Greetings Fellow SGAUS Members:
I am honored to be elected to serve as President of SGAUS for the 2021-2022 Term. We just completed the 2021 SGAUS Annual Conference, which was very successful. Our hosts, the California State Guard, did a terrific job. It was wonderful to be able to see everyone in person and enjoy the camaraderie.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge each of our State Defense Forces (SDF’s) and it was a challenge for our SGAUS Conference, however, it has also created a tremendous opportunity for each of our SDF’s. When COVID hit, we all collectively stepped up to the call and we have performed exceptionally well across the nation, showing our TAG’s, our Governor’s and the other decision makers the value that we bring.
Our challenge going forward is how to maximize this opportunity. The National Guard’s prime mission is its war fighting mission. Our State Guard’s provide service for Civil Support operations, which will allow National Guard to focus on its war fighting readiness. We are called to be the Subject Matter Experts for Civil Support Operations.
SGAUS can provide great assistance to this effort. At its core, SGAUS should make the job of a State Defense Force Commanders and their Staff easier and more efficient. SGAUS acts as a clearing house of best practices, information and ideas among SDF’s. Through the PME Academy, the MEMS Academy and other Academies, SGAUS establishes and promotes uniformed and professional standards for SDF’s; developing better trained SDF service members.
We have a terrific opportunity to continue to grow SGAUS and improve our State Defense Forces. I look forward to working with all of you over the next year to make progress on these issues and others, to make SGAUS become even better in fulfilling its mission to serve the member SDF’s and through them, citizens of our great country.
BG David J. Warager
President,
SGAUS
Email Contact: david.warager@sgaus.org
