FRANKFORT, Ky –
Members of the Leadership Jessamine County class visited Boone National Guard Center, Thursday, Feb. 13.
The group, consisting of Jessamine County business leaders learned about the Kentucky National Guard and the resources available through the organization.
Leadership Jessamine County is made up of business and community leaders. The group gathers each month and delves into themed topics such as education, communications and state government.
“We want to expose our class members to what all goes on in state government,” said Cathy Weaver, class organizer. “That's not just at the Capitol, in the General Assembly, with our representatives. I think this shows them that state government is much wider than a session in the spring at the Capitol.”
Various resources and capabilities were outlined to the group, including the Kentucky National Guard’s response to the tornadoes in Western Kentucky in 2021, and flooding in Eastern Kentucky in 2022.
Army Lt. Col. Brian Stafford, Kentucky DOMS Plans and Operations officer, says that having groups like Leadership Jessamine County is important, as it allows an opportunity to tell the Kentucky National Guard story to a cross section of the community.
“It's a good audience to communicate what the Guard is about, what we do, and how we work with other branches of state government,” said Stafford.
The Kentucky National Guard frequently goes out into the communities of the commonwealth to participate in a variety of events allowing Soldiers to interact with the public. However, by bringing citizens onto the base they are afforded the opportunity to see a little more of the of the behind-the-scenes aspect of the Guard and how the organization is postured to support the communities of the commonwealth along with other local, state and federal agencies.
Following their visit to the Boone National Guard Center, the group headed to the Capitol building in downtown.