newjerseynewsroom.com

Will continue to command National, Air Guard

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Senate Judiciary Committee Monday voted unanimously in favor of the reappointment of Maj. Gen. Glenn J. Reith as adjutant general of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Gov. Chris Christie's nomination of Reith, who has held the post since 2002, is expected to be approved by the full Senate on Feb. 22. The committee's action was the first approval of a Christie nominee.

"I am humbled and honored that Governor Christie has entrusted me to lead the state national and air guard again,'' Reith said. He later concluded, "I look forward to continue to serve. I am so proud of the opportunity Governor Christie has given to me to continue to serve and be part of the Army and Air National Guard.

Reith, 52, of Ewing, is a career military officer who commands over 8,000 National and Air Guardsmen who have since 2001 been deployed, often on more than on one occasion, to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Turkey, and Cuba. With a budget of $91.3 million and veterans affairs and three state homes for veterans and an effort to provide shelter for homeless veterans.

On Tuesday, 30 airmen of the 177th Security Forces of the 177th Fighter Wing will leave from Egg Harbor for deployment in Southwest Asia as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In describing Reith, Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer) told the committee, "The fighting men and women of New Jersey have an adjutant they can look up too and respect. I've seen the general with family members on holidays and helping with the Family Readiness Council. Glenn does not forget the families, and he has the extraordinary support of veteran's leaders. This is a general who has done us proud, done our state proud, our soldiers proud and their families proud.''

During his remarks to the committee, Reith frequently praised his guardsmen and staff. He said soldiers and airmen assigned to war zones for nine months go with full training and modern equipment. "In the last five years we have divested of legacy (surplus) equipment and got $110 million in the most modern equipment in the Army's inventory,‘' Reith said.

Reith also said his office, working with the service personnel's families and private supporters have raised $1.6 million to support the families of personnel assigned oversees.

"I've made a commitment to Governor Christie that when he calls, our National Guard will be there,‘' Reith said. "If there is a need for response to a snowstorm or terrorism, I can guarantee you our first responders, the New Jersey National Guard, will be there."