Reserve affairs leaders visit Florida National Guard headquarters

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2011) – Several senior level leaders in the Reserve Affairs community visited St. Augustine, Fla., today to learn more about the mission and capabilities of the Florida National Guard. The Honorable Thomas R. Lamont, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), who is responsible for the supervision of the manpower, personnel and reserve component affairs for the Department of the Army received a command briefing at the organization’s headquarters in the historic St. Francis Barracks.

The Honorable Thomas R. Lamont, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), who is responsible for the supervision of the manpower, personnel and reserve component affairs for the Department of the Army received a command briefing at the organization’s headquarters in the historic St. Francis Barracks in St. Augustine, Fla. Photo by Debra Cox

Accompanying him was Lamont’s senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Byrd and the senior enlisted advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs), Command Sgt. Maj. John Gipe, and his wife, Gretchen.

One of the key issues discussed was unemployment among National Guard members and redeploying service members and the many programs the Florida National Guard has instituted to address this growing concern. Lamont said that unemployment is a growing concern not only for the Reserve component, but also for Soldiers who are leaving the Active duty force. He says he believes there will be “an increasing emphasis on career orientation programs” in the future.