While many believe that our organization is purely a social group that is hardly the case. The members of the Enlisted Association have come together to promote and maintain adequate national security and to promote and advance the status, welfare, and professionalism of the enlisted members of the National Guard of Montana (EANGMT) and the United States (EANGUS). The most effective "tool" that our membership can use to accomplish our purpose is the resolution. Resolutions are used to effect changes to policy or law or to initiate new programs. The changes can happen at the state level or at the national level, either through the state legislature or Congress, the Montana Department of Military Affairs, the National Guard Bureau or the Department of Defense.
Resolutions are the formal presentation of ideas that each and every association member has the privilege of presenting every year. The resolutions become the roadmap for your elected association officials as they go about their duties of representing you, the dues paying member.
About three decades ago, before National Guard members were allowed into the Base/Post Exchange to shop, several EANGUS members submitted their idea that National Guard membership should include access to the BX/PX. Over the years, that benefit has grown from nothing to what we have today and it all started with a resolution. About four years ago you were offered the opportunity to enroll in the Reserve Component Dental Plan at a reduced cost. Successive EANGUS resolutions were presented to DoD and Congress on this issue until we finally were afforded that benefit and it all started with a resolution.
About two decades ago, before National Guard members were allowed to use the Commissaries unless they were on at least 72 hours of continuous active duty and then only while they were on active duty, EANGUS heard its membership say that this was our number one issue. The Montana Enlisted Association membership passed this resolution at the state level and sent it to our national organization several years in a row. The results of a commissary usage survey conducted by our Montana association were successfully used by EANGUS in testimony before Congress. The end result was expanded Commissary benefits for the National Guard and it all started with a resolution.
Just this past state legislative session, your Enlisted Association was successful in securing changes to state law that now provides us with veteran's preference in employment for public jobs; protects our DD214's from identity theft when you register them at the county recorders office; affords civil court protections while you are on active duty (similar to the federal Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act); and urges the Montana University System to provide special considerations for college students who are activated during their school term; and they all started with a resolution.
As you can see, resolutions are the association member's most effective benefit. Whether you have an idea to make things better for you and your National Guard comrades that involves a state issue or a national issue, your paid membership in the Enlisted Association gives you the opportunity to be heard and perhaps make a difference. Take advantage of your membership today.
by CMS Roger Hagan
