Major General Timothy Orr of the Iowa National Guard recently met with senators in conjunction with his re-appointment as Adjutant General for Iowa, which was unanimously confirmed.
He told us that approximately 260 Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen are currently deployed overseas, which is a very low number compared to recent years. As Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom wind down, the Iowa National Guard is refocusing on organizational readiness and its role as a link between communities and the military in Iowa. The 9,400 Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen who serve today have a presence in 725 Iowa cities and towns.
Here in Iowa, our Guard has proven to be a national leader in recruiting and retention. Both the Iowa Air and Army National Guard have been at or above 100 percent of authorized strength for more than 10 years. That’s a big accomplishment considering all that this volunteer force has been asked to do since 9-11. The Guard is in the top echelon of quality recruits, and Iowa units have been honored with several prestigious awards from the U.S. Department of Defense and other military organizations.