Six Spouses Recognized At Military Spouse Appreciation Day Event
Military Spouse Appreciation Day was hosted by Amber Snyder – Region 11 Soldier Family Readiness Specialist (SFRS) and the White Oak Vet Center at Mt. Pleasant Readiness Center this past May. Several veterans, service members and their families attended the event to acknowledge and honor the contributions, support, and sacrifices made by the spouses of military service members and veterans. It served as a reminder of the vital role military spouses play in the military community, acting as the “force behind the force” and providing stability and support while their partners serve.
The first official recognition of Service Spouse Day was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Military spouses often face significant challenges, including juggling careers, childcare, and household responsibilities while their service member is deployed or attending training. Military Spouse Appreciation Day also helps to foster awareness and understanding of the unique needs and experiences of military families, encouraging community support and resources for spouses. Military spouses are often the backbone of their families, demonstrating resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
Six spouses were recognized for their efforts, support, and hard work. The event also served as a resource fair where eight community resource contacts were present and provided resource tables of information where those in attendance connected with. DEERs/ID card representatives were also there for family members to receive new ID cards and enroll new family members.
National Guard Counterdrug Schools Play Big Role With Strategic Partnership Building
The National Guard Counterdrug Schools (NGCS) spotlight the National Guard’s role in Unified Action between the Department of Defense (DoD) and domestic law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The NGCS are uniquely positioned at the intersection of the National Counterdrug Strategy (as published by the Office of National Drug Control Policy) and the front-line officers and communities fighting the opioid epidemic. These Schools leverage their highly trained staffs - comprised entirely of full-time Air and Army National Guardsmen - to translate national policy into actionable training plans aimed at reducing domestic drug demand and dismantling criminal drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) operating within the homeland.
The schools are Congressionally funded through Section 112 of USC Title 32, allowing them to operate within the intent of their respective state adjutant general while supporting all states across their region. There are five regional NGCS, with headquarters in Washington, Iowa, Mississippi, Florida, and Pennsylvania - home to our own Northeast Counterdrug Training Center (NCTC). Annually, NCTC trains roughly 20,000 students from across the 19-state northeast region of the United States in drug prevention, interdiction, and investigation.
Unlike the U.S. military, civilian LEA do not operate under a standardized force structure. This disparity significantly hampers their command and control capabilities when confronting threat networks such as modern DTOs. The NCTC coordinates with LEAs at every level - local, state, federal, and tribal - to analyze current illicit narcotics threats and develop efficient, effective training aligned with the priorities and intent of the DoD and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Northeast Counterdrug Training Center personnel gain experience in strategic partnership building and collective training, developing soldiers and airmen with real-world expertise that they bring back to their traditional units. Concurrently, the unique military skills NCTC personnel develop during drill weekends, training center rotations, and mobilizations provide them with valuable tools they apply to Schoolhouse training development. This inter- and intra-agency cooperation strengthens domestic law enforcement, the National Guard, and the Department of Defense in their shared mission to safeguard the people of the United States.