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.