GUARD MISSION WORRIES KIEFNER; PERRYVILLE NATIVE WILL RETIRE SOON

JEFFERSON CITY -- Reflecting back on 20-plus years of military service as Missouri's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Charles M. Kiefner says his greatest satisfaction is having watched the Missouri Army and Air National Guard evolve into a proven fighting force.

But he expressed concerns over proposals made recently to turn the mission of the National Guard into what has been described as a "Peace Corps-type mission."

Kiefner, 62, retires as state adjutant general March 6, during a change of command ceremony in Jefferson City. He is the longest serving adjutant general in the history of the state.

The Perryville native had announced his intentions to step down last year. In a 1992 letter to members of the Missouri National Guard Association of the United States, Kiefner stated, "I will retire once our new governor is in office and has selected a new Adjutant General."

On Jan. 26, Gov. Mel Carnahan announced the appointment of retired Colonel Raymond L. Pendergrass to replace Kiefner as adjutant general.

"I look forward to retirement," Kiefner said. "I would be a liar if I did not say that. But I will also miss the almost daily doses of praise and compliments I have received from military and civilian leaders worldwide, all telling me what a great professional job was done for them by a Missouri National Guard unit or members."

The Army and Air National Guard has changed tremendously since Sept. 24, 1947, Kiefner told the Southeast Missourian Friday. That was the day he enlisted in Company F, of the 140th Infantry Regiment, Missouri Army National Guard, in his hometown of Perryville.

"I remember my first drill in Perryville. They ran me through the belt line," Kiefner joked. "We only met for two hours. It was more of a social affair than anything else. Most of the men were veterans of World War II, so after the drill was over it was time to sit around and socialize a lot."

Kiefner said the public's attitude and perception of the National Guard has changed.

"We've seen the Missouri Army and Air Guard units evolve into a proven fighting force as we have shown in Desert Storm. I think the Missouri Guard today compares favorably with any comparable active-duty unit because of the extensive training they have received. It speaks well of the soldiers and airmen, and is a tribute to what they have accomplished."

Kiefner says the turnaround for the guard began in the early 1980s, when Congress realized it would be more efficient and less expensive to upgrade the state guards rather than maintaining a large, standing army and air forces.

Under the total force concept, additional emphasis was put on training for Guardsmen, assisted by more full-time Army and Guard advisers in local armories. When activated, the Guard units would serve along-side active duty units of the Army and Air Force.

Instead of training each year at one location, Kiefner said Missouri guard units now train at different times of the year, on almost every continent in the world. "I guess the only place we haven't been is the Antarctica," he laughed. "We just had one of our units come back from training in Latvia."

Several years ago, there was an attempt in the Pentagon to gut the state guards by cutting back on the number of units and authorized strength. The effort failed. Kiefner said it was because of the cooperation of local communities who protested to Congress, and state officials, who realize the value of their state Guard units in times of civil and natural emergencies.

Now, Kiefner says he detects in the Congress a trend to make the National Guard "more of a domestic Peace Corps-type unit," and that disturbs him.

"I have a problem with that trend. Not with the mission of helping others, but with the possibility of the National Guard being labeled with a `Peace Corps' mission," Kiefner said. "I do not object to having the guard perform these `Peace Corps' missions. They are a fine by-product.

"However, we must remember the primary mission of the National Guard is to be prepared at the call of the president to fight in the defense and interests of this country in any theater of war in the world. When we lose sight of that goal, by turning all our attention toward `Peace Corps' type missions for the National Guard and not focusing on the training our men and women will need to work and fight as a combat unit, it could seriously affect our nation's combat readiness and effectiveness."

Kiefner believes there has been too much over-reaction to the demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. He said the drastic cutbacks in military manpower could affect the ability of the United States to respond to future world-wide emergencies.

He said the civil war in what was formerly Yugoslavia shows no signs of abating, and the Middle East continues to be a hot cauldron, ready to boil over on a moment's notice.

"My concern is that we may draw down our active duty and National Guard units to such a low level of strength, training and preparedness that it would make it extremely difficult for the United States to react to world emergencies, and to fight against a smaller adversary than the Soviet Union," Kiefner said.

As he prepares to step down as Missouri's longest-serving adjutant general, Kiefner said one of the high points of his career was his election to be president of the National Guard Association of the United States. As president of the association, Kiefner has met with past and current U.S. Presidents, and traveled throughout the world to meet and talk with world leaders.

"If I had a low point, it would be the loss of one of the battalions that was removed from the Guard. It was like taking one of my kids away from me. I have found that loss extremely hard to deal with, personally, and as a loss to the local communities that were involved and the state," said Kiefner.

One of those who has come to know and work with Kiefner during the past 10 years is Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep.

"He's a born leader, a natural leader, and has a tremendous amount of respect from his troops and subordinates," said Huckstep. "Gen. Kiefner has been super cooperative, not only to this county, but to the rest of the state, on matters relating to the guard and emergency services.

"I hate to see him pass the torch, but it happens to all of us," Huckstep said. "I think we can all be proud of what he has done for the guard, the state, and the people of Missouri. I am very proud to have known the man."

Kiefner went on active duty on Sept. 11, 1950, with the 175th Military Police Battalion of the Missouri Army National Guard, and served in Germany with that unit.

On Dec. 21, 1951, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Missouri Army National Guard infantry. His military assignments ranged from platoon leader to liaison officer to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Kiefner was appointed Missouri Adjutant General on June 18, 1973 by Gov. Christopher "Kit" Bond. He resigned in March 1977, following the election of Gov. Joe Teasdale. Kiefner was reappointed adjutant general by Bond in January 1981, following Bond's election as governor, and continued to serve during the administration of Gov. John Ashcroft.

Kiefner's decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.