Top MS Guard officer visits CAFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Parie
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  Mississippi's top guard office visited Columbus AFB Friday to speak with graduating members of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 07-15.

Maj. Gen. Harold Cross, Adjutant General of Mississippi, not only talked to graduating students, but also spoke about the challenges and changes the Mississippi National Guard is facing.

"The big challenge that we always face is that our team is only 20 percent full-time, the other 80 percent serve in addition to their daily work life," he said.

"Our goal is to try and appeal not only to the servicemember, but to the families and employees," the general said. "The guard has changed, we are no longer a one weekend a month, two weeks a year service."

"The Global War on Terrorism not only has had an impact on our people, but their employers as well," he said. "I know of one company whose workers were made up of 60 percent guard members and when their unit was recalled they lost more than half their workforce."

"Even with situations like those arising, patriotism still runs high among all of the Mississippi employers I have spoke with," he said. "They realize our people make suburb employees with high skill levels and leadership skills."

Looking back at to the beginning of his career the general discussed how the force has changed since he commissioned.

"We started as a strategic reserve force and have transformed into a front line tactical force," he said.

"No longer do we have the luxury of training for months after being notified that we will deploy for a war," he said. "We now have to be ready at a moments notice for whatever needs to be done to protect our country."

"Even though the training and deployment demands have increased," he said. "Our people are just as dedicated as ever."

"All of our Soldiers and Airmen have a keen commitment to what they do and they know that losing is not an option," he said.