FROM THE PRESIDENT

To Our Members,

The state legislative session is in full swing. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure our members continue to receive the benefits and resources they deserve. I encourage you to visit our legislative page regularly (www.ngat.org/legislative) to stay current on the legislative matters that are important to you and continue to write to your elected representatives. Make sure they know that you are a member of NGAT. Of course, I could not go without mentioning our 64th Annual NGAT Conference in Irving! March 23-26 is right around the corner, and you don’t want to miss this year (https://ngat.org/ngat-conference/). Block reservations are available until March 3rd. I will be handing the reigns over to Mireya Cruz. I’m excited for her continued passion and energy to lead this Association. I also anticipate quite a few new board members to be sworn in. As the board membership changes, please make sure that you reach out to your representative, so they can hear your voice and champion for the things you want to see in the Association. Also, tell them the stories of our members. We know our people are doing great things, but we only know about it if you tell us. Visit the NGAT website www.ngat.org/board-of-directors to contact them. Additionally, the NGAT Board of Directors has two upcoming vacancies to fill for a retired NGAT Member. The term of service is 3 years. Interested personnel should contact Marvin Harris at mharris@ngat.org.

It’s still hard to believe that, since you elected me as President-Elect, this is only the second in-person conference we have conducted. That thought made me reflect on the last four years. And as I do that, in this final letter as President, I wanted to say thank you, to all of you, for your continued support of this organization. The state, country, and world have faced some major challenges that reshaped our realities. Regardless of whether that’s COVID response, CDO response, the border demands in Texas, or our continued T10 responsibilities, our Guardsmen and women have consistently stepped up to meet the demands of the nation and the state. In step, our Association has had to change, too. Our people continue to be our greatest strength, and they deserve an Association that continually supports them.

As always, I continue to thank our full-time staff. They continually do the heavy lifting for the organization. We sincerely would not be able to provide the services we do without them. Please take care of yourselves and your families and watch out for your fellow Guardsmen and women. H

NGAT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, 1LT Adrienne Williams shows off one of the many boxes we delivered to the Central Texas Food Bank in Austin, Texas. Thank you to everyone who dropped by the NGAT Office to make a donation. NGAT would also like to congratulate 1LT Williams on her 1st Place win in the NGAT Holiday Open House Chili contest.

Christopher McKeag President NGAT president@ngat.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO CW4 (RET) TERRI MARSHALL who was elected the chair of the Payroll Deduction Coordinating Board (PDCB) at the recent National Guard Executive Directors Association (NGEDA) Annual Meeting. The PDBC oversees the National Guard payroll deduction system in the administration of their state sponsored group life insurance program in all matters pertaining to the establishment, operation and/or improvements in the National Guard payroll deduction system authorized by the Department of Defense.

Donate To Support The Best Warrior Competition

THE MILITARY FORCES CONFERENCE FOUNDATION, NGAT and many corporate sponsors each year donate to help fund the Texas National Guard Best Warrior Competition. This year’s competition will be held Match 27-April 2, 2023, at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas. Donations are used to provide refreshments and snacks during the competition, awards for their accomplishments and to fund the banquet so there are not out of pocket costs for the warriors participating. To help support this event and to donate visit www.ngat.org.