Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, kicked off the first joint conference of senior Air National Guard and Army National Guard leaders Nov. 19 in Washington, D.C., saying, “I am convinced we have the right leadership in this room for this time, for this nation.” McKinley told more than 2,000 Guard leaders on hand that they would collectively discuss issues they probably had not tackled before, but he expected them to forge strong relationships. He said during his visits to states, he sees “an integrated group of soldiers and airmen” and adjutant generals who are “developing joint force headquarters that are capable, that are strong.” Both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen praised the Guardsmen for their support to current overseas and homeland operations. As Mullen said, “We could not have done it without you.” (NGB report by MSgt. Mike Smith; AFPS report by Donna Miles)
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.