I think it is ridiculous to even suggest that the National Guard should have a separate presence on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And I say that as a former Guard member who values the contribution of the Guard and Reserve components. What's next? Adding Reserve component generals? State defense forces? Homeland Security Secretary?
The top Air and Army National Guard generals can make the views of their Guard components known through their service chain of command. And I'm sure that the governors and state Congressional delegations are capable of making the case for funding questions from the state perspective just as well.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is supposed to provide authoritative military advice to the president--not be a debate forum for every organization in the Department of Defense.
About Me
- Brian J. Dunn
- I live and write in Ann Arbor, Michigan. University of Michigan AB and MA from Eastern Michigan University. One term in the Michigan Army National Guard. Former American history instructor and retired nonpartisan research analyst. I write on Blogger and Substack. Various military and private journals have published my occasional articles on military subjects. See "My Published Works" on the TDR web version or under the mobile version drop-down menu for citations and links.
