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A Word From The Chief - Dealing With Change
By Command Chief Master Sgt. Paul M. Gunning, State Command Chief Master Sergeant for New Jersey
TAG at Operation Jump Start

Transformation, Base Realignment and Closure actions, Future Total Force initiatives, the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Global War on Terrorism, Presidential Budget Decision 720, reduced number of air frames and recapitalization issues are changing the footprint in New Jersey.

Our joint force must adapt as the global threats change. I remember a flightline mechanic years ago from the 177th Fighter Wing who would always use the old cliché, the only thing that is constant - is change. However, mission readiness for the defense of our nation is of utmost importance.

Most of us do not like change because it threatens our way of life and takes us out of our comfort zone.
It can also have far reaching ramifications for the individual, the family, the employer and the organization.

Our New Jersey National Guard senior leadership has been hard at work procuring new, relevant and 21st century missions. These are missions that come with new equipment, missions that will challenge our best and brightest with state of the art training, and missions that will place us on the battlefield or allow us to help other Americans right here on our soil during times of natural disasters or state emergencies. Missions like the Contingency Response Group for the 108th Air Refueling Wing and the Air Support Operations Squadron for the 177th could be in our future. Other possibilities could include an intelligence mission and working jointly with the Air Mobility Warfare Center at Fort Dix. Our Army Guard brethren have accepted new missions along with new opportunities with expanded new companies in military intelligence, military police and decontamination units. When all is complete, the New Jersey National Guard will most likely be a little leaner, have significant and relevant missions, but it will require many Airmen and Soldiers to change.

As I write this article, change is happening. Everyone in the New Jersey National Guard will most likely be affected by some type of change within the next two to three years. Whether it will be a job change, an AFSC/MOS change, a mission change, or a duty location change, we all need to be prepared. Enlisted leaders and supervisors can help tremendously with change and new career opportunities by ensuring the channels of communications are always open as we transform our force in the New Jersey National Guard.

We cannot expect to be performing the same types of missions that we did twenty years ago or flying the same aircraft year after year as the dynamics continue to change at an unprecedented pace.

I challenge you to be prepared for change and understand the necessity as we continue to protect our way of life and the United States of America.
Thanks for everything you do!

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Volume 32 Number 5
Staff / Information
     
(c) 2006 NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
http://www.nj.gov/military