The latest “Ground Truth” discussion brought together an impressive lineup of leaders and experts to tackle issues affecting today’s Reserve and National Guard communities.

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) John Hashem, newly appointed executive director of the Reserve Organization of America (ROA), helped convene this special session alongside Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Francis McGinn, president of the National Guard Bureau of the United States; Wen Liu, senior policy analyst in the Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and Dr. Emily Becher, senior director of research and evaluation at Blue Star Families.

"While the reserve components are really essential for national defense, and a true bargain for the taxpayer... each of our members exists in kind of a fragile state between their civilian life and their military obligations," said Hashem. 

Together, they explored the evolving challenges facing service members and families—from the operational demands on the National Guard to the growing threat of financial scams targeting military households. The conversation underscored the need for continued collaboration between government agencies, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations to strengthen financial resilience and family readiness across the force.

ROA extends its sincere thanks to Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Hashem for his leadership in bringing this important discussion to life. Appointed in September as ROA’s executive director, Hashem continues to advance ROA’s mission of advocacy, education, and connection for America’s reserve components. Please join us in giving him a warm welcome to the Collaborative.