Major General Timothy Orr recently updated lawmakers on the work of the Iowa National Guard in his annual “Condition of the Guard” address.
General Orr said thousands of Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen have served in combat and support roles in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 13 years. Currently, about 150 are deployed overseas, the lowest number since the start of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In addition, Iowa had few emergencies requiring National Guard assistance in 2014.
The lighter load has given the Guard time to plan, prepare and exercise for potential disaster response support in a variety of scenarios.
One focus is known as “Vigilant Guard,” a multiple-level disaster training exercise. The Guard and its state agency partners will join with the U.S. Northern Command to fully exercise and assess Iowa’s response capabilities for multiple disaster scenarios.
In January, the Iowa National Guard hosted a cyber-security workshop to develop a comprehensive Cyber Incident Response System that will safeguard Iowans from cyber-attacks. The forum was the first of its kind in the state, with more than 60 participants from Iowa agencies working together to improve coordination and communication.
General Orr said the 9,200-member Guard maintains its position as a national leader in readiness, buoyed by the benefits and support it receives here at home.
For example, nearly 1,200 men and women attended Iowa colleges, universities and community colleges this year with the help of Iowa National Guard Educational Assistance, a program funded entirely by the state to ensure our service members and veterans get the education they need. Keeping our young people in the state and providing them with a high-quality Iowa education is a valuable recruiting and retention tool that helps ensure the Guard’s readiness.