<b>The Global Minuteman Bulletin: Eyes on Exercises and Worldwide Security</b>

<b>What is it' </b>

The Army National Guard has a new operations and training bulletin named "The Global Minuteman." This bulletin provides a vehicle for situational awareness, feedback on exercises, and worldwide security cooperation.

<b>What has the ARNG done' </b>

The Global Minuteman provides current information about operations and training at U.S. Army Central Command (USARCENT), U.S. Army North (USARNORTH), U. S. Army Africa (USARAF), U.S. Army European Command (USAREUR), and U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC).

Key bulletin topics include Innovative Readiness Training, the Individual Exchange Program such as the U.S./United Kingdom NCO and Commissioned Officer exchange program, Information Operations, Special Operations, Security Cooperation, Aviation, Maneuver, Medical, Signal, and Military Intelligence. The bulletin provides current information on websites and references of interest, points of contact and exercise opportunities, and funding realities.

<b>What continuing efforts does the ARNG have planned' </b>

With The Global Minuteman, the Army National Guard consolidates information about Army Service Component Commands (ASCCs) and activities of interest, especially exercises. The bulletin highlights organizational achievements and changes such as the 35th EN BDE of Missouri, the 404th MEB of Illinois, and the 141st MEB from North Dakota being selected as Theater Security Brigades for U.S. Army Africa and U.S. Army South.

The bulletin answers frequently asked questions such as "How to deploy an Army National Guard band'" - 1) deploy the band in overseas deployment training (ODT) status or 2) deploy the band as part of a State Partnership Program (SPP) activity. Both methods are coordinated by the National Guard Bureau (NGB) Public Affairs Office (NGB-PA). Some USARCENT training opportunities for FY11, for example, include Friendship Two in Feb/Mar 2011, Earnest Leader in Mar 2011, and Eager Light in July 2011.

<b>Why is this important to the Army' </b>

In FY10, over 21,000 Soldiers participated in 55 events worldwide. In today's post-9/11 world, Homeland Defense is a home and away game. ARNG participation in OCONUS training events bolsters the ASCC's theater security cooperation plans and engagement strategies as they build partner capacity strategies in Phase 0 operations. This minimizes Army involvement in future kinetic operations. Reserve- component participants make up 90 percent of all exercise, exchange, and engagement events and the ARNG fills 70 percent of that 90 percent. "Training as they fight," realistic and frequent exercises keep participants sharp and ready to support domestic and global missions. Critical to effective exercises are candid and timely after action reviews, and a sharpening of the saws with good, better, and best practices.

<b>Resources: </b>

<a href="http://www.arng.army.mil/Pages/Default.aspx " target="_blank"> Army National Guard website</a>