Guard chief encourages 'continual support' of families

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • National Guard Bureau
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The state's are doing a great job of supporting the National Guard and its families, but it takes continuous support to make sure no one falls through the cracks, the National Guard's top military officer said Aug. 18 here.

"If there is an area that we have to concentrate on, to continue to focus on, it's the caring and understanding of the stress on the family," said Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau to an audience at the Minuteman Institute for National Defense Studies.

To emphasize his point, General McKinley first read word-for-word from his notes about the National Guard's Yellow Ribbon and reintegration programs, stating they provide "sufficient information, services, referral and proactive outreach opportunities for Soldiers, their families, employers and youth throughout an entire deployment cycle."

"But I have to tell you, that (statement) is the bumper sticker," he said. "When I travel around, I see a lot of stress on the families."

The general said there is added stress on the Guard's families since the nation's financial downturn, which has left many spouses of deployed guardsmen at home with financial difficulties.

"Most states are doing an outstanding job, but it takes continual emphasis, continual support to make sure we do not let anyone fall through the cracks," he said.

General McKinley also spoke about the future of the National Guard, its recapitalization, its force structure and strengthening relationships in homeland security and overseas missions.

But he returned to the subject of supporting Guard members, their families and employers several times.

"The most important asset that any military organization has is the people who work in it," he said. "Our Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen are absolutely the most patriotic, the most dedicated, the most committed young men and women that I have seen in my 35 years of service."