Surpassing the Crucible

The fight over the "e;One Army Concept"e; is at its peak. Some in theactive Army believed the concept would never work. Weekendwarriors couldn't be reliable enough to be integrated into the Army'sdemanding worldwide missions. In 1989 the National Guard's 2ndBattalion 220th Infantry needs to perform well at the prestigiousJoint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.The men and officers of the 2nd battalion were going to be tested bythe Army's best trained professional Opposing Force at the infantry'sultimate proving ground. But this wasn't your average NationalGuard unit. Their consistent superior performance during the lastseveral years prompted the National Guard leadership to select themto best represent the Guard on this national stage. There are countlessdistinct challenges for National Guard units that active-duty unitsdon't face. This story describes how the battalion's exceptionalleadership can overcome these challenges to turn their uniquesituation into an advantage. Can the battalion prove to everyone thatthe "e;One Army Concept"e; works? If so, then what's next?