Funding for this program is provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation.

♪♪ As elected officials gather in Iowa's capital city of Des Moines, Major General Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard speaks to a joint session of the Iowa legislature.

This is the 2025 Condition of the Guard Address.

♪♪ ♪♪ [Senator Amy Sinclair] -- the Chair announces the appointment of the Senator from Iowa, Senator Driscoll.

The Senator from Webster, Senator Kraayenbrink.

And the Senator from Polk, Senator Knox, on the part of the Senate.

The Representative from Webster, Representative A. Meyer, the Representative from Dallas, Representative Nordman and the Representative from Linn, Representative Wichtendahl on the part of the House.

Will the committee retire and perform its duty.

[Senator Amy Sinclair] The Chair recognizes the Senator from Polk, Senator Whitver.

[Senator Whitver] Thank you Madame President.

Madame President, I move that a committee of six, three members from the Senate and three members from the House be appointed to notify the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard Major General Stephen Osborn, the joint convention is ready to receive him.

[Senator Amy Sinclair] You've heard the motion from the Senator from Polk, Senator Whitver.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

[Senator Amy Sinclair] Opposed no.

The motion prevails and the Chair announces the appointment of the Senator from Woodbury, Senator Alons, the Senator from Pottawattamie, Senator Dawson and the Senator from Polk, Senator Blake on the part of the Senate.

The Representative from Lee, Representative Graber, the Representative from Cerro Gordo, Representative Hermanson and the Representative from Polk, Representative McBurney on the part of the House.

Will the committee please retire and perform its duty.

(gavel) [Senator Amy Sinclair] The Chair recognizes the Sergeant at Arms.

Madame President, the Executive Council has arrived in the House Chamber.

[Senator Amy Sinclair] Please escort the Executive Council to their seats.

(gavel) (applause) (applause) (applause) [Senator Amy Sinclair] The Chair recognizes the Sergeant at Arms.

Madame President, Lieutenant Governor Cournoyer has arrived in the House Chamber.

[Senator Amy Sinclair] Please escort Lieutenant Governor Cournoyer to her seat.

(applause) (applause) [Senator Amy Sinclair] The Chair recognizes the Sergeant at Arms.

Madame President, your committee to escort Governor Reynolds has arrived.

(applause) (applause) (applause) [Senator Amy Sinclair] The Chair recognizes the Sergeant at Arms.

Madame President, your committee to notify and escort Major General Stephen Osborn has arrived.

[Senator Amy Sinclair] The Committee will escort Major General Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard to the rostrum.

(gavel) (applause) (applause) (applause) [Senator Amy Sinclair] It is my pleasure to introduce Major General Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard.

Major General Osborn is here to present the Condition of the Iowa National Guard Address.

(applause) (applause) (applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] Thank you.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, thank you Speaker Grassley and President Sinclair for the invitation to be here and speak with you today.

I'm going to start, I'm going to go off script right out of the shoot here.

There's a number of service members around that are the leadership of the Iowa National Guard and soldiers that we're going to recognize.

I would like them to stand and be recognized before we get moving here.

Please stand.

Thank you.

(applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] They are truly the ones that make the Iowa National Guard move forward.

So thank you.

Governor Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Cournoyer, distinguished members of the Iowa General Assembly, state officials, and my fellow Iowans.

It is an honor to stand before you today as the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard.

On behalf of the nearly nine thousand men and women of our organization, I want to express our deepest appreciation for your support and your partnership.

Without your continued investment in our mission, our success would not be possible.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to Governor Reynolds and her team for their commitment to the brave Iowans who serve, or have served, our great state and nation.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] Integrity, trust, and care for our people are at the heart of our success and the bedrock of everything we do.

The Iowa National Guard is a dedicated and professional force, part of the less than one percent of all Americans who choose to wear the uniform of our nation.

We are a unique component of the United States military, being the only component to serve both state and federal governments.

The National Guard functions as the primary combat reserve of the Army and Air Force while also providing critical support to our nation's governors during time of domestic emergencies.

From natural disaster relief efforts to international deployments, our service members have met every challenge with excellence and a steadfast commitment to serve and protect the people of Iowa and our nation.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] Looking back, 2024 was again, another dynamic year for the Iowa National Guard as we deployed over 700 service members to locations across the state, the nation, and 14 countries around the world.

From December 2023 to October 24, Soldiers from C/2-211th Aviation Regiment and the 186th Military Police Company deployed to Kosovo as part of NATO's Kosovo Force, providing vital medical evacuation and law enforcement support to all NATO partners and contributing to a safe, stable, and peaceful Kosovo.

From January to April, the 185th Air Refueling Wing deployed 135 Airmen to Guam, bolstering strategic air power across the Indo-Pacific theater.

In April, we once again supported Texas and Operation Lone Star as a State Active-Duty support mission with 115 Soldiers on the Southwest Border.

During the destructive Northwest Iowa floods in June, Soldiers and Airmen from multiple organizations worked tirelessly to support the Governor's response efforts with aviation search and rescue, high-water transportation, and debris removal.

In July, we welcomed home 150 Soldiers from the 831st Engineer Company after a ten-month deployment to the Middle East.

In September, we deployed 2 Army Chinook helicopters and 15 crew members to support North Carolina's Hurricane Helene relief efforts in a State Active-duty status.

These crews delivered over 176,800 pounds of food and water, and rescued 38 people.

In October, we welcomed home Soldiers from the 1034th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion after a 12-month federal mission on the SW border supporting United States Customs and Border Protection.

In November, Airmen and Soldiers from the 168th Cyber Operations Squadron and our Defensive Cyber Operations Element supported the Iowa Secretary of State with election cybersecurity assistance.

And as I speak, we have 63 of our Soldiers and Airmen in Washington, D.C. on federal status, providing support to the Presidential Inauguration, as we typically do.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] Outside of our operational efforts, I want to take a moment and highlight some of the successful programs and partnerships within the Iowa National Guard that reflect our commitment to our communities, our people, and the state of Iowa.

One of our most impactful initiatives is the National Guard Counterdrug Program, which plays a vital role in combatting illegal drug trafficking and drug abuse in our communities.

Through this Department of Defense funded program, our Soldiers and Airmen support law enforcement agencies across Iowa in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational threats.

Our Iowa National Guard analysts work directly with law enforcement partners providing critical information needed to interdict illicit operations and prosecute rug cases.

In 2024, analysts worked over 1,200 cases, contributing to the seizure of 2,327 pounds of drugs, and 884 arrests.

This includes the seizure of approximately thirty pounds of fentanyl.

As we continue to further a culture of safety and resilience within the Iowa National Guard, our DoD supported Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce or IPPW has been instrumental in helping our leaders identify, mitigate, and prevent harmful behaviors within our force.

Our professional IPPW staff works closely with our leaders to better understand, and address risk factors related to harmful behaviors that impact the health and well-being of our service members, families, and civilian employees.

Our IPPW team remains a crucial element as we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our people.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] We also value the partnerships we've cultivated with business, community, education, and media leaders, which amplify our impact and foster mutual understanding.

Over the past year, we've conducted a number of large-scale community engagements across the state, and we've engaged leadership groups, educators, and non-profit organizations to share information and support their efforts.

We have also worked closely with employers and business leaders in coordination with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to share more about our mission and identify new ways to collaborate.

This included flying 49 employers, along with representatives from 3 media outlets to Camp Ripley, Minnesota this past July as part of the ESGR Boss Lift program.

This event provided these employers and media members an opportunity to personally witness the dedication, skill, and professionalism of our service members as well as observe the extensive training of our units.

Together with our community partners, we are building a stronger, safer, and more connected Iowa while staying true to our mission of service and remaining always ready.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] For the Iowa National Guard, readiness is our business.

It is the product we produce, and the expectation placed upon us.

Readiness starts with the quality people that make up our organization, but quickly escalates to one uncompromising principle -- training.

Training that is relevant, rigorous, and will prepare our units to deploy, operate, and win, today and in the future.

Developing skilled and disciplined Soldiers and Airmen comes from the realistic and challenging training that we demand, coupled with the individual and unit experiences we continually gain.

This is evident with our Air National Guard units as they continuously prepare for future operations while actively engaging in operational missions around the world directly from their bases here in Iowa or forward deployed.

This was witnessed firsthand by the Governor during a recent visit to the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City.

Governor Reynolds took part in an air refueling mission to observe the critical importance of our training, competency of our Airmen, and capability of our units.

Our Army units are also continually preparing for operations while adhering to the Army's Global Force Management Allocation Plan, placing our units in a five-year readiness cycle.

This cycle annually increases the demand and rigor of unit training, culminating with the availability for unit deployment in support of operational missions around the world.

Last year, our largest unit, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, with over 3,300 Soldiers assigned, participated in the Army National Guard's Exportable Combat Training program, a highly resourced capstone training event designed to conduct integrated collective training as part of the unit's readiness build.

2nd Brigade's readiness cycle will conclude this summer as they execute a demanding 21-day, force-on-force training rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.

This JRTC rotation is the final event for 2nd Brigade's 5-year readiness cycle and upon completion, over 1,800 Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team are scheduled to deploy to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

As a key component of our readiness, The Iowa National Guard continues to invest in our long-standing and impactful relationship with the Republic of Kosovo and the Kosovo Security Force through the National Guard's State Partnership Program.

Through our partnership, we work side by side with the KSF in multiple capacities, strengthening interoperability, understanding, and trust.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] 1In 2024 we conducted 25 partnered events focused on Cyber Security, Signal Communications, Military Medicine, Leader Development, and Maneuver operations.

Our efforts continue to support the Kosovo Security Force as they work toward becoming a NATO interoperable, territorial defense force capable of protecting the sovereignty and the citizens of Kosovo.

As part of this enduring partnership, I am proud to say, the KSF will participate in our upcoming JRTC training exercise this summer with an Infantry Company of 130 Soldiers, serving under the leadership of our 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

I am also excited to announce that we are working together, with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Republic of Kosovo, Minister of Defense, to co-deploy a KSF Infantry Platoon of 38 Soldiers as part of our 2nd Brigade's mission in the Middle East, marking this the second and largest co-deployment to date, between the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force.

But our Iowa connection with the Republic of Kosovo goes beyond a military partnership as we continue to solidify our whole of society relationship to facilitate greater opportunities both here and in Kosovo.

At this time, it is my honor to introduce a special guest joining us today.

Chief of Consular Mission at the Consulate of the Republic of Kosovo here in Des Moines, The Honorable Drilon Zogaj.

Mr. Zogaj recently assumed the lead position at the Kosovo consulate and fosters the connection we have with the Government of Kosovo.

He supports the international collaboration efforts which help to strengthen our strategic partnership with Kosovo and he is a true supporter of not only our military-to-military partnership, but also our whole of Iowa / whole of Kosovo relationship.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming a true friend and partner, Chief of Mission Drilon Zogaj.

(applause) (applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] Our programs, partnerships, training, and operational efforts reflect the strength and dedication of our organization as represented by the accomplishments of our people.

To showcase this, I would like to take a few moments to highlight some of the extraordinary individuals who represent the Iowa National Guard and the Iowa Department of Public Defense.

Today, we recognize Specialist Juan DeLaRoca-Sis, one of our newer members of the Iowa National Guard whose remarkable journey exemplifies perseverance, dedication, and service.

Born in Guatemala, SPC DeLaRoca-Sis moved to New York and later relocated to Sioux City, Iowa, where he graduated from Sioux City West High School.

Overcoming numerous challenges, SPC DeLaRoca-Sis relied on the love and support from foster parents to develop a successful business.

Motivated by a desire to give back, Juan enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in April 2023 as an Infantryman.

His determination led him to excel at Fort Moore, Georgia, where he earned a spot in the United States Army Ranger School, one of the most mentally and physically demanding courses in any branch of military service.

Not only did SPC DeLaRoca-Sis graduate and earn the coveted Ranger Tab, he also successfully completed Airborne School earning his Parachutist Wings.

Within a month of returning to Iowa, SPC DeLaRoca-Sis became a U.S. citizen, thanks to our partnership with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.

His story of resilience, elite military accomplishments, and citizenship is a testament to the American Dream.

Please join me in recognizing Specialist Juan DeLaRoca-Sis who will later deploy with that 2nd Brigade to the Middle East.

Juan, thank you.

(applause) (applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] Senior Master Sergeant Gary Sanders exemplifies the highest standards of dedication, service, and selflessness.

As a firefighter with the 132d Civil Engineer Squadron and the Ankeny Fire Department, Senior Master Sergeant Sanders is no stranger to putting others first.

This year, while preparing for a family vacation, he was ordered to State Active-Duty to assist with flood disaster response in northwest Iowa.

Without hesitation, he set aside personal plans and deployed within 24 hours to aid the affected communities.

SMSgt Sanders and his team worked tirelessly, removing over 4,400 cubic yards of debris, equivalent to more than 1,300 tons, in just five days.

His efforts, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation, brought much-needed relief to the people of Sioux Rapids and Spencer during this critical time.

Whether responding to emergencies as a firefighter, answering the call for state disasters, or fulfilling his role in national defense, Senior Master Sergeant Sanders consistently prioritizes the well-being of others, making him an exceptional example of the Iowa National Guard's commitment to service.

Please join me in recognizing Senior Master Sgt.

Gary Sanders.

(applause) (applause) (applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] Staff Sergeant Tara Rew currently serves in the Iowa Army National Guard as a flight paramedic based out of Waterloo.

In her full-time civilian capacity, she works for a company that specializes in training civilian flight paramedics.

In addition to her full-time job and her Army National Guard Career, she works part time as a nurse, picking up shifts in the emergency department at the University of Iowa Hospital.

In June, Staff Sergeant Rew was ordered to State Active-Duty in response to the floods in Northwest Iowa.

Staff Sergeant Rew, as part of a 4-person air medical evacuation crew responded to a request for assistance for an individual trapped in flood waters near Spencer.

During the operation, Staff Sergeant Rew was lowered from her UH60 Blackhawk helicopter by the aircraft rescue hoist to secure and rescue a man stranded in the rushing flood waters of the Little Sioux River.

Staff Sergeant Rew is a mother of two, a Soldier, a first responder, a trainer, and an unwavering volunteer.

She has dedicated 21 years of her life to military service.

She lives the values and ideals of the Iowa National Guard and embodies the spirit of a citizen Soldier.

Please join me in recognizing Staff Sergeant Tara Rew.

(applause) (applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] Second Lieutenant Michael Ploeger of the 132nd Security Forces Squadron demonstrated heroism, quick thinking, and exceptional skill in a life- threatening situation on July 30th.

As a Des Moines Police Officer, responding to a call of an officer down during a volatile police pursuit, Lt. Ploeger arrived within seconds to find Officer Jesse Schneider critically injured with a gunshot wound.

Drawing on advanced medical training from his service in the Iowa National Guard, Lt. Ploeger applied lifesaving measures, including multiple chest seals to address wounds that could have caused Officer Schneider's lungs to collapse.

Thanks to Lt. Ploeger's decisive action and expert medical care, Officer Schneider survived his injuries and made a full recovery.

This extraordinary act of courage and professionalism underscores the value of National Guard training and highlights Lt. Ploeger's commitment to protecting and serving his community, both in and out of military uniform.

Lt. Ploeger is currently away at Security Forces Officer School, but we would like to congratulate his wife, Alyssa, as we recognize that the family also serves and sacrifices alongside our service members.

Please join me in recognizing Second Lieutenant Michael Ploeger and his wife Alyssa.

(applause) (applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] It is my honor to highlight the extraordinary journey and contributions of Mr. Thein Tran, a state employee with the Iowa Department of Public Defense.

Mr. Tran's story is a testament to gratitude and service.

Born in Vietnam, Mr. Tran immigrated to the United States as a teenager, with no family and minimal English skills, supported by a sponsorship through Governor Ray's refugee policy.

Overcoming incredible challenges, Mr. Tran built a life in Iowa, dedicating decades of service to Broadlawns Hospital and UnityPoint Health before taking early retirement.

But his retirement didn't last long.

Driven by a profound sense of gratitude for the sacrifices of U.S.

Soldiers he witnessed during his youth in Vietnam, Mr. Tran chose to serve once again, time as a custodial supervisor with the Department of Public Defense at Camp Dodge.

His service is not only a reflection of his character but also an inspiration to all who have the privilege to work alongside him.

Please join me in recognizing Mr. Thein Tran with the Iowa Department of Public Defense.

(applause) (applause) (applause) [Major General Stephen Osborn] Ladies and gentlemen, we stand at a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Iowa National Guard as the transformation and modernization of our military is not just a goal, it is a necessity to guarantee our future security.

Here at home, this translates to strengthening our organization with relevant structure, upskilling our personnel, securing meaningful missions, and modernizing our infrastructure to support our future readiness objectives.

In 2025, The Iowa National Guard will embrace changes to our force structure and missions pertaining to cyber operations, contingency response, field artillery, and combat engineers.

This equates to a gain of 137 new authorizations for the Iowa National Guard, meaning new positions, opportunities, and growth for our state.

In May, we will open our new 24-million-dollar West Des Moines Readiness Center, funded through both state and federal dollars.

This new, state-of-the-art facility will serve not only the Iowa National Guard but also the West Des Moines Fire Department, demonstrating the collaboration between the Iowa National Guard and our local communities.

Later this year we will break ground on a new 14-million-dollar, federally-funded, Army National Guard maintenance facility in Sioux City.

We will also complete the design of a 95-million-dollar, federally-funded, runway replacement in Sioux City.

We continue to work with our Siouxland partners, elected leaders, and National Guard Bureau towards funding this critical military construction project.

These investments will modernize both Army and Air National Guard facilities and allow for continued mission execution and expanded growth into the future, a future that is both volatile and uncertain as we face an evolving set of complex threats.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] Our future challenges demand a stronger, more modern, and more capable force and your continued support is vital to our success toward achieving our readiness goals in manning, training, equipping, and modernization.

My top priority this legislative session is to modernize and improve upon the most utilized state benefit afforded to our service members, the Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship.

We are proposing, and ask for your support, on the expansion of INGSS to include certificate and credentialing programs.

We are seeking flexibility for our evolving workforce as we work with the Iowa Department of Education to expand INGSS beyond undergraduate degree programs and include certificate and credentialing programs at accredited state institutions.

To help support this expansion of INGSS, we are also proposing a requirement that application for military Federal Tuition Assistance be mandated first, prior to the utilization of state tuition assistance, allowing further reach of our state resources.

In essence, our proposal is FTA before STA.

And finally, we request an exception to the current chronic absenteeism law for military applicants and those fulfilling their duty without being penalized academically.

We ask for your support of this provision to help our high-school military applicants and recruits seamlessly enter the military and begin their service.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] As we look forward, I want to emphasize our efforts that will guide the Iowa National Guard into the future.

First and foremost, the care and success of our people remains at the heart of everything we do.

Recruiting young men and women to join our ranks remains the foundation of our readiness, and our focus will continue to be on their success—providing them with the resources, training, and support they need to thrive in their roles and their lives.

With the dedicated effort of our recruiting force, supplemented with the support of the Governor and an ARPA funded state incentive pilot program, we have achieved significant strength improvements across both the Iowa Army and Air National Guard this past year.

I am proud to say that the Iowa National Guard ended Fiscal Year 24 with 99.5% assigned strength and an 83% retention rate, one of the highest in the nation.

And as we move into 2025, our momentum continues, as we have gained over 400 new Soldiers and Airmen since 1 October, numbers we have not seen in over 5 years.

Our second effort is the transformation of the Iowa National Guard and shaping the future of our organization and our state.

We are evolving to meet the demands of an ever-changing world, focusing on modernizing our force, infrastructure, and equipment.

This transformation brings new missions, new opportunities, and new challenges.

For Iowa, it means economic growth, job creation, and a stronger, more secure community.

We will continue to align our priorities with the needs of our state and nation, ensuring that the Iowa National Guard remains always ready.

Lastly, our training must prepare our people for the future complex missions both at home and abroad.

As we move into 2025, we will leverage our aggressive training to ensure our units will succeed in their support to daily operational missions, and as part of our scheduled deployment cycles, continuing our legacy of excellence and service.

The strength of our force lies in its readiness, and readiness comes from relentless preparation.

[Major General Stephen Osborn] As I close, I want to thank each of you for your leadership, hard work, and commitment to the people of this great state and I deeply appreciate your support to our service members and their families.

It is an incredible honor to serve alongside the dedicated men and women of the Iowa National Guard, and we look forward to working together to move the Iowa National Guard into the future.

God Bless our men and women in uniform, God Bless the great State of Iowa, and God Bless the United States of America, thank you very much.

(applause) (applause) (applause) (applause) [Senator Amy Sinclair] Will the committee to escort Major General please come forward and escort Major General Osborn from the House Chamber.

(gavel) (applause) (applause) (applause) Funding for this program is provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation.