U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), last week acted as Ranking Member during a SASC hearing that received testimony from witnesses on whether the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) should be made a statutory member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Currently, legislation is pending before the SASC that proposes the addition of the CNBG to the JCS. If added, current CNGB Gen. McKinley will join the JCS and advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters specific to the National Guard.

“I support legislation that will make the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a permanent member of the Joint Chiefs,” said Inhofe.

“The National Guard has proven to be an integral component of our military force. Since 9/11, our National Guard Troops have dramatically changed from a strategic reserve force to an operational reserve force, being repeatedly deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. All the while they have maintained responsibility for homeland security and disaster response. Adding the National Guard to the JCS will provide our Commander-in-Chief with additional military advice from a unique perspective," Senator Inhofe added.

The current members of the JCS include the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the JCS, and the heads of the four branches of service; the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.