From Senator Amanda Ragan –
Major General Timothy Orr of the Iowa National Guard recently met with senators in conjunction with his re-appointment as Adjutant General for Iowa, which was unanimously confirmed.
He told us that approximately 260 Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen are currently deployed overseas, which is a very low number compared to recent years. As Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom wind down, the Iowa National Guard is refocusing on organizational readiness and its role as a link between communities and the military in Iowa. The 9,400 Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen who serve today have a presence in 725 Iowa cities and towns.
Here in Iowa, our Guard has proven to be a national leader in recruiting and retention. Both the Iowa Air and Army National Guard have been at or above 100 percent of authorized strength for more than 10 years. That is a big accomplishment considering all that this volunteer force has been asked to do since 9-11. The Guard is in the top echelon of quality recruits, and Iowa units have been honored with several prestigious awards from the U.S. Department of Defense and other military organizations.
