THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER.

Washington, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today praised a move by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to elevate the status of the National Guard in Pentagon leadership. Yesterday, Gates made the first nomination for a three-star general to receive a fourth star and become Chief of the National Guard Bureau – a position that in the past has been held by a three-star general – and also nominated the first Guardsman to oversee security in North America.

Gates made both of these moves in response to legislation co-sponsored by Rockefeller that was passed and enacted last year.

“These are landmark steps that recognize the unprecedented role the National Guard now plays in our national defense,” Rockefeller said. “In recent years, more than 5,000 of the 6,800 members of the West Virginia Army and Air National Guard have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other places abroad – many of them for multiple tours. At the same time, they have critical homeland defense missions here at home, and also have the responsibility to respond to floods and other natural disasters.”

“The Guard is a critical – and unique – component of the U.S. military, and it obviously should have the leadership status and the influence at the Pentagon to reflect that fact,” Rockefeller continued.

Since September 11, 2001, the National Guard has been pulled in two different directions – seeing dramatic increases in both its domestic homeland defense responsibilities and overseas war-fighting missions. Later this year, the West Virginia Guard will deploy approximately 1,000 additional personnel to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In light of these increasing roles, Rockefeller strongly supports giving the Guard more input in its own operational decisions. Last year, he co-sponsored the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act, legislation which required the personnel moves Gates made this week.

Rockefeller also is a co-sponsor of the National Guard Empowerment Act and State-National Defense Integration Act, which makes the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That legislation is still pending before the Congress.

“I applaud Secretary Gates for these important moves to clarify the National Guard’s leadership role in our military, but I also call again for the head of the Guard to be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Rockefeller said. “Our Guard is a strong force in our military, and they need a stronger voice in major decisions.”

Rockefeller met yesterday with Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and reiterated his strong support for the National Guard. In particular, the two men discussed the importance of the National Guard to both overseas war-fighting missions and critical homeland defense and natural disaster missions at home. During the meeting, Rockefeller praised the West Virginia National Guard’s outstanding performance in the face of growing tasks, as well as its leadership team – headed by Adjutant General, Major General Allen Tackett.

Gates recommended Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, current director of the Air National Guard, to receive a fourth star and become head of the National Guard. He also nominated the current Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, as Deputy Commander of the U.S. Northern Command.