June 27, 2008 — The "tri-conference" bringing together National Guard adjutants general, the directors of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard for each state came to Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort this week, the first time it has been held outside the mainland United States.
More than 200 of the nation's top citizen-soldiers and airmen were in attendance, as floods in the Midwest and fires in California kept a dozen or so busy at home.
In his welcoming speech, Gov. John DeJongh Jr. noted the territory's strategic importance to the security of the U.S., increasing Chinese interest in the region and Venezuela's growing economic muscle.
"We are the third border in terms of immigration," DeJongh said.
Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau and the senior uniformed guard officer, offered his respect and gratitude to the V.I. National Guard for their work on the battlefield as well as their disaster relief during events like Hurricane Katrina.
"Here you are, sitting in hurricane alley and you still manage to send 2,300 guardsmen to Katrina relief," Blum said.
Blum later said that bringing the conference to the V.I. was a sign of respect and recognition of the vital role that the V.I. does play in domestic response on the mainland.
"You'd think it would be the other way around," Blum said. "The VING is a full partner in the defense of our nation."
Blum noted the Guard's importance to the country and the world, saying that every day on average, 17 governors have their National Guard called out.
Approximately 50,000 guardsmen are deployed overseas.
"If we didn't have a guard, we'd have to invent one," Blum said. "The Pentagon was slow to recognize this."
Blum explained that National Guard has undergone a recent major reorganization. Its top leadership and now reports directly to the secretary of Defense, whereas in the past it reported through the Army and the Air Force.
The National Guard no longer has to rely on secondhand equipment from the other services, he said. After briefing President Bush, the Guard was given $1 billion in funding, amounting to an increase of about 9 percent of their annual budget.
Blum said the Guard got rid of outdated equipment.
"In case of a hurricane, you don't want a reenactment group to show up, you want modern equipment," Blum said. "Now we can get new equipment with zero hours and zero miles. We can have modern trucks. All have to be acceptable for the combat zone."
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