Guard gains a seat at Joint Chiefs' table

The National Guard now has a seat at the table as the Defense Department decides where and how to cut back spending.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (1/3/12) - Florida National Guardsman and chief of the National Guard Bureau Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley will officially join the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

President Barack Obama signed a bill into law on Dec. 31 that expands the membership of the senior military advisory body to include the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Obama's move recognizes the crucial role played by the Guard in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as civilian soldiers became part of a full-time fighting force to a greater degree than ever before. McKinley is in a better position now to push for better equipment and more resources, which Wisconsin leaders say are needed.

"This decision on the part of the president and Congress reflects the critical role the National Guard plays in national defense," said Wisconsin's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Dunbar. "It is a direct result of the incredible performance of the National Guard in the last 10 years."