
CSM Jim Garritson
5th EANGUS President
State Association: Kentucky
Term: 1980 – 1984

Organizational Achievements
Achieved 40,000 members for first time in association history as of 30 June 1981, and by end of year (30 June 1984), EANGUS had reached 43,000 members. National dues were $2 per person per year. President Garritson initiated the EANGUS Building Fund in 1980 in order to raise funds to purchase a building and give EANGUS a permanent home; by the end of 1983, the fund had nearly $90,000 in the bank. In 1983, established a Scholarship Committee and the CSM Virgil Williams Scholarship Fund to support educational endeavors; initially providing at least two, $2000 scholarships per year to deserving servicemembers or their dependents. EANGUS hired its first Executive Director, CMSgt (Ret) Darnell Dekowski, who worked part-time to support the association.
Organizational Challenges
EANGUS was still working to have a chartered association in each State; as of 1983, there were still three States (FL, PR, VI) who had not been chartered. Subsequently, charters were issued to FL and PR during the 1984 Annual Conference. Cost of mailing the New Patriot magazine to State Associations for further distribution and communicating with membership were challenges. Implementation of the AGR program in the National Guard was a big topic during this time since the program started in 1979 and there were concerns voiced regarding ensuring the States maintained control of these personnel, as well as questions about upward mobility, grade limitations and cost effectiveness. NDAA 1984 authorized coverage for members of the NG/RC who were injured en route to/from IDT; previously, members were only covered if injured at the IDT location. Championed passage of the GI Bill for Guard/Reserve members, raising the 60 point ceiling on IDT retirement points credit, increases and modernization of equipment for Guard units, and expanded commissary privileges for National Guard members and their families. In 1983, the NDAA directed the SECDEF conduct a commissary usage pilot test with the NG/Res; the pilot ran from Jan-Dec 1984 and tested the feasibility of giving NG/Res members 12-14 days of commissary privileges per year (at that time, the only time the commissary could be used was while on orders in excess of 72 hours).
Legislative Accomplishments
Provide civil-service retirement disability pay to National Guard Technicians separated from their jobs due to a physical inability to maintain drilling membership, as well as clarify Congressional intent for National Guard AGR personnel to serve under state control. Pressured the Department of Defense to begin allowing National Guard and Reserve commissary privileges by testing year-round access. Create the Montgomery GI Bill, which provided federal financial support to National Guard servicemembers attending college for the first time.