I’ve served in the Air National Guard as a full-time Active Guard Reserve (AGR) for over twenty years. I’ve deployed overseas, responded to disasters here at home, and stood ready whenever my state or nation called. But today, I’m writing anonymously—not because I want to hide, but because I have to.

You see, despite my decades of service, I’m not allowed to publicly support the Defend the Guard Act without facing potential repercussions. It’s a fine line we AGRs walk—full-time military professionals who are expected to serve quietly, even when policies threaten the very mission we signed up to support.

Yet, while I must remain silent, I’ve watched two-star generals stand before legislative committees, in uniform, lobbying for policies that extend endless wars and stretch the Guard beyond its limits. The hypocrisy is staggering.

The Defend the Guard Act ensures that National Guard troops can only be deployed into active combat overseas if Congress issues a formal declaration of war, as required by the U.S. Constitution. It’s not anti-military. It’s not anti-mission. It’s about ensuring that the Guard remains ready for its primary role: defending our states and communities first.