National Guard's top official visits with Illinois Soldiers and Airmen

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/10/2015)(readMedia)-- General Frank J. Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited the Illinois National Guard August 9 to speak to commanders, give insight to the troops, and address new challenges with Illinois' Adjutant General.

Grass first conducted an office call with Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, Jr. of Chatham, Illinois, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. The two senior officers discussed some of the challenges facing senior leadership in the states and how best to address those challenges at all levels.

Following the office call, brigade commanders and staff directors were given an opportunity to speak with Grass at a working lunch. Grass spoke about the direction the National Guard is heading, his experience as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and some of the major topics that are discussed at the highest levels.

Grass said one of the main topics discussed is how best to use the National Guard to alleviate some of the demand on the active component.

"Today, 40 percent of the National Guard has not deployed," said Grass. "We want to give the Guard a normalized and predictable deployment cycle. If we can get something predictable for the Guard, we can meet any mission that the Department of Defense has for us."

Grass also said that a normalized training and deployment cycle for the Guard is also a fiscally responsible choice.

"The National Guard has about a $25 billion piece of the $500 billion defense budget," said Grass. "With that, the National Guard trains a force of around 455,000 to be ready at a moment's notice to answer the call of duty. That's the best bang for the buck the DoD has."

Following lunch, Grass conducted a town hall with Illinois Soldiers and Airmen. He gave a broad overview of his vision for the National Guard, addressed budget concerns, and offered Soldiers and Airmen the opportunity to ask questions and provide input that Grass could take back to the pentagon. Grass also recognized the Illinois National Guard's success.

Grass explained the Guard isn't just about the federal and state mission, it is about partnerships, both in the community and abroad.

"Illinois is a premier example of that kind of partnership in your State Partnership Program," said Grass. "Your state was one of the first SPPs 23 years ago. You started a partnership with Poland that had the first co-deployment with a partner nation; now the Guard has had 79 co-deployments with partner nations. You can be very proud of that."

Hayes was honored by Grass' visit to Illinois and was grateful for the opportunity to speak with him on important issues.

"I think that it's a huge honor that he came here to meet with the Illinois National Guard and spend the day with us, I think it's phenomenal," said Hayes. "It's a testament that he was willing to come here on such an important weekend to spend time with some of our Soldiers and Airmen to talk about some of the current issues from his stand-point and give us an opportunity to provide input back to him."

Cutline 1: U.S. Army Gen. Frank J. Grass and Illinois' Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr. of Chatham, Illinois, discuss policy changes and issues facing the senior leadership in the states during an office call August 8, 2015. Grass visited Illinois to speak with Soldiers and commanders about the direction of the National Guard and the unique challenges that the organization faces. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 2: U.S. Army Gen. Frank J. Grass addresses Illinois brigade commanders and staff directors during a working luncheon at Driftwood, a local restaurant focusing on using local ingredients in Springfield, Illinois August 8, 2015. Grass visited Illinois to speak with Soldiers and commanders about the direction of the National Guard and the unique challenges that the organization faces. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 3; U.S. Army Gen. Frank J. Grass addresses Illinois Soldiers and Airmen during a town hall at the Illinois Military Academy on Camp Lincoln August 8, 2015. Grass visited Illinois to speak with Soldiers and commanders about the direction of the National Guard and the unique challenges that the organization faces. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)