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Senator Soldier: A Day After Winning, Joni Ernst Is Back In Fatigues
National Review ^ | 11-7-2014 | Benny Johnson

Posted on 11/07/2014 3:16:39 PM PST by smoothsailing

NOVEMBER 7, 2014 2:43 PM

Senator Soldier: A Day After Winning, Joni Ernst Is Back In Fatigues

Iowa’s new senator-elect has other duties before she heads to Washington.

By Benny Johnson

Des Moines — A day after winning one of the most contested Senate seats in the country, Joni Ernst reported for duty at her National Guard base. Ernst, a lieutenant colonel, started two days of training with the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion on Thursday.

“Not many folks know she is in uniform on Thursday and Friday,” Ernst’s husband Gail tells National Review Online, “She does it without fanfare.”

A spokesman for the Iowa National Guard, Greg Hapgood, says soldiers don’t “punch the clock.” “We serve regardless of our situations and Colonel Ernst doesn’t want to be treated any differently.”

Ernst, a ferocious campaigner, had just finished a 24-hour straight campaign sweep of Iowa two days before reporting for duty. Her victory in the race also sealed the Senate for the GOP majority.

Joni and Gail Ernst both wearing the most American things ever, with their daughter Libby.

Hapgood admits that Ernst’s is a unique situation and the Guard will have to work with the senator-elect to find a balance. “She is going to be a soldier when on duty and a senator when off duty,” Hapgood predicts.

An Ernst campaign source says the National Guard has already been accommodating Ernst’s unique circumstances. “She was supposed to drill last weekend but was able to reschedule until after the election,” according to the source.

The senator-elect cannot do interviews while on duty, but those in close contact with Ernst say she is doing great and is happy to be back with her unit. According to Hapgood, Ernst’s duties this weekend as a senior officer will include working with her team on how to best serve the logistical needs of Iowa’s National Guard. “She’s working to make sure our units are totally combat ready,” he says.

Taking time off for National Guard duty is nothing new for Ernst. The then-candidate took time off the trail this summer to serve a week. While she was serving, a number of high-level GOP names visited the state to fill in at campaign events and the Twitter hashtag #ondutyforJoni was started.

Iowa senator Chuck Grassley tells NRO that Ernst’s military service is one of the prime reasons he’s excited to have her in the Senate. “It’s really good for our National Defense,” Grassley says, “having the first female combat veteran [to serve] in the Senate will be good for all debate on national security.”

Ernst served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and has been in the National Guard since 1993.

American Legion lobbyist Shaun Rieley is also an active member of the National Guard. He regularly shuttles between the halls of Congress and an Army training field and says it’s a culture shock. “It’s hard to go from Congress to a cold artillery field in the middle of nowhere,” Rieley says, “but it’s great knowing that you’re working in D.C. for the guys that you serve with.”

Will Ernst continue her training with the National Guard when fully instated as the junior senator from Iowa? “That is still to be determined,” one campaign aide admits. Interestingly, Ernst’s new Senate colleagues have been encouraging her, behind closed doors, to stay in the National Guard. “Senator Graham has encouraged her to continue her service, if possible,” the aide tells NRO.

“It takes a lot of work to do it correctly, but we can do it,” Hapgood says of Ernst remaining in the National Guard. “Ultimately this is a personal decision.”

Hapgood says that regardless of what decision Ernst makes, the National Guard could not be more proud of her. “She is the model of a citizen-soldier,” he says. “Her victory is indicative of our work ethic and commitment.”

Perhaps no one is more proud than Ernst’s husband, who is himself a retired Army Ranger. “Truly, she is my hero, wife, and best friend!” Gail says.

— Benny Johnson is digital director for National Review.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: ernst; iowa; joniernst
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To: Billthedrill

War on Women.....LOL

Joni is a One Woman War MACHINE!

I like the fact that she wants to both serve as senator AND in the Millitary AT the SAME time!

That is awesome and will help her not lose her soul while in DC.


21 posted on 11/07/2014 3:32:52 PM PST by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: smoothsailing

She’s great!


22 posted on 11/07/2014 3:33:52 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: piytar

FULL Colonel is Eagle .


23 posted on 11/07/2014 3:34:13 PM PST by Mark (Obama Care is now DEMOCRAT CARE)
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To: smoothsailing

Thank-you for your service and CONGRATS on being elected, Senator-Elect Joni!


24 posted on 11/07/2014 3:35:01 PM PST by Biggirl
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To: piytar

You might not be a FReeper if you read all articles before commenting. I frequently just read the head line and go from there.


25 posted on 11/07/2014 3:39:05 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Eccl 12 V.13)
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To: PistolPaknMama

Me too!


26 posted on 11/07/2014 3:39:50 PM PST by StoneWall Brigade (Howard Phillips Conservative)
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To: smoothsailing

I always thought it was funny that John Lehman when Secretary of the Navy would have to salute himself (technically speaking, of course) on drill weekends as he continued to serve in the navy reserve during his time as secretary.


27 posted on 11/07/2014 3:40:06 PM PST by rey
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To: smoothsailing

As always, we have women with brains and beauty!


28 posted on 11/07/2014 3:42:54 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Zimmerman, Brown, Fast & Furious, IRS harassment, Philly ignorance: holdering in 1st degree)
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To: smoothsailing

...and here we all just thought that she was “really attractive” and “sounds nice”. Well played, Iowa... Well played.


29 posted on 11/07/2014 3:42:58 PM PST by Rodamala
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To: smoothsailing

WOW you go girl


30 posted on 11/07/2014 3:43:21 PM PST by SevenofNine (We are Freepers, all your media bases belong to us ,resistance is futile)
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To: rey

Barry Goldwater was a major general in the AF Reserves in addition to being a senator. He insisted on test flying the planes that Congress paid for.


31 posted on 11/07/2014 3:44:16 PM PST by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
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To: smoothsailing

Wow! What a resume and a true patriot. From this vet in Kansas, way to go Iowa’s newly elected Senator. God speed!


32 posted on 11/07/2014 3:44:46 PM PST by WyCoKsRepublican
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To: smoothsailing

I didn’t know all this. Iowa done good!


33 posted on 11/07/2014 3:46:52 PM PST by TigersEye (ISIS is the tip of the spear. The spear is Islam.)
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To: piytar

Lt col. It’s in the article.


34 posted on 11/07/2014 3:46:53 PM PST by Vermont Lt (Ebola: Death is a lagging indicator.)
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To: smoothsailing

Gee, still can’t fathom why folks in Iowa elected Joni rather than a smarmy entitled trial lawyer like ‘Bailey’ ...


35 posted on 11/07/2014 3:49:37 PM PST by dodger
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To: WyCoKsRepublican

My hat is off to her “fill-ins” too.


36 posted on 11/07/2014 3:55:01 PM PST by anoldafvet (Only those who vote are allowed to complain)
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To: smoothsailing

Wow, not only was she elected as Senator, she also got a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel


37 posted on 11/07/2014 3:56:49 PM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: TigersEye
I didn’t know all this. Iowa done good!

LOL. We Iowans take a beating every four years during Caucus season. Glad we are getting credit for something for a change :)

38 posted on 11/07/2014 3:59:04 PM PST by alley cat
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To: smoothsailing

Boots Made For Walkin` on the D.C. Ground


39 posted on 11/07/2014 4:02:26 PM PST by bunkerhill7 ("The Second Amendment has no limits on firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione.")
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To: piytar

“Wow that I’m an idiot...”

No, no, no, not at all. I’m sorry if you took it that way.

“Wow that she is a LTC?”

That’s the ticket right there. She’s one impressive lady.


40 posted on 11/07/2014 4:06:41 PM PST by moovova
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