Brig. Gen. Frances Auclair, Maine National Guard chief of staff, and Col. Mark Lovejoy, Vermont National Guard director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, discuss a briefing at the Joint Task Force Commander Training Course Jan. 29, 2008, at U.S. Nothern Command headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. USNORTHCOM conducts the four-day course twice each year for Army and Air National Guard senior officers who have been nominated by their state adjutants general as potential joint task force commanders. The course presents attendees with a compilation of current policy, directives, guidance and lessons learned regarding the command of a joint task force in the United States and prepares the officers to effectively operate in situations requiring the mobilization of National Guard and active-duty forces.