Past Successes
Since 1878, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) has been fighting for the needs of the National Guard on Capitol Hill. Recent legislative successes include:
National Guard Empowerment
NGAUS has worked to ensure that National Guard leaders have an enhanced voice and position in the Department of Defense decision-making process. In 2008, NGAUS worked with Congress to pass Empowerment I, elevating the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) from a three-star to a four-star general. NGAUS celebrated the victory, but didn’t stop there. In 2011, NGAUS successfully pushed for Empowerment II, which provided a seat for the CNGB on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and re-established a three-star Vice Chief position, an effort that’s considered the most significant legislative victory since the Militia Act of 1903 created the modern, dual-mission National Guard.
GI Bill 2.0 – Post 9/11 GI Bill for National Guard
Overturning Proposed Air National Guard Cuts
Modernizing the Army National Guard
Other notable legislative successes:
Historic levels of National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA) and Military Construction (MILCON) funds
Robust Personnel and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funding to maintain an operational reserve
Maintained ANG end strength of 106,700 and ARNG end strength of 358,200
Behavior health support for members of the Reserve Component during scheduled unit training assemblies
Reemployment rights for Title 32 National Guard duty
Expansion of state licensure exceptions for certain health care professionals to provide access to healthcare for National Guard soldiers in rural and remote areas
Halted Air Force attempt to reassign Air National Guard C-130s into an active-component unit in Little Rock, AR
Authority to temporarily hire non-dual status technicians to fill vacancies created by the mobilization of a dual status technicians
Authority for the VA to provide mental health care for veterans and their families — post deployment
Extended TRICARE coverage for “Gray Area” retirees
Doubled from 90 to 180 days the time a Reserve Component member is covered under TRICARE Prime prior to mobilization
Increased full-time support personnel for the Army National Guard including the largest increase for Active, Guard and Reserves (AGR) in 22 years