Legislature(2007 - 2008)BELTZ 211
04/26/2007 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB131 | |
| HB210 | |
| HB8 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 109 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 210 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 210-QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
9:23:49 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of HB 210.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DAHLSTROM, Alaska State Legislature, said
HB 210 pertains to the military and the National Guard. There
has been restructuring and increased deployment with increased
responsibilities. This legislation allows the governor to give
preference to a future adjutant general who has served at least
five years in the Alaska Army or Air National Guard, and the it
recommends increasing the federally recognized general grade
from major to lieutenant general, which would mean going from a
2-star to a 3-star for an officer who has qualifications to gain
federal recognition in active duty or in retired status. Changes
are being made at the federal level and if Alaska's generals are
not at an equal level with the generals of the other states they
may not be able to accomplish as many things as they need to. HB
210 encourages respect from Alaska's troops because they know
their leader has walked in their steps. The governor is not
diminished in any way. The administration supports it.
9:26:49 AM
SENATOR BUNDE asked if the current adjutant general would have
been qualified had this bill been law.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said yes.
SENATOR GREEN asked about others.
McHUGH PIERRE, Director, Communications, Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs, said in the past there have been adjutant
generals who have not served in the Alaska National Guard; they
have been active-duty colonels, but without the National Guard
experience the organization didn't benefit as it might have.
SENATOR STEVENS asked how many other general ranks are in the
Alaska National Guard.
MR. PIERRE said there are four generals in the Alaska National
Guard. There is an assistant adjutant general, who is
essentially the division director of the Air and Army National
Guard. There is a one-star general over space and missile
defense who commands the Fort Greely troops. There is an
unfilled position of commander of the 176 in Anchorage. They are
all brigadier generals, he noted.
9:29:14 AM
MR. PIERRE said going from two-stars to three-stars lays the
foundation to move more swiftly when Washington D.C. promotes
the National Guard bureau chief from a three-star to a four-
star. "That way our state can fall in line and make that easy
transition and have the respect in Washington D.C. that the
other adjutant generals have."
SENATOR STEVENS asked if this will be a little unusual.
MR. PIERRE said this has been suggested by the National Guard.
When the bureau chief moves to four-star, all of the adjutant
generals who are in control of the national guards in every
state would move to three-star. The next step is up to National
Guard Bureau, but it will not happen until the federal
government authorizes it.
9:30:43 AM
SENATOR GREEN moved to report HB 210 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
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