Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers that he saw “no compelling military need” to include the commander of the National Guard Bureau on the panel of senior-most military leaders. Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee during a Nov. 7 hearing, Dempsey cited two reasons for his opposition to the proposal. “Only one person can be in charge of the ‘brand’, Dempsey said. The Army, Navy, and Air Force chiefs of staff, as such, are the commanders of all components of their respective services, Dempsey believes. Inclusion of a National Guard presence on the Joint Chiefs of Staff would only confuse the delineation. Dempsey also pointed out that the National Guard chiefs have no budget, and therefore, do not hold the “responsibility to organize, train, and equip the force using the resources given him by Congress.” The Senate is considering S. 1025, which would place the Guard’s top military commander on the Joint Chiefs. Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are sponsoring the measure. Graham is a member of the Air Force Reserve.
