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National GuardSupporting Our National Guard

What does the Guard do?

The members of our National Guard aren’t ‘weekend warriors.' They’re indispensable citizen-soldiers, airmen and airwomen who serve their country full-time when needed, and in return, I expect our country to fully support their needs.

In addition to representing all 50 states, Guam , Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia , the National Guard’s contributions include:

  1. During one phase of the war, nearly half of the U.S. combat forces in Iraq were Army National Guard soldiers;
  2.  90 percent of the troops responding to Hurricane Katrina were National Guard members;
  3.  And National Guard personnel currently serve in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and over 40 other countries.


What is Ben Nelson doing to help?

To improve national security, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson issued a resolution supporting the National Guard and requesting that the Department of Defense seek input from senators and governors when deciding future changes to the National Guard.

The National Guard is a unique part of the United States’ defense because Guard troops represent both their home state and country. Yet representatives on the state level, such as senators and governors, are not invited to the decision process that affects the National Guard members of their state. This resolution will help coordinate a group effort to ensure support for the Guard and security for the American people.

In November 2005, Senator Nelson and 41 other senators from both political parties sent President Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld a letter urging them to fully fund the National Guard. And in January 2006, Senator Nelson and Major General Roger L. Lempke met with media to bring attention to the problem of equipment shortages.

In 2007, the Senate passed provisions of the Guard Empowerment Act, cosponsored by Senator Nelson. These provisions were included in the Defense Authorization Act for FY2008, which was signed into law by the President in January 2008. Provisions of the act would:

  • Promote the Chief of the National Guard from the rank of Lieutenant General to the rank of General; directs that the Chief of NGB to be the prime military advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the JCS.
  • Require that the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Northern Command be a National Guard member,
  • Require the Department of Defense to develop a plan in conjunction with the Guard to deal with homeland defense situations.
  • Establish service at the National Guard Bureau as a “joint activity”


In 2007, the Senate also appropriated $980 million in additional funds for National Guard and Reserve equipment.

Nebraska National Guard Shortages

Figures provided to Senator Nelson by the Nebraska National Guard show a total shortfall in 7,500 pieces of equipment that would cost approximately $80 million to replace. That equipment ranges from night vision goggles to tractor trailer trucks that have been destroyed, damaged, or left in Iraq.

Updated: May 2009