When you look at the Guard today versus right before 9-11, how has it changed?

I'll start, I think, because I think you've got to look at it from two perspectives.

The strategic side, which is what I'll cover in that SSR major, maybe talk a little bit about the soldier, what the impacts were for them.

But if you think about it, 9-11 was almost phase two because I was commissioned in 1992 as an officer right after the Gulf War.

And that's when we transitioned and we learned from the Gulf War that the Guard and the Reserve weren't necessarily trained to a standard they needed to be trained.

It took six, sometimes longer, to validate units before they could get into a fight.

And we were allowed to do that because there was a long buildup.

Do you look at yourself as this conflict being over and a veteran of it, or do you feel that kinship with today's soldier, knowing that you're all kind of in this counterterrorism fight?

What are the things that you hear from veterans that come up to you and wanna speak to you? What do we need to do better?

Wow.

I think we'll do an episode on that.

I'll bring in General Weigel who handles our veterans as my Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs.

But first, we always like to say we are here to help the veterans get the benefits they deserve.

Our nation is, I think, unique around the world.

And I say that because I spent a lot of time in Europe and Africa and South America and Asia.

But we do accept children, 16 to 18 year olds from all across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.