'The days of the second-class, hand-me-down militia are long gone.'

摘要

Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum's days are numbered at the National Guard Bureau. Pending White House and Senate approval, which is expected this month or next, the longest-serving NGB chief in nearly three decades will become the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command. It's one of two intertwined actions that will provide the Guard with unprecedented stature. The other is the historic promotion to a four-star rank of Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, a first for the Guard, as he becomes Blum's successor.