The Soldiers and Airmen who fill the ranks of the National Guard are at the heart of the decisive advantage the United States has over its global competitors, said John T. Raines III, senior advisor to the newly appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
In outlining his priorities as he takes over as the most senior noncommissioned officer and chief military advisor on enlisted affairs from outgoing Chief Enlisted Advisor Tony L. Whitehead, Raines said he will continue to put people first.
“Our people will support everything I do, as I work to advance (Air Force National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Stephen) Nordhaus’ priorities, while remaining focused on our security principles of warfighter, homeland and partnerships,” Raines said during the conference. Change of responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Meyer Henderson Hall, Virginia.
“We, the Guard, are always there,” he said. “(Noncommissioned officers) in the Army National Guard and Air National Guard will make sure we are always prepared.”
Raines pointed to the long history of National Guardsmen who have defended the home front since the founding of the country, and the essential role that non-commissioned officers play in carrying out the mission.
He said: “There is no other army in the world that has a National Guard like us, and there is no other army in the world that has non-commissioned officers like us.” “These two things give us a strategic advantage over anyone who wants to do us harm.”
This feature is now more important than ever, Raines said.
“Our enemies do not rest,” he said. “They are unbeatable. In fact, they are plotting how to defeat us, or at least change our way of life. Look at the Middle East, Ukraine and China. The old axis of evil is not over. It is over.” It still exists.
“I want to make sure my children and grandchildren have a life as rewarding as mine,” Reigns continued. “What is our real strategic advantage to ensure that? Our people.”
During his statements, Nordhaus stressed the crucial role that the National Guard plays in defending the homeland, noting that there are currently more than 40,000 guards actively participating in missions abroad and at home.
Raines, who served in both the Army and the Army National Guard over his 35-year military career, takes over the position of senior enlisted advisor after most recently serving as a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard.
Whitehead, who has served in the position since August 2020, has completed 42 years of service in both the Air Force and Air National Guard and has turned the reins over to his successor.
“Our United States Armed Forces are the best the world has ever seen, and we will continue to be so, no matter what anyone says,” Whitehead said.
“I'm proud to have been able to do what I've done all these years,” he said. “And I didn't do it myself. I did it because I was surrounded by some of the most amazing people here in this room.”
