Despite the drawdown in Afghanistan, National Guard units must continue to train to maintain their readiness to support the nation's defense. According to the senior enlisted advisor of the National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the training First Army Division East team recently brought his unit is second to none. "For the good of the United States, we have to maintain our readiness," said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Quick, 86th IBCT senior enlisted Soldier. "We aren't active duty Soldiers that train 24/7 …. But when our nation needs us, we need to be just as prepared as everyone else. We are one team. My uniform doesn't say 'National Guard' on it; it says 'U.S. Army'. Our readiness is our relevance to our great Nation."

United States Army Article