Legislation aiming to protect National Guard cyberwarfare jobs and provide a modicum of funding to modernize aging C-130s is advancing on Capitol Hill.

 

A measure that passed the House last Thursday could protect the state Air Guard's 166th Network Warfare Squadron, based in New Castle, from proposed job cuts. And a provision to provide some funding to modernize soon-to-be-obsolete C-130s, such as those operated by the state's Air Guard, was included in the Senate Armed Services Committee's markup of its version of the fiscal year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which was approved the same day.

 

The cyber amendment, introduced by Rep. John Carney, D-Del., and Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas, wouldn't guarantee a cyber future for the state Air Guard. Instead, it essentially bets that a Defense Department manpower study ordered by Congress last year - and due this summer - will see a strong role for the entire Guard in cyber missions. The amendment seeks to ensure that the study's results don't end up in the trash by requiring the Director of National Intelligence to certify that the report's recommendations "are consistent with the cyber operations capability needs of the United States before implementing any cuts," as a press release terms it.

 

The Senate markup doesn't include that language, but seeks to "improve the ability of the armed forces to counter emerging and nontraditional threats" with a focus on cyber warfare.

 

The House also voted, against the Army's wishes, to create a National Commission on the Future of the Army. It would mirror a similar commission on the structure of the Air Force. That study's findings, released in January, called for giving the Air National Guard a more robust role in the Air Force's future - a shift active-duty leaders appear to be embracing.

 

The vote was praised by the National Guard Association of the United States. In a press release, the group crowed, "As Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus, told reporters this afternoon, today was 'a good day for the Guard.' Today is also a good day for America's Army—all of America's Army."

 

Finally, the Senate markup includes money to modernize aging C-130s. The state Guard's 166th Airlift Wing flies eight 1980s-era C-130H2s, which will become obsolete by 2020 unless modernized with a satellite-based air traffic control capability that is becoming the world standard by then. The Senate bill would provide $25 million for procurement and installation of upgrade packages.

 

It's a drop in the bucket in terms of the overall need - the 166th alone would need something like $150 million for its eight aircraft, and Air Guard squadrons in 15 other states – and Air Force Reserve units in nine states – also operate older C-130s.

 

But it would be a start.

 

Carney attempted to introduce an amendment that would allow the Air Force to choose the best of two alternatives for C-130 modernization funding, but it failed to come to a vote, according to Sheila Grant, Carney's legislative and communications director.

 

Some, none or all of this language could make its way into the final bill that emerges from a House-Senate conference committee. Stay tuned.