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CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (January 2, 2008) - The National Guard
Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th
Division (Light), at Camp Patriot visited with their top general
this month.
Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau,
spoke with Soldiers stationed on Camp Patriot, Kuwait, to say
thanks for their service, and to answer questions and concerns
about the state of the National Guard.
"I came here to say thanks to you," said Blum and he expressed
his appreciation for the service the 3rd Bn., 116th Inf. Regt., is
providing the United States. "When you call up the Guard, you call
up America. We can go anywhere around the globe and stand shoulder
to shoulder with active duty Soldiers and no one can tell a
difference.
"The best quality force is the National Guard," Blum said.
As a former commanding general of the 29th Division from 1999 to
2002, Blum said the 3rd Bn., 116th Inf. Regt., National Guard
Soldiers and the Guard itself is very well trained.
The National Guard is made up of Soldiers who live most of their
lives as civilians, Blum said.
"That may be more valuable than the military training that you
bring," he said.
Blum said National Guard Soldiers have practical experience
because of civilian jobs and training that a lot of active duty
Soldiers just can't get.
The 29th Division consists of Soldiers from both north and south
of the Mason Dixon Line. The 3rd Bn., 116th Inf. Regt., National
Guard Soldiers have trained hard for their mission in support of
Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and continually
improves their tactics, techniques and procedures to ensure the
safety and security of their mission and the other Soldiers,
Sailors, Airmen and Marines around them.
"Your Soldiers are of almost every race, color, creed and
religion," Blum said. "But those things mean nothing. You're better
because you're different."
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