Many members of the National Guard join with the expectation of “one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer” obligations. The current operational environment is demanding much more time from the Service and family member.

SUBJECT: Current Operational Environment Impact on the National Guard

William A. Charpentier is a 31 year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and Pennsylvania Army National Guard having retired 2014.

Mr. Charpentier’ s career was split between the Armor branch and human resources. He was the Chief of Operations for Multi-National Division (North) in Bosnia and served as the 28th Infantry Division G1 in several short deployments in Egypt and various western and eastern European nations. His final duty station was with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Service and Family Member Support division of the State’s J1 where he oversaw the State Family Programs branch, Resiliency, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention branch, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration branch, Employment Outreach branch and several smaller organizations.

After retirement, Mr. Charpentier continued to serve the veterans, Soldiers and Families of the National Guard as a contracted Transition Assistance Advisor for the state of Pennsylvania, a position he held for 6 years.

His current position is the Eastern Lead for the Soldier and Family Readiness Specialist. This position is a part of the State Family Programs for the National Guard.

His military awards include 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 4 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Army Achievement Medals, the NATO Medal, 6 Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals.

He received his baccalaureate degree in History from Slippery Rock University.