WHEREAS, Major General Vavala has served as the Adjutant General for Delaware since 1999, and

WHEREAS, the National Guard has faithfully served citizens of Delaware and the United States for over 375 years from the beginning of colonial times to the present day; and

WHEREAS, the National Guard and the Delaware National Guard during the past decade has seamlessly integrated active duty forces into combat operations such as Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Destiny, and responded to homeland disasters and security missions such as Operation Noble Eagle and Hurricane Katrina; and

WHEREAS, the National Guard offers military efficiencies not found in the active duty forces to include providing a military force under the command and control of state governors, providing an opportunity for highly trained active duty service members to continue to serve their state and nation after leaving active duty service, the unique ability for our nation to surge or reduce military forces as needed, and reduced military infrastructure and personnel costs commonly associated with active duty bases such as recreation facilities, child care, medical care, commissaries, and pensions where the National Guard uses a less costly pension system that requires members to wait until age 60 to receive an annuity; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Chiefs of Staff was composed of members representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps with no National Guard member on the staff to represent the interests of the nearly half a million members of the National Guard and their governors; and

WHEREAS, the unique National Guard costs savings and operational efficiencies were unrepresented and underutilized because the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff primarily represented the interests of active duty forces; and

Whereas, The National Guard Association of the United States founded in 1878, provides states and their membership unified representation before Congress and the Executive Branch in pursuit of modern equipment, training, missions and personnel benefits for the Army and Air National Guard; and

WHEREAS, Major General Vavala serving as the Chairman of the National Guard Association of the United States, lead the effort to gain the support of the United States Congress to enact legislation that would “add a seat at the table” for a new member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that being the Chief of the National Guard Bureau; and

WHEREAS, legislation known as the “Empowerment Act” was introduced in Congress as S. 1025 for the purpose of adding the Chief of the National Guard Bureau as a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and

WHEREAS, each member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff publicly opposed the passage of S. 1025; and

WHEREAS, Major General Vavala worked tirelessly across the country rallying grass roots support among guard members, fellow adjutants generals, the media, U.S. Congress and the White House; and

WHEREAS, on December 1, 2011, the Empowerment Act (S1025) passed Congress and was signed into law by President of the United States, Barack H. Obama, on December 31, 2011, as part of H.R. 1540 the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives and Senate of the 146^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, recognizes Major General Francis D. Vavala in his capacity as Chairman of the National Guard Association of the United States for leading a historic national effort to add the Chief of the National Guard Bureau as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This landmark legislation is the greatest legislative achievement for the National Guard since the Militia Act of 1903 that created the modern, dual-mission National Guard. This legislation will ensure that the National Guard is used to its fullest potential by reducing the costs of defense without compromising defense capabilities, while simultaneously enhancing the military capabilities for homeland security at the national, state and local community levels.

SPONSOR:	Rep. Jaques & Sen. Bunting