[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 162 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13778-S13779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR FRANK YOAKUM

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise to honor SGM Frank Yoakum, who 
serves as the enlisted congressional, liaison for the Chief, National 
Guard Bureau. Sergeant Major Yoakum is the only enlisted legislative 
liaison in the Army, facilitating communication flow between the Army 
National Guard, National Guard Bureau, and elected officials on Capitol 
Hill, as well as their staffs and professional committee staff. He is 
on the personal staff of the Chief, National Guard Bureau.

[[Page S13779]]

  He began his military career by enlisting in the Regular Army in 
September 1971. He was trained in Infantry, Airborne, and Air Defense 
Artillery assignments, being released from Active Duty in July 1976. In 
June 1978, Sergeant Major Yoakum joined the Alaska Army National Guard 
and served in a military technician status as the administrative 
assistant to the state maintenance officer, and part-time as a flight 
operations coordinator with the 1898th Aviation Company, Attack. He 
moved to southeast Alaska and continued his service as a full-time 
Scout Battalion Attendant, Administrative Supply Technician, for 
Company B, 4th Battalion, 297th Infantry. He served in the Alaska Army 
National Guard until March 1981.
  In August 1983, he rejoined the Army National Guard in Phoenix AZ, 
working as a unit administrator and battalion supply sergeant. In 
October 1985, he entered Federal Active Guard Reserve status and was 
assigned to the United States Property and Fiscal Office Guam, where he 
served as military pay supervisor and logistics NCO. He transferred his 
membership from the Arizona Army National Guard to the Wyoming Army 
National Guard in March 1996. Further assignments in Federal AGR status 
included instructor/writer, operations NCO, force structure NCO, first 
sergeant, manpower NCO, training center liaison NCO, G-1 personnel 
policy sergeant major, and congressional liaison.
  Sergeant Major Yoakum holds an associate of arts degree in business 
administration from the University of Alaska and a bachelor of science 
degree in business administration from California Pacific University. 
He is a graduate of every level of NCO education up to and including 
the Sergeants Major Academy. Yoakum is a life member of the Enlisted 
Association of the National Guard of the United States and a life 
member of the Wyoming National Guard Association. He has been inducted 
into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara by the Field Artillery 
Association and the Order of Samuel Sharpe by the Ordnance Corps 
Association.
  As the former congressional liaison for the Chief, National Guard 
Bureau, my staff and I have found Sergeant Major Yoakum to be an 
invaluable resource and ally in advancing the interest of the Army 
National Guard. While his departure will be a major loss to the both 
NGB and the Federal Government, his new position as legislative 
director with the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the 
U.S. is well deserved. It is with admiration that I honor Sergeant 
Major Yoakum today and congratulate him on his retirement. I wish him 
and his family all the best.

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