Message from The Governor

My congratulations to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for their vision in producing the Future Reach Plan which will provide direction for the next ten years. With this Plan, New Jersey is in the vanguard for the challenge of future missions.

The Future Reach Plan provides clear direction and will help to assure we are able to protect our citizens and our critical infrastructure in an operational climate marked by ambiguity and uncertainty. More than ever before, the National Guard is key to our safety and security. The role of the National Guard is evolving to meet changing threats to our security at home and abroad. Today, Homeland Security and Homeland Defense are priority missions for the National Guard.

This Plan recognizes that the debt we owe our veterans is enormous. We must remember that the needs of our veterans continue to expand both for our older veterans and our recent veterans of the Global War on Terrorism. We must provide our veterans with outstanding services to meet their health care needs as they age.

I applaud Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth’s foresight in developing this Future Reach Plan. This important planning document is consistent with our State’s objectives and our focus on continuous improvement through articulated objectives and strategies.

On behalf of the citizens of New Jersey, I thank the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for their continuing tradition of outstanding service to our State and Nation and especially to our veterans. We must never forget the sacrifices made by our veterans. The sacrifices of our citizen soldiers and airmen are what enable each of us to continue to enjoy our freedom and our way of life.