Major General Stephen Osborn delivers the 2025 Condition of the Guard address.
(Des Moines, IA) -- In the annual Condition of the Guard address, Major General Stephen Osborn reported on the health of the Iowa National Guard on Thursday.
"The Iowa National Guard ended fiscal year '24 with a 99.5% assign strength," Osborn says. "And an 83% retention rate. One of the highest in the nation."
He says they also added enough new members to continue moving forward.
"We've gained over 440 new soldiers and airmen," Osborn says. "Numbers we haven't seen in over five years."
Osborn also called for expansions to the scholarship program, including waiving absenteeism penalties for applicants, and facility improvements in the speech.