The National Guard will command eight divisions by reorganizing their combat formations to increase the combat capability of most of their brigades and offer soldiers new career opportunities.
The American National Guard is being reorganized, divided into eight divisions, for a possible confrontation with Russia and China.
Lieutenant General Daniel Hokanson stated that the National Guard’s ten active-duty divisions would be filled with sub-units, with a significant increase in the divisions the army would deploy. According to the officers, the National Guard will be fully prepared for a confrontation with Russia and China with the new 18 divisions.
The army has been supporting its allies for the past 20 years and has focused on smaller combat teams as the main combat elements in counter-terrorist operations.
In an interview shortly before the announcement of the new arrangement, Hokanson said: ‘looking at the 2018 National Defense Strategy and global competition, this great power rivalry holds great conflict potentials. With the new arrangement, as National Guard, we support all our divisions and the Armed Forces and the National Defense Strategy.’
The National Defense Strategy, drafted by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, guided the Pentagon, revealing the potential for conflict with Russia and China as the main security threat to the United States. Over the past 20 years, the Armed Forces have focused on combating international terrorist organizations, especially those that appear to be less of a threat, rather than global competitors.
The National Guard was stationed at eight centers in Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Kansas, Indiana, California, and New York states, each with as many as 300 soldiers. Some were associated with sub-units but none were deployed in the order of the Armed Forces.
Hokanson deduced that there were a large number of brigade and battalion personnel to be deployed in the divisions, which would enable divisions to train together and establish critical ties when they needed to go into battle together.
The new arrangement is not yet complete. The administrations of 54 US states will be informed about the new arrangement. National Guard officials will come to an agreement from Governors and other top state officials that the headquarters in the state should come under the control of other central headquarters.
Hokanson stated that the new regulation will not affect the command of Governors and the highest-ranking soldier in the state. In addition, no additional funding requests were made from the Congress for the new arrangement.
With an example; New Mexico’s 1-200th Infantry Battalion would be affiliated with the 41st Infantry Brigade in Washington State, which is affiliated with the 41st Infantry Division stationed in California.
With the new arrangement, the staff of the 1-200th battalion will have new opportunities due to the lack of a superior Garrison. Battalion commander or rank personnel may serve in higher commands in new divisions if they perform well. There will even be the potential to become Division Command or Brigade Commander in another state.
