National Guard Association of Florida

08/08/2025

🏓 Is your team ready for the Pickleball tournament on 26 September at the NGAFL Conference? We have 8 teams signed up, has 12 NEW courts and we are 4 sure you don’t want to miss this! Bring your A-Game 💪🏼

08/01/2025

Are you still on the fence about attending the annual summit in September?

Do you know for certain you’re going, just haven’t gotten around to registering and booking your room?

Our room block which offers the discounted rate is 87% full!

Tag your spouse, peer, old boss, someone you haven’t seen in a while - and let them know that now is the time to commit!

07/28/2025

07/27/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B9SLb8dxy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/22/2025

2025 Florida Python Challenge™ kicks off today

The 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ kicked off today, with competitors starting as early as 12:01 this morning, searching the Everglades to find and remove invasive Burmese pythons. While registration is still open, hundreds of people have already registered for a chance to win their share of up to $10,000 in prizes while working to protect Florida’s native wildlife and our incredible Everglades ecosystem. This year’s competition features the exciting addition of Everglades National Park as one of eight official Florida Python Challenge locations.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District host the annual python removal competition to increase awareness about invasive species in the state and the threats they pose to Florida’s ecology. Want to compete but not yet registered? Registration will remain open until the last day of the competition, Sunday, July 20 — visit FLPythonChallenge.org to register and learn more. There is a $25 registration fee and participants must pass the required online training to complete their registration for this year’s event. Once registered, participants are invited to visit one of our Training Outposts during opening weekend for additional instruction from experts, located at each check station from 4-7 p.m., July 11-13.

This year, a total of $25,000 in cash prizes is available. Participants have the opportunity to win the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize for the removal of the most pythons during the competition. Participants also have the opportunity to win other cash prizes for most and longest pythons removed in three different categories, including novice, professional and military categories. Prizes will be awarded at a later date after the competition courtesy of our sponsors and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

We thank our three different Platinum Level Sponsors – Inversa, Rotary Clubs of Florida, and Mrs. Daphne and Mr. Martin C. Wood III – for donating $10,000 each to support conservation efforts in Florida through the Florida Python Challenge. We also thank our three Gold Level Sponsors – Bergeron Everglades Foundation, Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands and The Garcia Companies – for their donations of $5,000 each in support of conservation efforts through this event. All prizes support conservation efforts in Florida through the 2025 Florida Python Challenge.

Want to get involved in removal of invasive species at any time of the year? In addition to year-round python removal opportunities on 32 Commission-managed lands, Burmese pythons may be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission — no permit or hunting license required. The FWC encourages people to remove and humanely kill invasive pythons from private lands whenever possible.

About Invasive Burmese pythons

Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species. They are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female Burmese python can lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. More than 23,000 Burmese pythons have been removed from the state since 2000. For more information on Burmese pythons, visit MyFWC.com/Python.

07/21/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EUyWrxQxY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Active-duty military families enjoy free admission at Imagine Museum from May 17 to September 1, 2025.

07/14/2025

⭐️ UPDATE on TAG Leadership Summit 25-28 SEP 2025⭐️

- Number of individuals registered has reached 100!

- Number of BLOCK rooms remaining is also at 100!

Big thanks to those that have made your plans early, registered, and secured your lodging!

We expect another big push once our force returns from NTC. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience the ambiance pictured below! 🌅

07/09/2025

Huge news! This is why our membership in this organization is vital to the fight to ensure NG servicemembers benefits are properly received. This news allows those who mobilized under authority 12304b to receive the full credit (retroactively).

The early retirement program enables Guardsmen and Reservists with 20 qualifying years to receive their pension three months earlier than the traditional age of 60 for every 90 consecutive days mobilized since January 2008.

Thanks to a NGAUS push, tens of thousands of Army National Guard Soldiers mobilized under authority 12304b will receive full credit toward early retirement retroactively to 2012.

07/03/2025

Florida Guard Family –



Since 1565, the forerunners of today’s Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the Florida National Guard have stood watch over our communities, our state and our nation. From that “First Muster” to the militias who threw off the yoke of English oppression, to today’s modern force, Guardsmen have passed a legacy of service, sacrifice, and readiness to each successive generation -- since before the birth of our country.



On this 249th Independence Day, we honor the spirit of freedom and those who protect it. As Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate liberty, we remember that freedom is not only a gift—it’s a responsibility. Our Guardsmen serve that responsibility at home during hurricanes and emergencies and abroad in defense of our nation’s interests.



This 4th of July, we celebrate not only the birth of a nation, but the enduring commitment of those who continue to safeguard it.



To our Guardsmen - I hope you can enjoy a well-earned holiday this weekend. Lisa and I are extremely proud of your service, courage and steadfastness, and we wish you the very best.



From the oldest National Guard in the nation, Happy Independence Day.



Florida First!

https://www.facebook.com/TAGFlorida/

Welcome to the official page of Major General John D. Haas, The Adjutant General of Florida.

06/27/2025

We have to give a big Congratulations to LTC Benjamin Ruffner on being selected as Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics (G-4), JFHQ.
Leadership Announcement: Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Ruffner Selected as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics (G-4), Joint Force Headquarters, Florida Army National Guard



Major General John D. Haas, The Adjutant General of Florida, is pleased to announce the selection of Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Ruffner as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics (G-4) for the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), Florida Army National Guard, effective 1 July 2025. “Ben is an outstanding leader and logistician,” said Major General Haas. “His well-honed skills will greatly enable this critical function for our force.”



Lieutenant Colonel Ruffner received his commission from Marion Military Institute in 2004 as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Early Commissioning Program. His assignments across Florida’s major subordinate commands include Infantry Platoon Leader and Mounted Platoon Leader, 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment; Scout Platoon Leader, 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment; Mobility and Maintenance Officer, 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion; Intelligence and Operations Officer (S2/3), 254th Transportation Battalion; Commander, 690th Military Police Company; Joint Director of Logistics (J4), Special Operations Detachment-Central; Executive Officer for Task Force Hurricane (1st Battalion 124th Infantry Regiment); Logistics Plans and Operations Officer, United States Property and Fiscal Office; G4 Readiness Team Chief, National Guard Bureau; Executive Officer to the Assistant Director of Logistics (G4), National Guard Bureau; Battalion Commander, 927th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion; and Battalion Commander, 53rd Brigade Support Battalion. He has multiple operational assignments including tours to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Qatar during the Iraq Crisis Response, Djibouti supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Oaken Steel, and the United States Southern Border mission.



He holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Florida and a Post-Graduate Certificate from the Institute for Defense and Business at the University of North Carolina. He completed all military education with distinction including the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Captain’s Career Course, Military Police Branch Transition Course, Command and General Staff College, Advanced Operations Course, and the Reserve Component National Security Course. Outside of his duties, he serves on the Board of Directors for the National Guard Association of the United States. His awards and achievements include a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, French Parachutist Badge, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Governor’s Meritorious Unit Citation, LTG Sumter L. Lowry Leadership Award, GSA Bob Baker DOD Fleet Manager’s Award, and the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award.

06/26/2025

This Week in History



June 24 – 29, 2025



1989 (36 years ago) June 29 - Capt. Bruce Pinner, a pilot with Company B, 111th Aviation Regiment, was killed when his Florida Army National Guard AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Jacksonville's Craig Field. Investigation into the crash determined that a locking plate that was not secured to the helicopter fell into the tail rotor and disabled the machine. Another pilot involved in the crash was seriously injured. Pinner, a Vietnam Veteran, was one of Florida's most experienced pilots at the time of the crash with more than 10,000 flying hours. In recognition of Capt. Pinner's professionalism and dedication, a range at Camp Blanding was renamed Pinner Range.



2005 (20 Years ago) June 24 - More than 1,400 Soldiers from the 53rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) were honored during a departure ceremony at Camp Shelby, Miss. prior to their deployment to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Phoenix in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The deployment marked a total of more than 6,800 Florida Soldiers and Airmen who had mobilized since 2001.



2006 (19 years ago) June 24 - Staff Sgt. Joseph F. Fuerst III, 26, of Tampa, a Soldier in Florida's Headquarters, 53rd Infantry Brigade, died of wounds received when his patrol was attacked by small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in the Panjway district of Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Fuerst was fatally wounded by small arms fire while he was on a mission in support of Operation Mountain Thrust. He had been training Afghan National Army soldiers and was leading a small group of soldiers as part of the operation when he was killed.



2010 (15 years ago) June 26 - The Adjutant General of Florida, Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett, retired from the Florida National Guard during the official Change-of-Command ceremony at Camp Blanding near Starke, Fla. With more than 47 years of total military service, Burnett held the record as Florida's longest-serving Air Force officer at the time of his retirement. Maj. Gen. Emmett "Buddy" Titshaw succeeded Burnett as commander of the Florida National Guard and Adjutant General of Florida.



2020 (5 years ago) - The Florida National Guard continued to support State of Florida COVID-19 response and mitigation activities. By the end of the week of June 20-26, 2020, 1,456 Florida Guardsmen were on active duty in support of the State's COVID response operating Community Based Testing Sites (CBTS) and had helped to administer over 388,810 sample collections to date. During this week, the Florida National Guard supported the relocation of two Community Based Testing Sites in Broward County. Florida Guardsmen supported the transport of supplies from the State Logistics Readiness Center in central Florida and served as liaisons for local emergency management offices across the state and at the State Emergency Operations Center. By June 26, there were 122,960 cases and 3,366 deaths from COVID reported in Florida.

06/26/2025

In The Books: The first session of a Company Grade Officer mentorship series was held today at the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center G4 Conference Room.

Who better to kick off this series than an officer who has spent his career as a servant leader, consistently paving the way for all who came after him, LTC Ben Ruffner.

17 in-person and 22 virtual attendees gleaned valuable wisdom from LTC Ruffner highlighted by his two most important pieces of advice:

✅ Inspire committed Soldiers over enforcing compliance

✅ Be intentional about your career

Interested in joining the National Guard Association and staying in the loop on upcoming opportunities like this? Reach out to WO2 Jessee Sible or 1LT Brennar Goree!