BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- As fellow members of the profession of arms, we have many commitments and requirements that each of us must successfully accomplish to maintain our readiness and currency. In return for remaining fully mission capable Airmen, we are provided with several entitlements and benefits. The National Guard Association of the United States and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, are the two primary professional military associations who strive daily to ensure that those entitlements and benefits remain funded and supported by Congress.
Some may ask “What is NGAUS”? NGAUS was founded in 1878 and is the oldest military association lobbying solely for the benefit of the National Guard. The strength of NGAUS has always been its united membership. As the voice of the National Guard on Capitol Hill, NGAUS provides a path by which National Guard officers can elevate their local concerns to a national and influential audience in Washington, D.C. NGAUS members provide the backbone and guidance NGAUS needs as it ensures the National Guard receives the best and latest equipment; maintains readiness through comprehensive personnel initiatives; receives proper missions as part of the Total Force; and fights for equitable retirement programs that give Guardsmen the support they’ve earned. The NGAUS legislative department provides states and our members unified representation before Congress. NGAUS provides four full-time lobbyists who work National Guard specific issues which directly affect the men and women of the 117th Air Refueling Wing.
EANGUS was formally organized in 1972 with the goal of increasing the voice of enlisted persons in the National Guard. As such, EANGUS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the principles of providing an adequate national defense and promoting the status, welfare and professionalism of the men and women of the Army and Air National Guard by supporting legislation that provides adequate staffing, pay, benefits, entitlements, equipment and installations for the National Guard. EANGUS represents all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia with a constituency base of over 414,000 Soldiers and Airmen, their families, as well as thousands of retired members. EANGUS maintains a full-time staff to represent your interests to the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.
Each of us has directly benefitted by the combined efforts of these two associations. During the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, NGAUS and EANGUS stood beside the 117 ARW to ensure our case for reconsideration was heard by the BRAC committee. Their efforts are one of the primary reasons there are KC-135R aircraft on the ramp today. NGAUS and EANGUS have also worked tirelessly to ensure all of our traditional Guardsmen have the opportunity to enroll themselves and their families in Tricare medical and dental insurance. Additionally, it is only through the combined efforts of NGAUS and EANGUS that National Guardsmen have the benefit of reducing their retirement age by three months for every 90 days served on active duty in specified Title 10 statuses. The unified legislative efforts of NGAUS and EANGUS have consistently contributed to the resourcing and readiness of the National Guard.
Your support of NGAUS and EANGUS makes a difference. Individually, we may not have much influence concerning equipment modernization, compensation, benefits and future force structure. By uniting our voices with all of the men and women across the entire National Guard, we become a strong constituency who has continued to receive support from Congress.
I am a proud member of both NGAUS and EANGUS and I encourage you to consider adding your voice and support to your professional military organizations. You can find out more about them and their activities by visiting www.ngaus.org and www.eangus.org.