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What’s Coming up and What’s Hot!!
Critical PME Academy Update! It appears the IT cloud provider has resolved their volume/performance issues from yesterday. We’ll keep an eye on it today to make sure the PME Academy software is performing to our need.
Members! SGAUS Store update: We are experiencing disruption in the supply chain from the manufacturers to our suppliers for some of our fastest flowing items like MEMS badges. All of these companies have them made in China. We have replenishment orders in process now for three months awaiting delivery. They got caught in this like all of us here. As soon as we start getting replenishment orders again normally I’ll let you know. So please be patient this is beyond our control. We’ll get you your items. Thank you. BG Santiago
NEW: The COVID-19 Points of Dispensing (POD) Operations course is now available for everyone (member or not) in the online SGAUS PME Academy.
You, or anyone, can reach the PME Academy from within this web site or directly at:
https://PME.sgaus.org
For non-members, please let them know they can access the course by logging in as “Guest”. The only limitation as “Guest” is that there s no completion certificate (don’t know the name of the person).
NEW (11 MAR 2020). The SGAUS Medical Committee has announced that due to the risk level and potential impact of the COVID-19 (Corona Virus) pandemic, the Field Casualty Care Course scheduled for 19-21 June 2020 has been postponed to a later date (to be determined).
NEW (5 MAR 2020). Due to the developing and still very uncertain situation with the COVID-19 (Corona Virus) outbreak, we have cancelled the mid-year Board meeting scheduled for 25 April in Nashville, TN. Instead the Board will convene via conference/video call in early May. We’ll publish the date in a couple of weeks.
(6 Jan 2020). The 2020 SGAUS Mid-Year Board Meeting has been scheduled. It will take place on Saturday 25 April 2020 at the Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Airport, Nashville, TN, from 8am – 5pm. CANCELLED-RESCHEDULED
(6 Jan 2020). The latest edition of the SGAUS SDF Times is now published. Please scroll down the site’s home page and click on the lower right panel to read it.
(2 JAN 2020). Happy New Year everyone! Both the MEMS Student Guide and the MEMS Alumni Roster (Under the PME Academy and MEMS Academy tabs) were updated and published this morning.
(2 JAN 2020). The 2020 SGAUS Awards Guidebook and Award submission form have both been updated and now available under the Reference section, Awards tab.
2020 Annual Conference Date and Location Selected
The 2020 SGAUS Annual Conference will take place in the beautiful state of California. 9 SEP – 12 SEP 2020 at the Wyndham, Irvine – Orange County Airport, California.
MEMS Program Upgrades!
SGAUS Leadership and Committee Chairs Contact Info Page
A new page with email address information for SGAUS leadership and Committee Chairs was published to replace the previous.
Two new pages will be added to the “References” section. One as a page with links to services and information useful to US Armed Forces veterans. The other page will contain links to external resources and content for senior citizens. We’ll announce when the pages are published.
Thank you,
Chago Santiago, BG (TN)
Executive Director
Hello and good afternoon. I just recently joined the SGAUS and trying to look over the site. An email of contact leadership names was mentioned but the date says it comes out in 2017? May be time to update the website.
I am still exploring, but have a couple of recommendations/suggestions for your consideration.
* It would be nice to have an updated email list of all the state commanders so that we could communicate with each other discussing training, recruiting, courses, like OCS, drill sergeant training, etc.
* I will hope that the blog gets stepped up with more use.
* I count 17 commanders for the states right now, is the the current number of active State Guard units?
* It is interested in that the majority of state commanders are BG or MG. Is there a written plan somewhere that details what each state should have as the commanders rank>
Like I mentioned, I am just starting to read the website, but will appreciate any reply you provide.
Thank you,
Jim Parker
COL (Ret) MI MIVDF
Sorry, Jim, somehow this post fell through the cracks and I just found it. Do you still have questions? We updated the section for SGAUS leadership and committee members with their email addresses. There is also another section under the “States” tab listing the SDF commanders and their SDF mailing addresses. We don’t have detailed plans from the SDF as to their Commanders’s grade should be. That is up to the individual TAG. I guess we could ask them, but it hasn’t been info anyone has been interested in before. What I’ve found out is that it varies from state to state and what their TAG’s want or accept. In Tennessee, for example we have three TAG/Governor approved TNSG BG slots. Our CG is one. I’m a BG and Deputy Commanding General for Operations and Charlie Shinn is my counterpart BG for Support. Others have O-6 as their target, but that can change when a TAG changes.
Regarding the list of states with SDF’s. Yes that list is accurate except for a new addition I’m waiting data for to update the list, Louisiana.
There are number of states I have been working with and are at different stages of formation or re-formation after being shut down, etc.; those are:
Utah (they started well, their leader came out to our board meetings and what not, but then suddenly disappeared from the radar screen)
Pennsylvania (they have a group that meets and drills, but they are not yet approved by their state.
Washington DC (they tried, but no appetite from the Mayor – shut down)
Missouri (they gave it a long good try, but the TAG was not interested so it flopped)
Arkansas (they are giving it their best, I’m in their formation committee. Ran into obstacles with the new TAG so the group is trying to work directly with the Gov and Legislature)
Alabama (they were shut down a few years ago and they are trying to reconstitute, I know them well and I’m trying to help)
Florida (some have asked for help in trying to form it, I’m in contact with them, especially after the huge influx of Puerto Ricans that moved to FL after Hurricane Maria. Most around the Orlando area. Quite a few PRSG soldiers and officers have moved to FL and have tried. The former TAG had no interest. They are trying again with Gov Ron DeSantis. You would think that being a target for so many hurricanes would give them a hint. They are in the midst of states with very effective SDF’s! Like TX, MS, GA and now LA. Scratching my head)
Please let me know if you have further questions, Feel free to write me at:
Chago.Santiago@SGAUS.org
Thank you.
Chago Santiago, BG (TN)
Executive Director
PME Academy Commandant
SGAUS
Deputy Commanding General, Operations
Tennessee State Guard
Military Department of Tennessee
All SGs and SDFs need to wear the same uniform as the NG so there is no public question as to who we are. Also, for all who honorably serve or who have honorably served there needs to be a State Veterans status, similar to the NG. Please lobby for these changes as they will most surely promote pride, recruitment, retention and Esprit de Corps within the SG/SDF community.
Hi there, Michael. Sorry your post fell through the cracks. The uniform thing is a touchy subject. Even though the US Army regs clearly states that the SDF uniforms should be comparable to the one the Army has with a few “distinctives”, the TAGS interpret it the way they each want to. Most have or are going to OCP, but some TAGS don’t want their SDF’s wearing the same uniform as the NG. Unless the NGB takes a unified or standardized approach, it’ll be up to the TAG. We’ve had some discussions about the “State Veteran” status and it will continue. An agenda item for the next Board meeting. I agree, it would help with overall morale and esprit de corps.
Thank you
Chago Santiago, BG (TN)
Executive Director
SGAUS