FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
Every state and territory’s National Guard has a senior active-duty Army officer assigned to it to act as an advisor and a liaison between the Army and Army National Guard.
Known as the Senior Regular Army Advisor to the Guard, or SRAAG, their job is to assist and advise their state’s Army National Guard commanders, including training, operations, organizations and readiness. They are also responsible for assisting adjutants general and Army National Guard unit commanders in meeting requirements and standards and assisting the staff at the state’s Joint Force Headquarters.
Col. Stuart James is currently the SRAAG for the state of Pennsylvania. His office is located at the Joint Force Headquarters at Fort Indiantown Gap.
“My role as the Senior Regular Army Advisor to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard is I work for the TAG, and I advise the senior leaders of the state on mobilization, training, readiness, and anything related to the Army, “James said. “If they have questions about doctrine, etc. I can reach out pretty much to anybody and ask those questions. If I do not know the answer, then I know who and where to go to get that answer.
“The big focus for me and my time the last three years has been mobilization,” James added. “We have been mobilizing so many Soldiers, as we always do for the state of Pennsylvania. When you have over 14,000 Soldiers, you have a lot of oversees mission requirements and I help facilitate the fulfillment of these missions.”
To have a SRAAG for every state is a necessity. It plays a huge role in the Total Force Policy for the Army. It ensures and helps guide Army National Guard leaders in maintaining unit readiness, and support training for both active and reserve. They also work with their neighboring states to help facilitate and answer any questions that may arise.
They can also partake in federal recognition boards. They help promote Soldiers as part of the Unit Vacancy Program by their rank to ensure each soldier is properly qualified for their position. Their goal is to help run things smoothly among the units and be a short cut for when they need an immediate response.
“We want our service members to be mission focused, and so that is where I can be of assistance,” James explained. “There is one in all 54 states and territories. We do not have every state filled, but we are the liaison between the first army and the active-duty components and our state partners. SRAAG’s are the people that know their state the best.”
SRAAG’s are constantly working with other states, units, and Soldiers to ensure the chain of command has the right answers and is squared away. It makes everything else fall into place and makes the operations run in a smooth and efficient manner.