Surpassing the Crucible

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 Second Battalion 220th Infantry needed to perform well at the prestigious Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. The men and officers of the Second Battalion were going to be tested by the army’s best-trained professional opposing force at the infantry’s ultimate proving ground. They had to perform well. Everyone was watching. 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 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 is able to 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?