Air National Guard
The year 2002 will be marked by the volunteer spirit and dedication of Air National Guard men and women spanning the globe: the War on Terrorism at home, the War on Terrorism abroad, and "routine" deployments as full partners in the Air and Space Expeditionary Force. Since September 11, 2001, we've been busier than ever before. We've been flying fighter combat air patrols over cities keeping our country safe. We've been seeking out terrorists where they live. We've been gathering and interpreting data supporting the warfighters and securing airports, bridges, and military installations. We've maintained our aircraft and communications infrastructure so the mission can be accomplished. We've done this with volunteers and mobilized personnel, most of whom left their families and jobs to serve. We've done this as proud members of the Total Force even while we continued to train for what lies ahead. During his campaign in Tunisia, General Eisenhower said, "It is not the man who is so brilliant who delivers in time of stress and strain, but rather the man who can keep on going." The Air National Guard not only delivered in a time of stress and strain but also kept on going. In this past year we've gone from a surge force to a sustaining force. At the peak of operations in February 2002, almost 15,000 people were mobilized and almost 8,000 were volunteers. Throughout the summer both the volunteers and mobilization numbers came down as the War on Terrorism reached a lower tempo. Often times we were employed as a "just in case" force rather than a "just in time" force, mobilizing personnel in case they were needed rather than when needed to fulfill immediate requirements. On many occasions Air National Guard members were mobilized to backfill deploying active duty troops. Employers understand better, as do families, when Guard men and women deploy overseas rather than backfill. Whatever the call, we were there. We've been a solid team player in Operation Enduring Freedom and the Air and Space Expeditionary Force. As fiscal year 2002 came to a close, we had flown 25 percent of the fighter sorties, 31 percent of the tanker sorties, and 27 percent of the airlift sorties. Through innovative management techniques such as "rainbowing" units, we've been a seamless part of the Total Force. We will continue to prosecute the War on Terrorism on all fronts. Combat operations couldn't happen without the exceptional support capabilities provided by maintainers and logisticians; civil engineers and security police; communicators and intelligence analysts. These myriad support skills are brought to bear to make operations successful. Many of these specialties are "stressed" but the troops keep on giving. Air National Guard citizen-airmen are the backbone of Operation Noble Eagle. By the end of fiscal year 2002 we had flown 74 percent of the fighter sorties, 62 percent of the tanker sorties, and 36 percent of the airlift sorties. We maintained almost 100 percent of the alert sites. The Air National Guard is extremely proud of its ability to execute the homeland security mission. Through smart management of resources and capabilities, we can continue to participate in the homeland security mission as a by-product of our wartime tasking. Continued Air National Guard participation in the Air and Space Expeditionary Force is vital to our wartime readiness. Any unique homeland security missions should be appropriately resourced. As the War on Terrorism continues, our people and systems will be employed at above-average rates. Through utilization of civilian skills and innovation, Air National Guard professionals are keeping our aging systems up and running. But in the face of fiscal and manpower constraints the nation will not be able to afford the high costs associated with maintaining legacy systems; therefore, the Air National Guard will need to be transformed across the full spectrum of missions with our active brethren. Through transformation to future high-tech systems such as information operations, space-based capabilities, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, C-17, and F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter, we will be able to continue to leverage our civilian skills to make the most of these systems' capabilities.
Technology, however, is only one part of transformation. Other parts include concepts of operations and organizational structures. The Air National Guard stands ready to explore and implement new concepts of operations and organizations. We've done so already with the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins AFB, Georgia. Together with the active force we've established a Total Force unit that will highlight the capabilities of both components and have broken down barriers that would have otherwise precluded this structure. This is the right kind of unit for the right mission. Not all future total force units should look like this but should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, we should consider "Reverse Associate" units where active duty members are associate to an Air National Guard unit. This will take advantage of the operational infrastructure savings associated with Air National Guard installations while broadening assignment opportunities and experiences for active members.
Since the entire force cannot be transformed at once, some part of the force will need to be modernized to include the latest capabilities. Areas that are best suited for modernization include facilities, precision-guided munitions, communications systems, air refueling platforms and engines. These systems are necessary to provide the required capabilities to fly and fight in today's battlefields. Today, the Air National Guard is a vital part of this great nation's security. We will proactively face the challenges ahead to remain a ready, reliable, and relevant force.
Ready speaks to being sufficiently manned with trained personnel capable of doing the global mission on short notice. Ready means jumping into an aircraft and launching in minimum time should we be attacked. Ready means support troops who can build and sustain support facilities at austere airfields anywhere in the world when called upon. Ready is being able to deploy in support of the Air and Space Expeditionary Force to Turkey, Bosnia, or Iceland. Ready is the ability to patrol airports or deliver food and supplies to those affected by natural disasters. We are ready!
Reliable means that we can be accessed when we are needed. Reliable means that whether through volunteerism or mobilization we have the required people ready to go when and where needed.
Reliable means we can respond to the Governor of a state when in state duty or to a Combatant Commander when federalized. Reliable means we'll be there, and we will be!
Relevant means we are modernized and transformed to carry out missions that are important to support the national security strategy. Relevant means we've got targeting pods and the latest radar and protective gear. Relevant means we're part of the F/A-22, Space, C-17, ISR, and information operations. It means we are an important part of our nations defense, and right now, we are. This is our biggest challenge. As the War on Terrorism continues, as does operations in other critical regions of the world, the Air National Guard will be there. We will continue the militia heritage of defending freedom as we did over 366 years ago. Our citizen-airmen will respond to the nations call to put on their uniforms to fight for our nation's interests. While they answer our call, we must answer theirs as we provide them with the tools to accomplish the mission. We must give them what they need to be Ready, Reliable, Relevant. Air National Guard. Now More Than Ever!
Air National Guard Infrastructure The Air National Guard Infrastructure provides the Department of Defense enhanced operational capacity with its presence at 176 locations throughout the country. As a recurring problem, the Air National Guard has experienced significant difficulties in absorbing new mission projects without adversely affecting restoration and modernization efforts to support current weapon systems.
Air National Guard facilities continue to deteriorate due to inadequate funding levels. Many facilities are in "forced use" condition, which requires unit personnel to endure substandard facilities. Lack of safe, efficient and modern facilities is impacting Air National Guard "Quality of Life", recruiting and retention. The condition of the facilities directly impacts how effectively units are able to respond to training, staffing, and other wartime needs. With respect to homeland defense, we are concerned about the attention to the operational needs of alert aircraft at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland; Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Truax Field, Wisconsin; and other sites either standing alert with fighters and tankers. After September 11, 2001, interim facilities were quickly provided, however little progress has been made since the initial surge to address permanent facilities alert missions at existing and potential sites. The Air National Guard is also concerned about the level of anti-terrorism and force protection funding to protect our personnel and equipment. Terrorism in the homeland has forced us to rethink and reprioritize how we secure our bases and sites Our fiscal year 2004 funding request allows us to achieve a recapitalization rate of 170 years, meaning that we renovate or replace our facilities an average of every 170 years. Our goal remains a 67-year recapitalization rate, and our current program would achieve that level in 2000?. Between now and then we plan to follow a smooth glide path down to that level. Readiness (Full-Time Manning) As an integral partner in the Total Force, fully imbedded into a formalized Air Expeditionary Force construct, the Air National Guard will routinely provide force structure for day-to-day operations, contingencies and the Global War on Terrorism. Historically, as a "force in reserve" the Air National Guard was funded with limited full-time manpower to operate and maintain facilities, repair aircraft and equipment, and train the drilling force. Today's operational tempo, combined with aging aircraft, weapon systems and ever increasing support requirements, the Air National Guard must be adequately resourced to ensure these weapon systems are available for training and deployment. We recently accomplished a complete review of both our full-time and traditional manpower requirements. Our review identified areas where we need to realign our manpower and validated increased requirements. Our fiscal year 2004 budget supports and reflects our realignment and provides some increased full-time funding and end strength. This is just the first step in getting our manpower resources right. Emerging homeland security tasking and mission readiness needs will drive additional manpower requirements and further realignments.
As demonstrated in Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom, the Air Force could not go to war without the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. Additionally, the Air Force would be severely hampered in conducting peacetime operations without its reserve components. The National Guard and Reserve Operations Tempo currently provide 25 percent of the aviation and almost 30 percent of the combat support elements for steady, peacetime deployments of the Air and Space Expeditionary Forces. They also provide more than 65 percent of the Air Force's tactical airlift capability, 35 percent of the strategic airlift, 60 percent of the air refueling, 38 percent of the fighters, 20% of combat rescue and make significant contributions to bomber, and combat support missions.
Information Operations and Management The Air National Guard is fully involved in the defensive elements of information supporting the nation's homeland security efforts. The civilian sector is heavily dependent on the national information infrastructure, and the military relies upon the Air National Guard to carry out its missions at home and overseas.
In addition to preparing for conventional combat, the Air National Guard must now provide the most up-to-date protection against what has become known as information or 'cyberspace' wars. Participation in this mission area requires an investment in infrastructure to allow for the Air National Guard to connect with classified network systems that have sufficient bandwidth and capacity to store, process, and transmit unprecedented amounts of data.
By using advanced technology information weapons systems, the Air National Guard directly supports the Department of Defense's vision of transformation. A new age of warfare includes information that consists of a wide variety of operations and activities, such as psychological operations, electronic warfare, military deception, physical attack, computer network attack, defense, and exploitation, public affairs operations, counter deception, counterintelligence, and counterpropaganda operations.
Annual Dental Examinations Program Currently, the Air National Guard is required to accomplish a dental examination every five years. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs has mandated that this exam be accomplished annually beginning February 2004. Air National Guard Medical Squadrons are only authorized two dentists and two dental technicians; however, many units may only have one or no dentists assigned to accomplish these dental requirements. Air National Guard Medical Squadrons are struggling to accomplish the current 400-500 dental exam requirements along with their mandated training. This mandate will increase their workload to 1100-1300 dental exams each year.
Mobilization In today's Air Force, the Air National Guard is central to the Total Force, and plays an ever-increasing role as a partner in the Global War on Terrorism. Now, more than ever, the Guard is needed by the nation to perform the mission they have been trained to do. Most Air National Guard members have served in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom, and many more will continue to deploy to fill Air and Space Expeditionary Force steady state requirements around the globe. Their service is not without sacrifice and their sacrifice is not without meaning.
Numerous personnel issues have surfaced around the disparity of benefits associated with different status of service following mobilization. Of notable importance, protection under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act applies only to a member mobilized under the provisions of Title 10 U.S.C., and was not afforded to our citizen-airmen serving in airport security.
Current policies and laws are now under scrutiny to alleviate issues of disparity such as per diem limitations, down-time restrictions, Basic Allowance for Housing I vs. II, income pay protection, leave issues, and a myriad of entitlements and benefits that are affected by either status or length of active duty tours. The Air National Guard, as a full partner in the Total Force, will continue its advocacy for parity in pay, entitlements and benefits. In its role as a force provider, the Air National Guard will honor the commitment to provide the right person, at the right place, at the right time. Chemical Warfare Defense Equipment Program The Air National Guard's Chemical Warfare Defense Equipment program plans to be strategically positioned to provide individual equipment protection, including individual chemical suits, gas masks, filter canisters, hoods, boots, and gloves, to protect each member against chemical or biological attack.
The Air National Guard identified a $66.8 million Chemical Weapons Defense Ensemble Mobility Bag requirement to provide initial protection for all members and to fund the replacement of Mobility Bag shelf-life assets. Depot Purchased Equipment Maintenance The Air National Guard's Depot Purchased Equipment Maintenance Account pays for depot level maintenance of all aircraft, aircraft engines, special purpose vehicles, and other major items of equipment (e.g., ground radar/radio sets). The major goal of the program is to decrease the levels of deferred depot maintenance.
The Air National Guard is concerned about the spiraling costs for organic and contract programmed depot maintenance and the impact on our aging aircraft fleet. Increasing costs and under funded budget requirements have resulted in an Air National Guard's Depot Purchased Equipment Maintenance program that approximates an 80 percent funded level.
Based on fiscal year 2003 projected budgets, funding shortfalls may result in eight KC-135, three F-15 and one C-5 aircraft not being inducted into the Depot Maintenance Program at the appropriately scheduled time frame. We are concerned about what impact this continuing annual funding shortfall has upon the current and future readiness of the Air National Guard.
Vehicle Priority Buy Program The Air National Guard Vehicle Priority Buy program is struggling to keep pace with mission requirements associated with homeland security, new Alert sites, Security Force protection, medical evacuation teams and new aircraft conversions.
At the present time, 43 percent of the Air National Guard vehicle fleet is due for replacement, at a cost of approximately $315 million. Our budget includes $40 million, or roughly 13 percent of this requirement, to replace vehicles in the inventory in fiscal year 2004.
The Air National Guard vehicle fleet will continue to age and become more costly to maintain. This underscores the need to replace vehicles. While we plan to replace the rest of the aging vehicles over time, the rate at which we are currently replacing them, coupled with additional requirements to support newly emerging homeland security needs, could severely impact our near-term vehicle readiness.
Nationwide Information Technology Network The Air National Guard is in the process of modernizing its nationwide information technology network that serves a vital role in homeland security and national defense. Reliable, available and secure information technology is essential to Air National Guard, Air Force, Department of Defense, and state authorities in their ability to exercise control and command of information resources impacting their various constituencies.
The Air National Guard Information Technology Network is critical to the successful transmission of information within a unit, between units, and among the various states. Without a healthy and robust Information Technology network most other Air National Guard missions will not be able to function. No Air National Guard function can stand alone without interface and interaction with several other functions and the network is the link that provides the medium to share information at all levels.
The Air National Guard has made significant progress in procuring network hardware and personal computer and server software that decreases complexity and increases network communication with Air Force and Department of Defense partners. Striving to accomplish a nationwide reduction of network servers by consolidating core network services to regional operations centers, the Air National Guard must first upgrade its own communications and network infrastructure, technologies, and facilities. Continuing to fund the Air National Guard Enterprise Network at last decades level will continue to give us last decade’s capabilities. The rapidly changing hardware and software requirements of our warfighting and combat support functions come with a significant cost to upgrade and maintain a fully capable Information Technology network. The Air National Guard network is funded and maintained at the same level it was during the 1990's. Without a significant infusion of new technology, all other Air National Guard mission areas will be less than fully capable of prosecuting their missions. One time cost estimates to bring the Air National Guard Enterprise Network up to a fully capable and robust condition are approximately $80 million, coupled with a significant increase in sustainment and refreshment funding to maintain and upgrade the Information Technology Enterprise to fully support all other mission areas in the continuing war on terrorism and homeland security. This modernization initiative will certainly enhance the Air National Guard's interoperability with other federal and state agencies.
Capabilities Based Military Force The Air National Guard is a solid partner with the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and all collective units of the Department of Defense designed to protect national security and maintain international peace. The Defense Department priority is Transformation and therefore the priority of the active services and the reserve components.
Transformation as "relevancy" is dependent on the Air National Guard readiness, in both state and federal missions, being able to support service apportioned and Joint Chiefs validated Combatant Commander required "capabilities." Becoming a "capabilities based" military force translates into the Air National Guard's need to acquire new technology and equipment to maintain a state of readiness and relevancy now and in the future. The Air National Guard must embrace the process of transformation and intelligent risk-taking to provide a fully trained, equipped and ready force to defend the nation at home and overseas.
The Air Force is pursuing innovative organizational constructs and personnel policies to meld the various components into a single, unified force. Future Total Force integration will create efficiencies, cut costs, ensure stability, retain invaluable human capital, and, above all, increase our combat capabilities. Another transformation effort is to "blend," where sensible, units from two or more components into a single wing with a single commander. Active, Guard, and Reserve personnel share the same facilities and equipment, and together, execute the same mission. This is a level of integration unprecedented in any of the Services. Potential future missions might include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and their training programs, combining the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadrons with their manned fighter counterparts; integrated fighter squadrons realizing the benefits of highly trained personnel flying legacy systems during the transition period to newer fighter aircraft like the Joint Strike Fighter. The Air National Guard has been steadily increasing its participation in space operations over the years and already plays a vital role in missile warning, satellite command and control, and launch operations. These contributions will be key during conflicts envisioned in the future.
These changes confirm and continue the trend in which air and space forces carry a heavier share of the burden in the nation's wars. The new strategy and force-sizing standard point to an increase, not a decrease, in aerospace power. Since September 11, 2001, Air Force components have flown most of the subsequent air defense sorties in Operation Noble Eagle, with the Air National Guard flying 74 percent of the total missions. The Air National Guard must be resourced in order to sustain our nation's fight against the war on terrorism in defense of the homeland. This new theatre of operations paves the way to transform the experience of the Air National Guard to effectively respond to homeland security missions in an expeditionary role. The Air National Guard will continue on its Total Force journey hand-in-hand with the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve and, indeed, all of the Department of Defense away from a threat based force toward the "capabilities based" force that will be required into the future. The Air National Guard will always provide a ready, reliable, and relevant force that America can count on now, and, through Transformation, solidly into the future.
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance As a strong defense, Air National Guard 'eyes in the skies' approach to surveillance and reconnaissance provides the nation with protection from hostile air or land attacks. To increase its intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the Air National Guard seeks to expand our capabilities to intelligence imagery with deployable commercial imagery downlink and exploitation system (Eagle Vision), and modernize and increase the capability of the Air National Guard's signals intelligence. This system will be very beneficial to homeland security missions across the broad spectrum from natural disasters to terrorism assessments.
In much the same way that National Guard assets have been effectively employed in the war on drugs, the mission of the global war on terrorism plays a large role in how the Air National Guard is directing its focus and personnel. New intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities will be particularly useful in conducting domestic missions dealing with natural disasters in which the Air National Guard can assist states with relief efforts caused by tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes.
Air National Guard Space Operations Program For the Air National Guard, Space Operations provide a critical communications link to communities throughout the nation in the form of satellite support for everyday uses (television, computers, wireless phones), but also serve as an important military deterrence from external threats. Recently, two Air National Guard units in Wyoming and California have come out of conversion to provide operational command control support to Northern Command and to provide round-the-clock support to the Milstar satellite constellation.
Additionally, the 114th Range Flight in Florida is partnered with an active Air Force unit performing the Launch Range safety mission. There are future plans by the Air Force to transition additional space program assets to Air National Guard control.
Logistics Information Technology Program The National Guard Logistics Information Technology Modernization programs will enable the Air National Guard to operate seamlessly with active and reserve counterparts in support of combat operations or other contingencies in all operational theaters. This Air National Guard initiative ensures that the organization maintains interoperability with common worldwide contingency systems. This involves plans to modernize logistical information technology systems, including Digital Technical Data, Joint Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistics Support, Wireless Local Area Network, Tool Accountability Systems, and Integrated Maintenance Data Systems. The Air National Guard effort to sustain these modernization programs and initiatives has been estimated to cost $314 million. Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS)
Transformation The Air National Guard's Expeditionary Medical Support response platform is a comprehensive medical system that is designed to provide for homeland security consistent with meeting the requirements of major theater warfare or peacetime disaster response support. Like an airborne portable hospital, this is truly the lightest, leanest, and most capable deployable medical platform available to the Air National Guard today. The Air National Guard Air Surgeon's Office has established personnel packages that will be able to support 15 Expeditionary Medical Support packages (two on-call) for each Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment and 13 available for homeland security if deployed through state-to-state compacts or the national-level Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The personnel packages were placed in each Air National Guard unit, effective with the publication of the unit manpower and planning documents. Once the equipment sets have been acquired, they will be strategically pre-positioned throughout the continental United States and will provide the flexibility of responding to any disaster within several hours from activation. The equipment and personnel packages will be positioned to provide both a distinct wartime capability and military support to civil authorities in each Federal Emergency Management Agency region. Each region will have an Expeditionary Medical Support +25 or Expeditionary Medical Support +50 capability, with the ability to provide multiple medical response teams configured for support of the first responders. Our objective is to obtain two Expeditionary Medical Support equipment sets, one to be placed on each coast.
With Operation Iraqi Freedom, our transformed ANG Medical Service deployed for the first time ever these revolutionary medical wartime platforms. In several cases, our ANG medical personnel were deploying with this new capability at the same time many active duty units deployed. A remarkable point to be made is that this capability, added to the Guard in Jan 03, is currently being deployed to serve our fighting forces in Iraq. Though we are currently recruiting to fill full teams, we have identified 39 teams of critical care physicians, nurses, and technicians, across the ANG, volunteering to go forward. The Air Mobility Command Surgeon General, who is responsible, as the force provider, for these critical care teams, could not have accomplished this mission without the critical day-to-day clinical expertise of our guard members. We are clearly postured medically for the future.
Modernization The Air National Guard Modernization program is a comprehensive effort to leverage programs from the Air Force with appropriated funding to keep the Air National Guard ready, reliable and relevant for today and tomorrow's operational theaters. The Modernization Program is segmented into three time frames: short-term (the current and next year's Defense budget), medium-term (out to 2010), and long-term (out to 2015). The Air National Guard Modernization Program directly supports the Global War on Terrorism by providing weapon systems engaged in combat operations overseas, domestic surveillance and combat air patrols. As upgrades are made to the various systems, it is incumbent on the Air National Guard to provide reliable systems, as well as effective training, to ensure the highest state of readiness for forces participating in the on-going combat operations. The arrival of the Block 25/30/32 F-16s into the Afghan theater, with their Litening II precision targeting pods, provided the Special Forces engaging Taliban and Al Qaeda forces on the ground with a unique, laser-spot-tracking capability. With our forces closely engaged with a tenacious enemy in very rough terrain, the Block 25/30/32 F-16s were the number one choice of the ground troops when requesting close air support. Air National Guard forces were an integral part of Operation Enduring Freedom from the beginning to the end because the Modernization Program that provided a ready, reliable and relevant force.
The Air National Guard Modernization Program directly supports homeland security, most obviously through the combat air patrols flown during Operation Noble Eagle. Well versed in the air sovereignty mission, the Air National Guard responded within minutes to the attack on the World Trade Center, and were immediately patrolling the airspace across the United States. Many American citizens expressed comfort at seeing armed fighter aircraft flying above them while unanimously stating they never thought they would live to see the day American military air power would be used in combat operations so close to home. These continuing operations since September 11th, 2001 highlight the atrophy of the command and control systems associated with our Air Defense network due to decades of neglect. As Northern Command clarifies the air sovereignty mission, this modernization program will be crucial to ensuring the evolving mission needs correspond with the capability of the assigned forces and that any required improvements are adequately resourced. Besides Operation Noble Eagle, the enhanced defense of the airspace above the United States, the Air National Guard supports Operation Enduring Freedom, the global counter-terrorism campaign. We also continue to support other on-going operations through the Air and Space Expeditionary Force commitments. These commitments include regular deployments to Operation Southern Watch, Operation Northern Watch, and the air defense alert commitment in Iceland. The domestic missions include continued counter-drug flights, fire fighting missions, disaster relief airlifts, and civilian rescue missions.
The key to transforming Air National Guard assets to the future force structure is ensuring that systems are ready, reliable, and relevant. This program begins with a national conference of war fighters from all of the major weapon systems. Given the missions they expect to fight over the next ten years, the war fighters then outline what is needed to keep their platforms relevant. From these requests, the Air National Guard reviews the Air Force modernization program, calculates any resulting shortages, and finds a way to obtain at least an equivalent capability so the Air National Guard can bring a relevant capability to the mission. As OPSTEMPO increases and contingencies multiply, there is an increasing focus on short-term capabilities, restricting funding available for long-term investment. The Modernization Program is a comprehensive effort affecting all aspects of the Air National Guard.
One of the premier accomplishments in the past year is the very short-term identification, development and fielding of the Transparent Multi-Platform Gateway integrated into the Joint Range Extension gateway providing interoperability and connectivity between the Situation Awareness Data Link and Enhanced Position Reporting System network and Link 16. The Modernization Program funded the groundwork required for this capability. By leveraging the on-going Air Force Joint Ranger Extension program, the Block 25/30/32 F-16s were successfully networked into the command centers, providing a major increase in theater-wide situational awareness. One system is already in operation overseas while follow-on systems are now being acquired to ensure increased flexibility. Additionally, the North American Air Defense Contingency Suite was fielded giving North American Air Defense Command the ability to track targets within the United States and integrate the Federal Aviation Administration tracks into the military transponder network in support of Operation Noble Eagle.
The A-10 continued its role as the venerable attack aircraft supporting operations from both Kuwait and Bagram AB, Afghanistan. The key modernization program for this aircraft is called Precision Engagement. Precision Engagement will ensure the A-10's continued relevance on tomorrow's battlefields. This cost-efficient program will transform the current A-10 cockpit into a 21st century cockpit, greatly reducing pilot workload and providing additional combat capability in the form of precision guided munitions. Associated with Precision Engagement was a watershed decision to install the new Joint Tactical Radio System on the A-10 making it the first aircraft to be equipped with this future data link and communication suite. During the past year, the A-10 experienced an aircraft modification to improve the personal locator system and consolidate countermeasures equipment. Other modernization efforts include further research into an adequate, engine replacement, an AN/ALR 69 Radar Warning Receiver antenna replacement, and continued COMET infrared countermeasures pod testing.
During the last year, the Air National Guard F-16's provided crucial combat capabilities in both Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom using Litening targeting pods for precision-guided munitions funded by the Modernization Program. The Commercial Central Interface Unit, and the AN/ALR-69 Radar Warning Receiver Antenna Optimization kits, are all part of our modernization effort over the past year. Initial funding for the Advanced Identify/Friend/Foe upgrade was secured along with funding for 25 more engine upgrade kits for our F-16 Block 42 aircraft. The Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System continued its spiral development and Night Vision Imaging System lighting for the A and B models to support Operation Noble Eagle was installed. The HC-130 began installation of the Forward Looking Infrared system.
Also, installation of aircraft night vision imaging systems and acquisition of rapid onload/offload “canary ramps” for austere locations increase our capability to provide critical combat support day or night. The HH-60 program started integration of the new M3M .50 caliber defensive weapon, installed an improved insertion extraction system for deploying personnel and bought skis for the Alaska aircraft to facilitate Arctic operations. The Pararescue / Special Tactics program replaced personal equipment for the pararescue jumpers and combat controllers with state-of-the-art weapons and technologies.
The Operational Support Aircraft Modernization Program leased two 737 Boeing Business Jet aircraft and secured funding for a C-40C in fiscal year 2004. The existing Boeing Business Jets will also get upgraded to the C-40C configuration as part of the lease program. Three new C-130 Js will be delivered in FY 04. These aircraft will be a welcome addition to our tactical airlift inventory as we move toward an Initial Operational Capability milestone. The modernization of the Air National Guard training and simulation systems includes partial fielding of the Full Combat Mission Trainer for our A-10 units. Half of these units have received the advanced trainer system and additional funds are required to complete the beddown at the remaining units. The F-16 Block 30 distributed mission training capable flight simulators are in engineering development while funding was secured for two F-15 advanced flight simulators at our flying training unit at Kingsley Field, Oregon. The Iowa Air National Guard’s 132nd Fighter Wing has been officially designated as the site of the ANG’s Distributed Training Operations Center making it a major hub of Air Force-wide distributed training. The ANG’s four Combat Readiness Training Centers and fourteen Ranges are ideal assets for the Joint National Training Capability. The increased use of Precision Guided and Stand Off weapons will drive changes in the airspace and range requirements to properly and safely train. Evolving training requirements, such as “lights out” operations in special use airspace, create unique challenges for operating in the National Airspace System. The potential contentiousness and length of time it can take to establish new or modified airspace makes it essential to identify requirements as early as possible. The modernization of the F-15 included the initial acquisition of the BOL Infrared countermeasures improvements system, continued installation of the Multi-functional Information Distribution System Fighter Data Link, and the purchase of the first 25 engine upgrade kits. The C-130 modernization program purchased more aircraft armor; and continued acquisition of the AN/APN-241 Low Power Color Radar, the installation of the Night Vision Imaging System, the Air National Guard-driven development of Scathe View to include various technological spin-offs having application in a myriad of civilian and military efforts; and supported Air Force's development of the AN/AAQ-24 (V) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures system. We also completed final design review and testing of the new advanced Airborne Fire Fighting System to bolster the fire and protection capabilities nationwide. The Air National Guard is supporting a Joint Program, along with the Navy and Marine Corps, to test and qualify an Electronic Propeller Control System for the C-130. The Air National Guard fully supports the Air Force plan to acquire the new 767 tanker aircraft and the plan to move more KC-135Rs to the Air National Guard.
Modernization of complex weapons systems is a continuous process, not a goal. Traditionally the Air National Guard gets legacy systems through the equipment that is trickled-down from the active duty forces. With the exception of the Block 50 F-16s and the C-17, these legacy systems do not have the funding to upgrade their capabilities to make them equivalent to the active Air Force. The Air National Guard requires an aggressive program to meet the combat capabilities required for the missions assigned to the Air and Space Expeditionary Forces built, in part, with Air National Guard forces. To keep the Modernization Program focused and to maximize combat capability per dollar, we use the Combat Quadrangle to summate the fundamental combat capabilities required to meet assigned missions. The Combat Quadrangle, derived from the Air Force's core competencies, consists of enhanced survivability, 24-hour operations, combat identification, and precision strike. The Air National Guard includes all aircraft, ground command and control systems, training and simulation systems in the modernization effort. The requirements definitions required to focus this effort must be grounded in clearly defined combat capabilities and missions. The foundation of future efforts is relevance with reliability and readiness. It is increasingly difficult to keep the Air National Guard legacy systems relevant given the transformation of the Air Force to better, more effective technologies. Systems funding will be a continuous and serious challenge since funding levels continue to fall short of mission requirements. Over the foreseeable future, the military services, specifically the Air Force, will be stretched to simultaneously fund current operations, modernization and future Research and Development projects.
The Air National Guard Modernization Program is the key to fielding and supporting a relevant combat capability to meet any emerging challenges for the next 10-15 years. We must sustain an open and honest dialogue from the warfighter through to the President and the Congress in order to maximize the investment of precious tax dollars. The Modernization Program works as seen in the examples above. The Air National Guard Modernization Program will continue to provide success stories as the United States Air Force transforms to meet the future.
We in the Air National Guard are proud to serve this great nation as Citizen-Airmen. Building the strongest possible Air National Guard is our most important objective. Our people, readiness modernization programs and infrastructure supported through your Congressional actions are necessary to help maintain the Air National Guard as the best reserve force. With your continued support, we are confident that the men and women of the Air National Guard will meet the challenges set before us.
Joint Programs National Guard State Partnership Program The National Guard State Partnership program is constituted to encourage and build long-standing institutional affiliations and interpersonal relationships with those nations that are striving to establish democratic military organizations. Our citizen-soldiers provide military leaders in partner nations an opportunity to witness our highly trained and capable soldiers at work. National Guard members who serve as role models become a compelling argument for the ideals of democracy, professionalism, and deference to civilian authority. Our personnel gain valuable experience interfacing with people of diverse cultures, as they will encounter when activated and deployed overseas during a federal mission. This also provides the United States with the opportunity to demonstrate the necessity and economy of reserve component personnel who are trained and equipped to respond immediately to civil or military emergency. The program also supports homeland security by helping to develop dependable and collaborative partners for the United States. It supports Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s New Concepts of Global Engagement and has the capacity to link states with partner nations for the purpose of improving bilateral relations.
The National Guard State’s Partnership Program supports missions in which troops prepare to depart their partnership countries for cooperative events, mobilization skills are refined, and National Guard personnel interface with diverse cultures, helping to prepare them for active deployment overseas during potentially hostile activities. The State partners actively participate in a host of engagement activities ranging from bilateral familiarization and training events, exercises, fellowship-style internships, and civic leader visits.
National Guard Family Programs As the role of the National Guard becomes focused on the dual missions of Global War on Terrorism and homeland security, units will continue to maintain a high level of readiness for overseas and homeland operations. An integral part of service member readiness is family readiness. The National Guard Family Program Office was established to provide policy, guidance, and resources for developing the Family Program quality of life and family readiness infrastructure to the Adjutants General of all 54 States and Territories, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and the Directors of the Army and Air National Guard.
The National Guard Family Program office implements Department of Defense directive to ensure service members and their families are provided a quality of life that reflects the high standards and pride of the Nation they defend, and that this policy be achieved by working in partnership with Department of Defense personnel and their families, recognizing their role in the readiness of the Total Force.
If family members are not prepared for deployments, a service member’s readiness, morale, and eventually retention are affected. Family programs are currently in place to assist families during the challenging stages of deployment: pre-mobilization, mobilization, and reunion. The Family Program office provides support to the family program coordinators through information, training, volunteer management, workshops, newsletters, family events, youth development programs, and other such programs. The primary challenge lies in awareness and communication. Consistent feedback indicates many family members are unaware of the various resources available to them. The goal is to increase the level of awareness and participation in existing family resources to improve overall mission readiness and retention. National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program The award-winning National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program is a community-based program that leads, trains and mentors at-risk youth at 31 sites to become productive citizens in America’s future. As the second largest mentoring program in the nation, the ChalleNGe program is coeducational and consists of a five-month “quasi-military” residential phase and a one-year post-residential phase. Corps members must be volunteers, between 16 and 18 years of age, not in trouble with the law, drug free, unemployed, and high school dropouts.
As a national model, since its inception, the 31 National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program sites have graduated over 42,000 young men and women who leave the program equipped with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults in society. Significantly, although many ChalleNGe candidates are from at-risk populations, over two-thirds of ChalleNGe graduates have attained either a General Equivalency Diploma or high school diploma. Furthermore, approximately 30 percent of all graduates choose to enter military service upon graduation. Although the program graduation rate is above 90 percent, and the general equivalency diploma attainment is over 66 percent, the National Guard seeks to increase output in both of these areas.
The National Guard is “Hometown America” with deep roots in every community. Its strong community ties makes the National Guard a highly visible and effective entity in many towns and communities across the United States. Involved are men and women who, in their civilian lives, are influential across the spectrum of business, education, and government. National Guard units across the country have traditionally been involved in youth programs designed to help young people become positive and productive members of their community.
Homeland Security As we begin the 21st century, homeland security is the most important issue facing the United States. For the first time in almost 200 years, the continental U.S. was attacked with the prospects of future attacks high. To better defend the U.S., the government has mobilized its resources and has undertaken a major reorganization to more effectively meet the challenge. While the National Guard performed superbly in response to the attacks of September 11th, 2001, we have begun to make changes to better respond to future attacks. The National Guard has a significant role in homeland security. Just as the active force is the first to deploy in support of U.S. operations abroad, the National Guard is the first military force to deploy in support of most homeland security requirements. The National Guard is a unique dual status, citizen-soldier force that can be activated by the Governor in support of state emergencies and also can be federalized to support national contingency requirements. The Governor can employ the National Guard under state active duty (state commanded, state financed) and Title 32 (state commanded, federally financed), or the National Guard can be federalized under the provisions of Title 10 (federally commanded, federally financed). Its dual state-federal status makes the National Guard a cost effective, flexible force that can be deployed in a variety of circumstances. Like the Guard units in the states, the National Guard Bureau (a Title 10 entity) has dual roles. We communicate policy, requirements and situational awareness information in both directions through the federal-to-state channel. Further, because most of the state Adjutants General are also the emergency manager for their state, and because many are also their state’s Homeland Security Director, we are involved in intergovernmental issues, as well as federal military and interagency ones. This dual-mission multi-faceted capability of the Guard was demonstrated in the aftermath of September 11th. Immediately after the attack on September 11th, the National Guard responded. National Guard air assets took to the skies to secure our airspace and other forces were quickly sent to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon to assist with security and recovery efforts. Soon after, the President asked the Governors to secure critical U.S. airports and they responded by deploying Guardsmen in Title 32 status at airports in a matter of hours. In addition, many of the states’ governors ordered their Guardsmen, in State Active Duty Status, to secure critical infrastructure facilities, such as bridges, nuclear power plants, and federal buildings, throughout their states and many of those missions continue today. Other National Guard units and personnel were activated under Title 10 to augment security at the U.S. borders. Their mission was to support the Department of Justice and the Department of Treasury in ensuring that commerce continued to flow while our vital interests were protected. These homeland security missions and others were conducted, and some have continued to be conducted, while Army and Air National Guard forces have been deployed for peacekeeping and stabilization actions in the Balkans and elsewhere, and as a critical part of the war in Southwest Asia. The Guard has also been mobilized to perform force protection missions in the United States in support of our war efforts. As expected, the National Guard has conducted and continues to conduct all missions in an exceptional manner. As we move forward, it is apparent that the National Guard will be increasingly involved in all aspects of the homeland security mission. The areas we focus on include: • Combating terrorism • Military Assistance to Civilian Authorities • Responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives incidents • Missile Defense • Critical Infrastructure Protection • Information Operations • Force Protection • Protecting the Nation’s Sovereignty. In addition to these mission areas, the National Guard Bureau’s recently-established Office of Homeland Defense will facilitate military support to civil authorities by the Army and Air National Guard. Military support to civil authorities includes domestic disaster relief operations that occur during fires, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. Our support also includes counter-drug operations and incident management assistance, such as would occur after a terrorist event employing a weapon of mass destruction. The National Guard Bureau, in addition to our statutory role as the channel of communication between the Army and the Air Force and the National Guard of the several states, has coordinated with the Combatant Commander of U.S. Northern Command to perform that same role. As part of this, the National Guard Bureau provides situational awareness on state-commanded National Guard operations to the Commander of U.S. Northern Command to augment his ability to effectively plan for and manage the overall role of his command.
The fight against terrorism and the protection of our homeland is expected to be a protracted endeavor much like the Cold War. To that end, many policy experts, reports, and studies have advocated an expanded role for the National Guard in homeland security. While some have suggested that the National Guard should be reoriented, re-equipped, and retrained for the homeland security mission, the reality is that the National Guard is an integral part of the Army and Air Force Total Force mission capability and that role is vital to the survival of the nation. In the past the resources, personnel, equipment and training provided for the war-time mission was sufficient to allow the National Guard to also fulfill its local and state support role by responding to local disasters and military support to civilian authorities. Times have changed, however. The threat posed by well-financed, sophisticated and determined international terrorist groups has raised the bar as to what the National Guard must be able to do. While the National Guard will continue to maintain a high state of readiness for overseas operations, it must also better prepare itself to respond to the homeland security mission within the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. possessions and territories. To that end, we are working hard to find ways to meet the increased demands of the homeland security mission while still maintaining our ability to execute our Total Force requirements.
The increased threat and global proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a significant threat to the U.S., our deployed forces, and our allies. In response to this threat, in December 2002 the Department of Defense directed the deployment of an effective missile defense system capable of defending the territory of the United States against limited ballistic missile attack. The Army National Guard accepted the mission to man the Army portion of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, including both operational and security force elements. The GMD segment is the cornerstone of the Ballistic Missile Defense System Test Bed, and will have an Initial Defensive Operations (ID)) capability by September 2004. This high-visibility program, which will provide protection against limited ballistic missile attack, is an example of the evolving role of the National Guard in Homeland Defense.
Over the next year, and as much longer as it takes, the National Guard Bureau will take the lead in improving the posture of the National Guard for its homeland security mission. The National Guard Bureau will work with the States as they perform a mission area analysis to determine what additional capabilities are needed to accomplish the homeland security mission and will utilize a systematic programmed approach designed to build our homeland security posture for the future. These are the features of that program: • Consolidate the National Guard homeland security requirements of the 50 States, territories and the District of Columbia. (States know the actual operational requirements better than anyone.) • Validate these requirements at the National Guard Bureau level and craft them into packages for submission to the appropriate Combatant Commanders, to the Army and Air Force as requirements that can be built into programs for funding, and to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Security. • Use our developed requirements to advise and educate agencies, offices, commands, and leaders that have an interest in supporting homeland security. • From valid requirements we will build funded programs that ensure the success of homeland security by using a systematic long-term approach. We believe that a long-term approach is needed to ensure a sustained, comprehensive protective posture for our nation.
The road ahead also includes a transformation of National Guard Counter Drug efforts into an integrated Counter Narcotics/Homeland Defense Counter Terrorism program. These mission areas employ many of the same tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as equipment, training and skills. Therefore, a great deal of cross-skill transfer will begin immediately once the change is effected, and a quick, effective, seamless transition between and across mission sets will allow Guard troops to readily take their places on the front lines of the war against terrorism at home and abroad.
Our government has initiated a massive reorganization to better respond to the homeland security challenge. Northern Command has been activated, the new Department of Homeland Security is in the process of being organized, and the Department of Defense has created a position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense. The National Guard Bureau will work with the Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense and Northern Command to insure that National Guard missions and capabilities are fully integrated into the overall plan for homeland security. Specifically, it will assist Northern Command as that command moves from an initial operating capability to a full operating capability by: • Providing situational awareness of activities within the 50 states and territories. • Integrating and synchronizing existing plans. • Coordinating National Guard resource and training requirements. • Facilitating communication between Northern Command and the State Area Commands Northern Command will undergo a critical year as it transitions from an initial operating capability to a full operating capability by October 2003. During the coming year, the National Guard will be providing personnel to Northern Command in order to fill critical personnel requirements. Additionally, the National Guard is working to develop situational awareness for Northern Command as to the activities that affect homeland security within the 50 states and territories. Although most activities of incident management at the federal level will fall under the control of the Department of Homeland Security, a constant monitoring of state-level activities and interests is needed by Northern Command in order to support the lead federal agency when needed. The National Guard, through the National Guard Bureau, is the natural conduit for DoD elements to the states and territories on military-related matters. The majority of the states use the Adjutant General of that state as the state emergency manager. The National Guard is intimately involved in all activities of homeland security at the state level. The National Guard Bureau is actively pursuing discussions and several initiatives within the Department of Defense which will likely result in better exploitation by all segments of the Department of Defense of the Bureau’s capability as a two-way channel of communication to the National Guard of the several states. We are excited about assisting Northern Command in its emerging role and look forward to facilitating federally funded support of state activities. In addition, the National Guard Bureau will work, through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, with the new Department of Homeland Security to ensure that the National Guard's capabilities and requirements are fully integrated in the overall homeland security plan. The new Department of Homeland Security will be greatly assisted by the National Guard plans that are already in effect in all of the states and territories. Since the vast majority of homeland security activities come under state and municipal or other local control, the National Guard planning and activities under State Active Duty (state controlled and funded) and under Title 32 (state controlled, federally funded) will be an integral part of the processes being crafted by the new Department. National Guard Training Centers are existing assets that can be economically expanded to support realistic training and exercises with first responders, law enforcement agencies, and all levels of government integrating National Guard capabilities in homeland security roles. Several states have initiated pilot programs for this effort with federal support at the request of Congress. The National Guard is taking an open supportive approach to intradepartmental, interagency and intergovernmental cooperation for the defense of our Homeland. We each must succeed for all to succeed.
The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard bring several inherent strengths to the homeland security environment. Aside from a capable, trained and organized force, there is also an in-place information technology infrastructure that has the potential to provide an efficient, reliable, interoperable, and user-friendly channel of communications for the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Northern Command through the National Guard Bureau to the Army and Air Guard. The present information technology infrastructure provides a robust reach-down capability to Army and Air Guard units in the states. However, to meet the emerging needs of homeland security missions, enhancements in network reliability and security will have to be incorporated. Additionally, the new requirements pose new challenges in areas such as wireless technology that will allow direct command, control and communications with on-site responders. The National Guard Bureau is uniquely positioned to provide this coordinated, controlled capability, consistent with the statutory requirements of Title 10.
