Lempke: Guard should have greater role in Pentagon hierarchy
The National Guard needs to have a greater voice in national defense and matters of homeland security, Maj. Gen. Roger Lempke says.
Lempke, who as adjutant general commands the Nebraska National Guard, is scheduled to testify Thursday before the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves in Washington.
The 13-member bipartisan commission is examining a number of legislative proposals under The National Guard Empowerment Act and is scheduled to report its findings to Congress by March 1.
“The purpose of it (the act) is to provide changes to the Department of Defense structure and to improve the Guard’s voice in matters that are critical to supporting national defense and homeland security,” Lempke said in a phone interview.
The commission is charged by Congress to recommend changes in law and policy to ensure the Guard and Reserves are organized, trained, equipped, compensated and supported to meet national security requirements.
The group is meeting today and Thursday to hear testimony on:
* Increasing the responsibilities of the National Guard within the Department of Defense.
* Expanding the role of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau by making him a four-star general.
* Creating a separate budget for Guard training and equipment.
* Making the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command a National Guard officer.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the National Guard and Reserve has played a major role in fighting the war on terrorism, with about 380,000 members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, according to The Associated Press.
Commissioner Larry Eckles said the role of the National Guard and Reserve has changed over the past 50 years. At one time, he said, they were viewed as a strategic force to be used in such events as World War II and the Korean War.
“As time has gone by, we have become more operational and utilized more,” he added.
Eckles, who is from Lincoln, noted that the laws under which the National Guard and Reserve operate are much the same as they were in the 1950s.
Some of those laws may be antiquated and the commission will be taking a look at them, too, he said.
Lempke, testifying in his role as president of the Adjutants General Association of the United States, said the National Guard Empowerment Act fills in gaps between national defense and homeland security.
Elevating the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to four-star status, for example, would allow him or her to talk more directly with the Secretary of Defense and also deal more equally with the Army and Air Force, Lempke said.
“That’s where our budget comes from now,” he added.
Mandating that the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command be a Guard officer, Lempke said, would give the Guard a stronger voice with Northern Command, whose duty is to protect the nation.
Lempke said the Guard would provide most of the military forces in a major national emergency or attack on the United States.
“It (the legislation) really won’t have an impact in Nebraska directly, but obviously by improving the voice for the entire National Guard that will help Nebraska and other states in the future,” he said.
The Pentagon has said it opposes the recommendations.
Asked why, Lempke replied: “I think there’s just uncertainty of the impact the changes will have.”
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
Lempke, who as adjutant general commands the Nebraska National Guard, is scheduled to testify Thursday before the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves in Washington.
The 13-member bipartisan commission is examining a number of legislative proposals under The National Guard Empowerment Act and is scheduled to report its findings to Congress by March 1.
“The purpose of it (the act) is to provide changes to the Department of Defense structure and to improve the Guard’s voice in matters that are critical to supporting national defense and homeland security,” Lempke said in a phone interview.
The commission is charged by Congress to recommend changes in law and policy to ensure the Guard and Reserves are organized, trained, equipped, compensated and supported to meet national security requirements.
The group is meeting today and Thursday to hear testimony on:
* Increasing the responsibilities of the National Guard within the Department of Defense.
* Expanding the role of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau by making him a four-star general.
* Creating a separate budget for Guard training and equipment.
* Making the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command a National Guard officer.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the National Guard and Reserve has played a major role in fighting the war on terrorism, with about 380,000 members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, according to The Associated Press.
Commissioner Larry Eckles said the role of the National Guard and Reserve has changed over the past 50 years. At one time, he said, they were viewed as a strategic force to be used in such events as World War II and the Korean War.
“As time has gone by, we have become more operational and utilized more,” he added.
Eckles, who is from Lincoln, noted that the laws under which the National Guard and Reserve operate are much the same as they were in the 1950s.
Some of those laws may be antiquated and the commission will be taking a look at them, too, he said.
Lempke, testifying in his role as president of the Adjutants General Association of the United States, said the National Guard Empowerment Act fills in gaps between national defense and homeland security.
Elevating the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to four-star status, for example, would allow him or her to talk more directly with the Secretary of Defense and also deal more equally with the Army and Air Force, Lempke said.
“That’s where our budget comes from now,” he added.
Mandating that the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command be a Guard officer, Lempke said, would give the Guard a stronger voice with Northern Command, whose duty is to protect the nation.
Lempke said the Guard would provide most of the military forces in a major national emergency or attack on the United States.
“It (the legislation) really won’t have an impact in Nebraska directly, but obviously by improving the voice for the entire National Guard that will help Nebraska and other states in the future,” he said.
The Pentagon has said it opposes the recommendations.
Asked why, Lempke replied: “I think there’s just uncertainty of the impact the changes will have.”
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
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