U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (TX-11) paid a visit to Camp Bowie along with Texas Adjutant General (TAG) Major General John F. Nichols and Assistant TAG Brigadier General Joyce L. Stevens to tour the facilities of the camp in Brownwood on Thursday afternoon.
The congressman visited with not only military officials but landowners adjacent to the camp and family members of deployed troops. As a member of the House Armed services Committee, Conaway reviewed family support programming and viewed current training capabilities. Conaway met with leaders to discuss concerns of looming budget cuts from the federal government.
Although the budget is yet to be approved in Washington, Congressman Conaway stated that the military will face some tough cuts on a national level but that it is a constitutional duty to defend the nation and funding will have to be allocated.
“We have some challenging fiscal circumstances ahead of us,” said Conaway. “The President has proposed $487 million in cuts to the military.”
Major General Nichols explained that Texas Air & Army National Guards have something to offer, a citizens militia, full of citizen soldiers who carry on the 375-year-old tradition that the founders of the nation held. He also outlined the importance of not only the war training but also the fire training held at the camp. Texas Army National Guard members have also fought wildfires on local and statewide levels including wildfires in Bastrop last year, dropping a total of more than 500 million gallons of water.
“We’re showing him (Conaway) what the National Guard does for the state of Texas and the nation,” Nichols said. “He’s been to Camp Bowie a while ago, but we have had some modifications. We’re going to show him how we train our soldiers.”
Congressman Conaway agreed that Camp Bowie is an asset to the state and nation.
“This is a great facility and they have a great relationship with the community. That is always the key. Camp Bowie is a great asset to the National Guard, a great training space,” said Conaway.
Major General Nichols stated that Camp Bowie affects Brownwood in many ways with revenue brought to the local economy from training and drill participants, many full time employees who are part of the local community, and readiness or emergency preparedness assets in times of disaster or flooding.
On a worldwide scale, members of the Texas National Guard are an important part of the war in Afghanistan. Troops are building infrastructure, and teaching not only wartime but also peacetime skills such as crop production, animal production and “country building” according to Major General Nichols.
Camp Bowie is home to the 111th Engineering Battalion, which is currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pictured at top is TAG Major General Nichols and Colonel Robert Crow talking to Congressman Conaway at Camp Bowie Thursday.
See pictures and video below of Congressman Conaway’s visit.
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Conway Arrives at Camp Bowie
Conaway has lunch and talk to local land owners
