DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2006 Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee Adjutant General 3949 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816-4495 808 733-4246 / (808) 733-4238 Fax Email:
[email protected] / Website: www.dod.state.gov Dear Governor Lingle: It is my honor to provide the State of Hawaii, Department of Defense’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2006. The year proved to be a momentous one in the history of the Hawaii National Guard. The 29th Brigade Combat Team successfully completed the largest deployment of Hawaii Army National Guard troops since World War II as they returned home from Iraq and Kuwait. Other smaller units also completed their year-long missions in Afghanistan. The Hawaii Air National Guard made a history of its own as it stood up an active-duty/Air National Guard associate unit with eight C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. In addition, dozens of Hawaii Air National Guard personnel deployed to support the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The State Civil Defense helped to coordinate the response to constant and torrential rains that hit Kauai and Oahu particularly hard in March and April 2006. The Office of Veterans Services continued to provide excellent service to the nearly 10 percent of Hawaii’s population that has proudly worn the uniform of America’s armed forces, and the Youth CHalleNGe Academy gave several hundred at-risk Hawaii teens the tools and confidence they will need to become productive citizens. The State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, has again shown that it is competent, capable and adding tremendous value to the lives of Hawaii’s residents.