THE ENLISTED ASSOCIATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES (EANGUS)Your Voice on Capitol Hill!

EANGUSTHE ENLISTED ASSOCIATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES

Air National Guard Chief’s BriefingApril 1, 2015

Bryan Birch Scott BousumExecutive Director Legislative Director

Who We Are • Created in 1970 by a group of senior NCOs• Incorporated in Jackson, Mississippi in 1972• Created to give a voice on Capitol Hill for Enlisted

National Guard issues• The only association dedicated to the enlisted men and

women of the Army & Air National Guard

EANGUS

Why Do We Need Associations?• Bring together like-minded individuals for the purposes

of on-going professional development; the sharing of ideas and experiences; and to enjoy the benefits of strength in numbers and a united voice.

• Provide professional staff members to help carry-out the mission of the organization; to serve as advocates and representatives for legislative issues; to administer the day-to-day operations of the organization; and to serve as a resource to the membership.

EANGUS

Policy Development•EANGUS membership drives the association’s legislative goals through our resolutions process

•Staff handle emerging, standalone legislative issues throughout the year, in conjunction with other associations in The Military Coalition (TMC) EANGUS

Legislative Priorities• Veteran Status: Amend Title 38 to include in the definition(s) of

'veteran' retirees of the Guard/Reserve components who have completed 20 or more years of service, but are not considered to be veterans under the current statutory definitions• Educate Congress about the dangers of Sequestration• Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI)• Work to prohibit transfer of Apaches in FY16• Brief the National Commission on the Future of the Army

• Early access to TRICARE for Guardsmen mobilized for non-contingency operations

EANGUS

Legislative Priorities Continued• Tuition Assistance

• Change requirement that all service members must wait a period of 1 year after training before becoming eligible for the Army's Tuition Assistance Program

• Fix DOD/VA rule change that service members are no longer authorized to use both TA and DVA benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program

• Fix rule that Military Technicians, serving in a temporary capacity, arerequired to enroll in FEHB health plan and drop TRICARE Reserve Select

• Fund Counterdrug Task Force

• Fund Youth Challenge Program

EANGUS

Congressional Caucuses• Senate National Guard Caucus• Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Co-Chair• Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Co-Chair

(85 members)

• House Guard and Reserve Components Caucus• Steven Palazzo (R-MS) Co-Chair• Tim Walz (D-MN) Co-Chair

(Approximately 198 members)

EANGUS

How you can help• Respond to “The Call” via letter or email;• Forward “The Call” to supportive family/friends for their response; • Develop a personal relationship with your Legislators;• Schedule an office visit with your Legislators (locally or in D.C);• Follow legislative updates when available;• Talk to your fellow National Guard Members & encourage them to get

involved with a professional association

EANGUS

Advocacy Toolkit•Phone2Action (DC-based startup)• Emphasis on mobile• Emphasis on social media

• The Power of Mobility• Text “Chiefs” to 52-886 to access today’s PowerPoint presentation• Text “EANGUS” to 52-886 for membership information• Text “RollCallWrapUp” for up to date association information

EANGUS

Additional InformationEANGUS National Conference & ExhibitionAugust 9—12, 2015Indianapolis, IN

National Office Staff ContactsBryan Birch, Executive Director: bryan@eangus.orgScott Bousum, Legislative Director: scott@eangus.org

Text ‘EANGUS’ to 52-886 for membership information

EANGUSTHE ENLISTED ASSOCIATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES

Thank you for your time!

Bryan Birch Scott BousumExecutive Director Legislative Director