Dear  Senator Lautenberg,

I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor HR 826.

HR 826 – STATE DEFENSE FORCE IMPROVEMENT ACT

·        Our National Guard forces are deployed as an integral part of the Global War on Terrorism, leaving governors with fewer forces to defend and assist citizens in the event of terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

·        The states that actively maintain these reserve, or state defense forces, have found that such forces provide outstanding benefits for National Guard training, mobilization assistance, family support, and post-mobilization assumption of the duties of deployed units.

·        These forces constitute the most cost-effective force multiplier in our nation’s defense and homeland security efforts as a deep military reserve force dedicated entirely to Homeland Security within their respective states .·        However, the vagueness of current law has led to some confusion as to the degree of support the Department of Defense can provide.

·        The State Defense Force Improvement Act seeks to clarify that these forces, while state-controlled, are an integral part of our nation’s homeland defense efforts.  This bill will ensure that these forces are available to the fullest extent that a governor chooses to employ them, and will establish a clear protocol on how they are to be coordinated with other Homeland Security efforts and the Department of Defense.

The State Defense Force Improvement Act will:

·          Explicitly recognize and encourage state defense forces.

·          Authorize the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate homeland security efforts with and provide training to defense forces.

·          Authorize state defense forces to use DOD property  (National Guard) and equipment.

·          Allow state defense forces to receive surplus DOD equipment.

·          Ensure DOD is not liable for any accidents involving state defense personnel.

·          Ensure DOD is not responsible for any costs associated with the above provisions

On 9-11-01 I left my office and responded to the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management where I stayed for over 10 hours. (my enlistment went through after 9-11-01)
my shipmates -Ferried people between NJ and ‘ground zero’
-The Disaster Medical Assistance Team was deployed
-Our Chaplains responded, and provided assistance in Fishkill NY (where all of the evidence was sent)
-Our officers (with decades of experience) manned the Joint Operations Center –thereby freeing up young officers to do whatever young officers do.
-My unit guarded Earl Naval Base and I think they assisted in protecting the Nuclear power plants.

There are many reasons to be supportive of State Defense Forces. State Guards should be supported because they are cost effective.

I enlisted in NJ’s State Guard about 6 years ago and shortly after that the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command was, ‘stood down’ (more on that later) to find out more about State guard Unit’s go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Defense_Forces

The Naval Militia Joint Command is made up of mostly veterans whose mission is to protect the state during any type of disaster.

To see what other states have been doing please see.

Texas State Guard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2CxPZLeOJg&feature=related

SC SDF

I also wrote a book on State Guard units.  I plan to make the e-book version available for free.  (http://www.lulu.com/njnavy)

The NJ National Guard has been mobilized in the Global War on Terrorism.  NJ’s “Hometown Hero’s” need to be confident that their families left behind will be protected by a strong state guard.  My point is that this issue should be done rapidly and not at the normal speed of government

Senator Lautenberg joined members of the New Jersey National Guard’s 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion and their families at Trenton’s War Memorial as they prepared to leave for Iraq.  This is the second 12-month tour to Iraq for the 300-member battalion, which was last in Iraq three years ago.  (January 25, 2009)

Senator, Some of the members of the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command trained or trained with MG Rieth as he was coming up in the ranks and he turned out ok.  The deployed troops should not have to wonder if their families will need to be rescued by NY Guardsmen via interstate compact agreement: Help make it possible for NJ State Guardsmen to respond to disasters by getting HR 826 Passed! Please co-sponsor it and also encourage our congressional delegation working on a similar bill.

Sincerely,

Paul S. Kale