With the National Guard Association of the United States (NGUAS) 147th General Conference wrapping up earlier this week (22-25 August 2025), I can’t help but write up some of my biggest takeaways from the many events held over those 4 days. One thing is clear, there is no amount of preparation that can truly get you ready for the outstanding events, the subject guest speakers, and just the overall comradery being around other service members in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I can easily say that in my 11 years being in the organization, I never had the personal opportunity to speak to industry leaders, 3 and 4-star generals from both the Army and Air Force, and fellow officers from across the country in such an inviting atmosphere. To add further context for those who weren’t there, at the end of each speaker’s presentation, they always opened the floor afterwards to take any questions from the audience, inviting us to ask any question, especially on difficult and pressing topics. Where else can you approach a 4-star general and ask them anything on your mind?
One speaker I’d really like to highlight is General George, Chief of Staff of the Army. His speech really opened my eyes to what the direction the total U.S. Army is going in oo prepare itself for the future combat operations and what role the Army National Guard plays in that. Among the many things he mentioned was that the Army is going to get our vehicles to be more hybrid and electrically powered along with doing the same for our generators. He also mentioned his vision for getting the Army to learn how to 3d print drones and integrating AI into our day to day operations. If successful in this aspect, I believe this is something that could be a game changer in future conflicts as it could limit exposure of Soldiers on the front lines as combat becomes more unmanned. To see more of what he discussed, please check out the video from the NGAUS channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFcQX139Mrc. If you are interested in attending one of these conferences or becoming more involved in the National Guard Association of Connecticut (NGACT), please visit https://ngact.org/ to learn more.
–CPT Stephen Sanabria CTARNG