Richard Riley

Surpassing the Crucible Richard Riley

The fight over the "One Army Concept" is at its peak. Some in the

active Army believed the concept would never work. Weekend

warriors couldn't be reliable enough to be integrated into the Army's

demanding worldwide missions. In 1989 the National Guard's 2nd

Battalion 220th Infantry needs to perform well at the prestigious

Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

The men and officers of the 2nd battalion were going to be tested by

the Army's best trained professional Opposing Force at the infantry's

ultimate proving ground. But this wasn't your average National

Guard unit. Their consistent superior performance during the last

several years prompted the National Guard leadership to select them

to best represent the Guard on this national stage. There are countless

distinct challenges for National Guard units that active-duty units

don't face. This story describes how the battalion's exceptional

leadership can overcome these challenges to turn their unique

situation into an advantage. Can the battalion prove to everyone that

the "One Army Concept" works? If so, then what's next?