{"id":438852,"date":"2025-05-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=438852"},"modified":"2025-05-08T05:17:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T05:17:31","slug":"in-maine-raines-highlights-national-guard-readiness-family-support-and-global-reach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=438852","title":{"rendered":"In Maine, Raines Highlights National Guard Readiness, Family Support and Global Reach"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the Chief, National Guard Bureau engages with Army and Air National Guardsmen across Maine, April 30\u2013May 5, 2025, visiting units from Bangor to South Portland to reinforce mission readiness, celebrate community partnerships, and highlight the critical role of small states in the National Guard\u2019s global mission. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Elizabeth Pena)
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\n Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the Chief, National Guard Bureau engages with Army and Air National Guardsmen across Maine, April 30\u2013May 5, 2025, visiting units from Bangor to South Portland to reinforce mission readiness, celebrate community partnerships, and highlight the critical role of small states in the National Guard\u2019s global mission. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Elizabeth Pena)
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\n Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the Chief, National Guard Bureau engages with Army and Air National Guardsmen across Maine, April 30\u2013May 5, 2025, visiting units from Bangor to South Portland to reinforce mission readiness, celebrate community partnerships, and highlight the critical role of small states in the National Guard\u2019s global mission. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Elizabeth Pena)
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\n Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the Chief, National Guard Bureau engages with Army and Air National Guardsmen across Maine, April 30\u2013May 5, 2025, visiting units from Bangor to South Portland to reinforce mission readiness, celebrate community partnerships, and highlight the critical role of small states in the National Guard\u2019s global mission.
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\n Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the Chief, National Guard Bureau engages with Army and Air National Guardsmen across Maine, April 30\u2013May 5, 2025, visiting units from Bangor to South Portland to reinforce mission readiness, celebrate community partnerships, and highlight the critical role of small states in the National Guard\u2019s global mission.
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BANGOR, Maine \u2014 More than 2,600 Army and Air National Guardsmen stand ready to answer the call across Maine\u2019s rugged 3,500-mile coastline and vast terrain\u2014trained, equipped and prepared to defend the homeland and support missions worldwide.<\/p>\n

During a multi-day visit to the state, April 30 – May 5, Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, the top enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, met with Army and Air National Guardsmen across Maine, reinforcing the Guard\u2019s mission readiness and celebrating its deep community ties.<\/p>\n

Raines traveled to Maine at the invitation of State Command Sgt. Maj. Alexander Clifford, initially to serve as keynote speaker for the state\u2019s annual National Day of Prayer observance. The visit quickly evolved into a broader opportunity to engage with service members across both components of the Maine National Guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t travel anywhere for just one reason,\u201d Raines said. \u201cThis was a chance to see firsthand how Guardsmen here train, deploy and serve both their communities and the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the prayer breakfast, Raines emphasized the importance of shared values between the military and its members.<\/p>\n

\u201cI attribute my success in the military to my core values aligning with the Army\u2019s values\u2014and really, with the broader service values,\u201d he said. \u201cThey might use different words, but the meaning is the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the trip, Raines was joined by his wife, Karen, who conducted engagements with family support services and readiness groups during the visit. Karen has been a steadfast military spouse throughout their 36-year career and has served in a key role in each of his nominative leadership roles.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe plays a vital role in strengthening the Guard family,\u201d Raines said. \u201cWhile I focus on the operational force, she ensures our service members\u2019 families are informed, connected and supported.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coinciding with a drill weekend, Raines\u2019 itinerary included dropping in on a no-notice readiness exercise with the Maine Air National Guard\u2019s 265th Combat Communications Squadron. The exercise involved teams deploying to remote sites in Maine and Puerto Rico to test their ability to establish and maintain communications in austere, contested environments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t even know where they were going,\u201d Raines said. \u201cSome of them thought they were flying in circles. They landed and were shocked to find themselves in Puerto Rico. That\u2019s real-world readiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exercise demonstrated agile combat employment and the importance of rapid, resilient communications\u2014capabilities central to modern joint warfighting. According to Raines, these efforts directly support the Department of Defense\u2019s emphasis on being able to fight and win under degraded conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can\u2019t communicate, commanders can\u2019t make decisions,\u201d Raines said. \u201cThe Guard\u2019s ability to train under pressure, fail, learn, and get better is how we sharpen that edge.\u201d<\/p>\n

The visit also included recognition ceremonies for Maine Guardsmen who supported civilian authorities in life-saving missions. A few months earlier, a group of out-of-state hunters got lost during the harshest stretch of the Maine winter, prompting a coordinated rescue response.<\/p>\n

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Couture, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Max Santagata, and Sgt. Caleb York of the Maine Army National Guard\u2019s aviation unit was recognized by the Maine Warden Service for their critical role in locating a lost hunter in freezing conditions.<\/p>\n

With temperatures plummeting and the individuals inadequately dressed for the environment, officials feared they would not survive another night in the woods. The Guard team\u2019s professionalism and swift action led to the discovery of the second hunter, with coordinates provided to Warden Porter that enabled the rescue effort.<\/p>\n

Their actions were credited with saving both lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what makes the Guard unique – not only are we warfighters – we\u2019re also critical partners in our communities,\u201d Raines said. \u201cThat rescue was only possible because of the Guard\u2019s capabilities and the partnerships they\u2019ve built, like with the Maine Warden Service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite its modest size in Guard force structure, Maine punches well above its weight\u2014a point Raines emphasized by highlighting the state\u2019s high standards, agility, and mission impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cA company-sized unit here has the same standards and mission expectations as one in a larger state,\u201d he said. \u201cIn some ways, small states like Maine are more agile, more detail-oriented. They also bring cold weather expertise and a level of operational readiness that\u2019s hard to match.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maine\u2019s contributions also extend overseas. State military leaders highlighted the Guard\u2019s cyber support to Montenegro through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Guardsmen from Maine responded to a whole-of-government cyber-attack there, working alongside international and interagency partners to restore systems and prevent further damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat mission was a textbook example of strategic partnerships, cyber defense and operational agility,\u201d Raines said. \u201cThe relationships and trust built over years of cooperation paid off when it mattered most.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his visit, Raines emphasized the importance of every Guardsman\u2019s role in preparing for future conflicts. Bottom line: The Guard remains the nation\u2019s 24-hour link between hometowns and high-end combat power, and that relevance only grows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it\u2019s a technician building fiber networks, an aircrew refueling jets or a squad leader training for domestic operations, each contributes to the total force,\u201d Raines said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery piece matters. Readiness starts with owning the mission in front of you, and Maine\u2019s Guardsmen are doing just that.\u201d<\/p>\n

With capabilities rooted in combat readiness, domestic response and international partnerships, Maine Guardsmen stand ready to support their neighbors\u2014whether at home or abroad\u2014through the enduring strength of the warfighter, family support services, rescue operations and global cooperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost importantly, the professionalism of Maine\u2019s Soldiers and Airmen reflects the state motto, \u2018Dirigo,\u2019 \u2014 I lead,\u201d added Raines.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.nationalguard.mil<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/x.com\/USNationalGuard<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the Chief, National Guard Bureau engages with Army and Air National Guardsmen across Maine, April 30\u2013May 5, 2025, visiting units from Bangor to South Portland to reinforce mission readiness, celebrate community partnerships, and highlight the critical role of small […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":438854,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-438852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=438852"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":438860,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438852\/revisions\/438860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/438854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=438852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=438852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=438852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}