Retired civilian and military leaders gathered to discuss the recent surge in state deployments of the National Guard and its implications for the 2024 election.

Washington, DC — Members of Count Every Hero’s National Guard Working Group discussed domestic deployments of the National Guard directed by states and what they mean for the 2024 election, at a panel co-hosted with the Brookings Institution’s Governance Studies center. 

Led by Count Every Hero member and former National Guard Bureau chief General (Ret.) Craig McKinley, and former National Guard Bureau Chief General (Ret.) Joseph Lengyel, Count Every Hero’s National Guard Working Group includes former Adjutant Generals and other state and federal civilian and military leaders. The group, which first convened in 2023, is committed to supporting elected officials, current National Guard leaders, and others in keeping the National Guard a strong, ready, and trusted military force in the service of all Americans. Working Group members Major Gen. (Ret.) Daryl Bohac, Brigadier Gen. (Ret.) Allyson Solomon, and Dr. Paul Stockton joined Generals McKinley and Lengyel at this event. 

Nontraditional National Guard deployments by governors of both political parties have become more common since 2020. These state missions stray from the National Guard’s core mission and scenarios service members are trained for, often lack mission clarity, and harm overall readiness of National Guard units. During the panel discussion, Working Group members stressed the importance of minimizing these unconventional deployments in an election year, where the stakes are especially high.

“You want Americans to believe a situation will get better when the National Guard is there, which is why we must be able to separate our soldiers and airmen from politics. . . The impact these missions have on Guardsmen is the same regardless of the party of the governor who deploys them, and burnout is a real risk with overuse of the National Guard, especially for missions that are not as straightforward as saving lives, restoring order, or protecting property.”

–General (Ret.) Joseph L. Lengyel

“All military and civilian leaders take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, but members of the National Guard also take an oath to uphold the constitution of the state they serve. . . Guard members must be aware of what status they are in and as importantly what status they are not in, so we owe it to them to provide a clear framework.”

-Major General (Ret.) Daryl Bohac