The condition of the Iowa National Guard remains strong

With the wars in the Middle East winding down, Orr reported that only 260 Iowa National Guard soldiers have deployed overseas, the lowest number since 9/11. He also cautioned that looming budget cuts as a part of the sequestration instituted by Congress could have a significant impact on the military. 

But with more soldiers here at home, Orr said the Guard is prepared and ready to respond to any natural disaster or if they are needed in any domestic assistance. In December, 80 Guardsmen were activated to support the Department of Transportation during the winter storms in central Iowa and just a few weeks ago, 120 Guardsmen were deployed to assist with President Obama’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.

The Guard is doing as much as it can to support their own, especially those returning home from deployments. Finding jobs for Iowa Guardsmen is of the utmost importance as nearly 80 percent of personnel only serve in the Guard part-time. 

With almost 28 percent of Iowa’s returning soldiers unemployed at the end of 2011, that number, today, has been reduced to just 6 percent through a cooperative effort between the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the Iowa National Guard’s Job Connection Program, Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Labor, Principal Financial Group, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. 

In addition, 1,400 Guardsmen have received 100-percent tuition assistance at Iowa’s public universities through the National Guard Educational Assistance Program.

Orr touched on the Air National Guard’s 132nd Fighter Wing, which he said will be able to keep 970 personnel. Nearly 400 positions were scheduled to be eliminated but federal legislation was signed to reduce that number to only 32, which will be managed through retirements and transfers. 

With the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft gone, the remaining personnel will transition to three new missions. These missions include a reconnaissance group, an intelligence group, and a cyber-security unit.