.

4. For individuals or units who may have been mobilized since 9-11 and were under the assumption they would not be remobilized for at least 5 years, there remains a possibility of mobilization within that period of time. We do not know which units, if any, will be affected by these “adjustment” mobilizations. Individuals who could potentially be remobilized with-in the stated 1:5 planning objective would be compensated under the new compensation program.

5. Individuals who have volunteered to deploy with units other than their own, under the “cross-leveling” program, would be expected to mobilize with their units if that unit was activated. Such individuals would also be eligible for the compensation program if they meet the guidelines.

6. The implementation of these measures is a tremendous step forward for the National Guard. It represents the recognition of the National Guard as a full operational partner within the Department of Defense hierarchy while signaling the end of our role as a strategic reserve. It is, in fact, the very situation which the state adjutant generals and governors have been asking for. This is a change of historic proportions for the National Guard!

7. Please bear in mind that implementation of this policy remains a moving target and is subject to revision as the respective services struggle to provide regulatory guidance and fiscal support to this effort. In the end, National Guard units should be better trained, equipped, and prepared to meet both their state and federal missions as a full partner in the defense of this great nation.

8. The commitment by our Armed Services continues to be a record of selfless dedication to duty and to mission. Additionally, families and employers continue to demonstrate unprecedented support. Therefore, on behalf of the Rhode Island National Guard, I renew our contract of commitment with our Soldiers and Airmen to stewardship of families and supporters.

9. I expect all Rhode Island National Guard soldiers and airmen will demonstrate the same outstanding devotion to duty, which has marked our efforts since 9-11. We are in this struggle for a penny and a pound. The Rhode Island National Guard will continue to play an integral role in our struggle against global terror. The National Guard has never been closer to its Minuteman roots than it is at this very moment in history. These changes allow us to better control our destiny with a greater level of predictability, making even greater contributions to the war-fight for today and well into the future.

ROBERT T. BRAY
Major General
The Adjutant General