The National Guard (NG) is a unique element of the U.S. military that serves both community and country. The NG responds to domestic emergencies, overseas combat missions, counterdrug efforts, reconstruction missions and more. Any state governor or the President of the United States can call on the Guard in a moment’s notice. The NG’s strength is our people. Our Soldiers, Airmen and civilians, and the families and employers who support us, represent all races, religions, ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds.

That is why the NG is committed to establishing a safe and inclusive culture to represent the diversity of our Nation, ensure equity for every current and prospective member of the NG, build trust, and achieve overall readiness and mission accomplishment of the NG. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) enables organizational agility and adaptability by leveraging the attributes, experiences, cultures, characteristics and backgrounds of the NG.

NGB-DEI provides strategic advice to the Chief, NGB, and senior leaders on the management of the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) efforts and equal employment (EO) programs encompassing both Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to link the CNGB priorities to advance DEIA in the NG workforce by providing overarching guidance for the NG. This must not only draw from the America’s diversity but also must communicate why DEIA is critical to operational success and provide access and opportunities to Soldiers, Airmen and civilians to achieve their aspirations.

In NGB-DEI, the Affirmative Employment Programs (AEP) Branch, Military Programs Branch (MPB), Complaints Management and Adjudication (CMA) Branch and D&I Branch identify goals, objectives and strategies necessary to mitigate DEIA shortfalls, inform senior leaders and evaluate respective programs as well as develop policy, guidance and training to assist the 54 States, Territories and the District of Columbia.

NGB-DEI works collaboratively across the federal and state governments, academia and industry partners to drive innovation and mission objectives, draw from the full diversity of the Nation, and serve as a model employer that values and promotes equity for all NG members. Even with decades of progress building a diverse, cohesive workforce, many underserved communities remain under-represented in the NG workforce, especially in positions of leadership. The NG must be our country’s model of excellence for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).