JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Gov. Sean Parnell met with commanders and leaders of the Alaska Army National Guard Sept. 20 for a senior leader workshop, held at the Arctic Warrior Event Center, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The group discussed professional ethics and developed plans to ensure the organization is meeting its obligations as a uniformed force. A top priority was discussing methods to implement plans to create a more trusting working environment.
“Everyone in the Alaska National Guard has a role, right, and responsibility to be a leader, no matter his or her rank,” said Brig. Gen. Mike Bridges, Alaska National Guard’s acting adjutant general. “If they see something wrong, they have an obligation to do something about it.”
The purpose of the workshop was to provide senior leadership and staff of the Alaska Army National Guard with command-level guidance. Topics of discussion included trust, bridging generational gaps, improving the open-door policy, and encouraging communication at all levels.
“These types of events are invaluable to the Alaska Army National Guard,” said Maj. Alex Elmore, Alaska Army National Guard’s deputy chief of staff for operations. “Events similar to these strengthen our organization by synchronizing the efforts of our senior leaders and units.”
In addition to Parnell, speakers included Col. Clark C. Barrett, Ph.D., of the Michigan Army National Guard, who is an author and speaker on the topic of military institutional ethics.
“We know we have work to do, but we believe in the people in our organization,” Bridges said.
The Alaska National Guard’s citizen-Soldiers and Airmen are professionals who are committed to the security and safety of our state and nation. They are trained and equipped to be the first military responders in all state emergencies. They have performed more than 2,000 life-saving, stateside rescues in the past two decades; and more than 3,700 have deployed in support of the global war on terror since Sept. 11, 2001.
