
CSM John F. Helbert
16th EANGUS President
State Association: Massachusetts
Term: 2012 – 2014

Organizational Achievements
Renovated the EANGUS building, which required a significant amount of restricted reserve and getting the Executive Council to approve such an expenditure. Created the National Guard Almanac for the first time, which was in high demand by the corporate sector and led to additional corporate partners. The Long Beach Conference saw the most corporate exhibitors in EANGUS Conference history. EANGUS also inked a significant partnership with University of Phoenix, resulting in EANGUS being able to offer 3 full tuition scholarships each year to EANGUS members and/or their Spouses and Dependents. The New Patriot Magazine was transformed from a Quarterly Newsletter into a professional journal, and EANGUS was presented with the APEX Award of Excellence, and was also recognized by GLC Media for our redesigned New Patriot Magazine.
Organizational Challenges
National Conferences were taking a hit, and EANGUS supported the National Guard Birthday which was necessary for us to support, but we did not have enough funds. Our Business Development efforts required the addition of a position, and in 2012, we added a contractor to handle corporate partners, the New Patriot Advertising, and our National Conference Sponsorships. This effort led to the creation of the National Guard Almanac. Membership was a primary focus for EANGUS, and this led to the creation of membership benefits and new recruiting tools for the State Associations to use. The challenge was to have National Guard Soldiers and Airmen WANT to join the Association, rather than being pressured to belong.
Legislative Accomplishments
Lobbied Congress to approve limits on cancelling National Guard deployments, leading to increased predictability for servicemembers, families, and employers. Successful in the removal of the requirement that a 90 day period of active duty service, which results in early retirement benefit accrual, take place within the same fiscal year. Advocated for Congress to establish the National Commission on the Future of the Army to evaluate Total Army future, including limiting the controversial plan to transfer all Army National Guard AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to the Active Component. Supported the beginning of reducing the number of pay statuses in the National Guard, which was finally won years later. Congress passed S. 3624 – The Military Commercial Driver’s License Act of 2012, which revised commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements for members of the military to allow those who received their vehicle training in locations other than their home state, to receive their CDL in the State where they currently serve.