News : Lions hear update on Iowa National Guard

Vinton Lions saw this map showing where Iowa National Guard troops have served throughout the world.

Col. Hapgood shares the history of the Iowa National Guard with Vinton Lions.

Although young recruits after 9/11 were told they were almost certain to be deployed overseas, recruiting for the Iowa National Guard remained strong as America sent thousands of troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, said Col. Greg Hapgood.

Hapgood, the top public affairs officer for the Iowa National Guard, spoke to the Vinton Lions Club on Wednesday. He gave a history of the guard's military service as well as its community outreach efforts (fighting floods and other projects throughout the state).

Hapgood displayed a map showing that Guard troops have been deployed to nearly every major continent. He said that the unit has built or renovated every facility in the state in the past 20 years, investing more than $150 million.

While recruiting remains strong, Hapgood said that more and more high school students, because of health issues, legal troubles or other situations, are ineligible for military service. He estimates that statewide, 30 to 40 percent of students are not eligible to join the guard.

Click HERE to see the slide show Hapgood presented the Lions.

About Col. Hapgood:

Col. Greg Hapgood is a native of Marion, Iowa. He enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in January 1986 with Company A, 234th Signal Battalion in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Hapgood graduated from Army Basic and Advanced Individual Training, Officer

Candidate School, Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and

Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. He has commanded the 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and Joint Forces Headquarters, Iowa National Guard, and previously deployed for Operation Joint Endeavor (1996-97) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2009-10).

Hapgood received Bachelor of Arts Degrees from the University of Iowa in English and Communications, a Masters degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Juris Doctor from the Creighton University School of Law. He practiced law in Des Moines until his selection as the Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Officer in November 2003.

Hapgood and his wife, Deb, have two daughters and reside in Johnston, Iowa.