“Last year, we provided more than 50 percent of the combat forces on the ground in Iraq. This is a different paradigm, a different National Guard than any of us in this room ever envisioned being even possible, let alone being practically employed.”
“Fifty-four of the 54 National Guards sent troops to Mississippi and Louisiana post-Katrina. It was absolutely the largest and fastest military response to a domestic event in the history of this nation.”
“The National Guard that I joined was strategic reserve -- deliberately under-resourced, deliberately undermanned and deliberately under-equipped. That was part of our national military strategy.”
“What we're most proud of is are the young men and women that are sitting at these tables ... that are proof positive that this program is the most effective program in the nation when it comes to saving the next greatest generation. We will stay behind you all the way. You have a life partner for anything you want to do for the rest of your life with the National Guard.”
“It's going to require at least double that for a fully equipped, fully manned Guard. Job No. 1 for us is homeland defense. You've got to equip us for that mission.”
