At Ease - Wisconsin National Guard Department of Military Affairs

2008 Army National Guard Highlights:
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The Wisconsin Army National Guard and its Madisonbased
headquarters remained heavily engaged in
missions throughout the United States and other
countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
With changes to the composition of the Wisconsins’s
Army Guard units and new missions, the
headquarters staff has been working to rebalance the
state’s force structure, facilities and equipment.
In addition, the Wisconsin Army Guard headquarters
provided natural disaster relief and support for
humanitarian missions at home and abroad.
To sustain units with high-quality Soldiers, the state
headquarters focused on recruiting and retention,
with innovative programs such as the Army Guard
Active First Program and the Guard Recruiting
Assistance Program.
Families are the key to retaining Soldiers, and the
Wisconsin Guard fosters and supports programs to
help Guard families cope with the stress of military
service and to enhance their quality of life.
With the 1,453 new Soldiers recruited in 2008, the
Wisconsin Army National Guard starts 2009 in a
stronger position than at the beginning of 2008.
Wisconsin Air
National Guard:
Approximately
2,300 men and women
serve in Wisconsin’s
Air National Guard,
including a headquarters
staff in Madison and four
major commands: 115th
Fighter Wing, 128th Air
Refueling Wing, 128th
Air Control Squadron and
the Volk Field Combat
Readiness Training
Center.
2008 Air National Guard Highlights:
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The Air National Guard and its Madison-based
headquarters staff assisted with several domestic
military support operations and deployed Wisconsin
Air Guard units for missions overseas.
As the result of major manpower changes at the unit
level during 2008, Wisconsin Air Guard headquarters
An Overview: Wisconsin National Guard
Department of Military Affairs cont’d
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Brig. Gen. John McCoy
Deputy Adjutant General – Air
2008 Air National Guard Highlights Cont’d:
faced difficult staffing challenges in taking care of
those who were displaced and in identifying and
training people for newly created positions. Partly
dur to these changes, Wisconsin Air National Guard
strength dipped below 100 percent for the first time
in years, but a focused effort restored strength to 100
percent by year’s end.
Operation Jump Start ended in July of 2008. This nearly two years
mission sent thousands of Guard members to the southwest border
to assist the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Several hundred Wisconsin
National Guard soldiers and airmen participated in the mission
provided administrative support and medical services, manned
observation points and built barriers. Photo by Lt. Col. Tim Donovan
84 at ease