fromtheeditor A Second Chance
A new program — the National Guard Patriot Academy — offers America’s youth a chance to overcome difficult obstacles life has thrown their way.
I
t seems like just yesterday we were complaining about waist-high snow as Washington, D.C., battled the blizzard of 2010. But suddenly it’s August. And if you’ve ever been
stationed in the Washington, D.C., area, you know August brings a swamp-like ambi- ence to the shores of the Potomac River. Listless lines of tourists crawl about the monuments, while native Washingtonians escape to beaches or mountains. Even Con- gress takes a recess for most of the month. While many people across the country
enjoy the lazy days of summer, many oth- ers will not be able to kick back and relax with their families. Among those are the men and women serving in America’s armed forces. The pace won’t slow for those who are on the front lines in Iraq or Afghanistan or who serve in the States, protecting the homeland. Among those serving are members of the
National Guard and Reserve. They are es- sential, operational forces. In fact, as I write this column, some 123,247 men and women of these components are on active federal duty. In this August issue of Military Officer, as we usually do, we’ll direct our attention to America’s reserve components. In the past, we’ve covered National
Guard units in their combat missions. This issue, we look at another face of the Guard. “Investing in Youth,” page 56, introduces a National Guard program focused on the military’s most precious asset: its people. The National Guard Pa- triot Academy gives young people who
1 0 MI L I T A R Y O F F I C E R AU G U S T 2 0 1 0
might have gotten off track a chance to meet their full potential — at the same time bringing quality servicemem- bers into the military. “They’re kids who have
been faced with unfortunate circumstances,” says acade- my Commandant Col. Perry Sarver Jr., ARNG. “We’ve partnered with guidance counselors and recruiters to identify those young people, either dropouts or on the verge of quitting school, who need some maturity, confidence, and discipline in their lives.” Turning to the Reserve side of the
reserve component house, we visit with Lt. Gen. John Kelly, commander, Marine Forces Reserve. He updates us on the roles and missions of the Marine Corps Reserve. “My Marines are full members of the Marine Corps,” says Kelly. “They are fully engaged in the mission and want to be in the fight like any other Marine.” “Flexible Force,” page 48, tells the full story. Here’s hoping you enjoy some summer
fun. And here’s to those in America’s armed forces — active, Guard, and Reserve — on duty, protecting our freedom!
— Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92