United States Army Indiana Army National Guard, Fr. William Stang,

	"You can get the best of both worlds in the Army National Guard" You've heard the ad. I have been in the National Guard, as a Physician and Chaplain, since 1986, and they kept the bargain with me.  You really can:          Earn money for college  Serve Your Country           Find Career Opportunities Find Adventure and Challenge           Meet America’s finest              Help disaster stricken Americans Besides serving our country, I have learned valuable skills that have served me well in creating academic programs and teaching life-skills to my students. I found challenges in Kosovo, Bosnia and Iraq that made me a stronger person. And I have met some of Indiana’s finest men and women. The picture on the left shows some of our Indiana Guardsmen receiving their combat patch from our State Adjutant General while serving in Iraq. You can have such opportunities while going to Saint Joseph's College.  The College supports its students who serve. You can also make up to $60,000 to pay for College while serving in the Indiana National Guard. Click here to find out more about the Indiana Army National Guard, or contact me, Fr. Stang M.D. for information on the Indiana Guard or National Guard Chaplains.
There are many career paths in the Indiana Army National Guard.  Yes, our soldiers train in a wide variety of combat skills, but that includes training in leadership, program management and team work. You can take career skill courses and get experience in engineering, computer security and networks, public affairs, maintenance, communications and many other high-tech areas. That combined with a college degree makes a great resume in job hunting. And how can you beat the fact that the Army pays you while it teaches you these skills. And the military will pay for your education after college if you are willing to serves as a Doctor, Nurse, PA, Dentist, Lawyer, or many other types of professions. My path was as a Doctor and then as a Chaplain.  Click here to find out more about National Guard Chaplaincy.
A few years ago I was Chaplain of the 38th Aviation Brigade.  Their headquarters is Shelbyville Indiana.  If you drive down I-74 to Cincinnati, you can see their fleet of Army helicopters on the east side of the interstate.         Some of our pilots fly full time.  Most have civilian careers and fly with the Guard.  Nearly all have College degrees.  Some own businesses and others run businesses.  Most have flown for years because they love it so much.  I must admit it's a thrill to see Indiana from the air.        Members of the Aviation Brigade have been doing important service in Kuwait, Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo.  Here are men of the "Black Sheep", B 1-137, in Kuwait.
I also served with the 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate).  These soldiers have a proud tradition serving with the 38th Infantry Division and as a Separate Infantry Brigade.  The Division earned the nickname "Avengers of Bataan" for its service in the Philippines in WWII.  The 76th Brigade is adding to those laurels.  Its battalions have done peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Kuwait and Afghanistan, and it is currently serving in Iraq. They trained Afghanistan's  police and soldiers to maintain peace and justice in their country.  For more about Indiana Guard units go to the Indiana Guard web page and click on "Units" then on "Tyndall Armory."
	PEACE KEEPING  I was privilegd to serve the 101st Airborne and 3rd Infantry Divisions in Kosovo in 2001 and with the 38th Infantry Division (National Guard) in Bosnia in 2004 and 2005.  There we built a future for kids like those on the left.        My personal mission, back home, has become to spread the word about the men and women of the National Guard and Reserves who I've seen in action.  They leave home, family and job to serve their country.  Their combination of military and civilian skills are important for achieving the final goal.  They make a very significant contribution.  They deserve our support.  When regular Army soldiers leave for deployment, they know that their families have support systems back at their posts and bases.  Such help is often far away for most Guard and Reserve families.  They must depend on their communities to support their families and protect their jobs back home. They trust, and they answer America's call.
There is a lot of hard work, but there is also a lot of enjoyment.  I've met many of the finest people I've ever known here in the Guard. On the right I'm with medics of the 113th Engineers.  They're dedicated to their job and very good at it.  If I'm ever hurt I hope to find one of them looking down at me.       Paramedic Tim Barron, second from the left, was a BIG help when we were activated after the airline crash near Roselawn in 1994.  He volunteered his time and brought his Stress Management Team to help us through the emotional strain of that tough job.  SSG Ludke, far right, worked them hard but always found a way to laugh.       That's the type of people you meet in the National Guard.
Needless to say, the National Guard also helps in natural disasters.  These days this includes helping our sister states in their time of need.  When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, it overwhelmed the National Guard in those states.  The United States asked the 38th Infantry Division to lead the National Guard effort to assist the Mississippi Guard.  The 38th Infantry Division did what was considered impossible.  In less than one week thousands of the Division’s men and women had pulled out of their civilian lives and were in Mississippi with their equipment leading volunteers in giving organized assistance.  Though I am now State Chaplain for Indiana, at that time I was 38th Infantry Division Chaplain, and so I was blessed to be a part of that very successful effort.

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