Copyright 2001 Federal News Service, Inc. Federal News Service
May 9, 2001, Wednesday
SECTION: PREPARED TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 7027 words
HEADLINE:
PREPARED TESTIMONY OF MAJOR GENERAL PAUL A. WEAVER, JR. DIRECTOR, AIR NATIONAL
GUARD HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON
DEFENSE
SUBJECT - FY 2002 AIR NATIONAL GUARD
PROGRAM
BODY: Mr. Chairman and
members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this
committee -- on behalf of the 108,000 proud men and women of the Air National
Guard - to share the successes and challenges facing us over the next year and
beyond. This new century has generated for many, including the Air National
Guard, a time and opportunity to contemplate, plan and prepare for the future
needs of our nation, state's, and community's defense requirements. Over 217
years ago, a citizen soldier and our first Commander in Chief -- George
Washington, led a group of politicians, warriors, strategists and citizens as
they debated the design of our nation's necessary military establishment. Today,
our nation contemplates fundamental changes or shifts in the way we continue to
"ensure domestic tranquillity" and "provide for the common defense" through a
variety of national defense reviews.
There are many
similarities in context between the national defense debates of Washington's
time and -- like it or not -- the hand we've been dealt for our future security
environment. That hand demands today, as it did then, a strong focus on
expeditionary operations and increased reliance on the citizen-warrior to
support a dramatically downsized active component and a world characterized by
multiple small scale contingencies and transnational threats.
With only six percent of the nation's population under 60 who have
military experience, Guard warriors are increasingly the military man or woman
in uniform that most American's see. In fact, these proud Air Guard men and
women are more and more the military presence seen abroad in support of CINC and
service requirements. Daily, they are "shaping" strategic environments while
demonstrating to others the vital role an individual citizen plays in our
country's military defense.
It's people like Maj Ray
Lynott of the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, who flew the F-117 in the Persian
Gulf nearly a decade ago while on active duty. Today, he conducts
air-superiority patrols over southern Iraq as a member of the California Air
National Guard. Over a cup of coffee or a backyard barbecue, Maj Lynott and
108,000 other Air Guard warriors bring the value of Aerospace power to Hometown
America. Like Ray, they tell America that, "Yes, it is in fact still a war zone"
and "There's a lot of people - active-duty, Guard and Reserve - who are going up
there on a daily basis risking their lives."
It's
people like TSgt David Yates of the Alabama Air National Guard who prepares and
secures the munitions that our pilots' carry. It's people like Lt Col Steve
Cray, a commercial and Air Guard pilot and CMSgt Tim Brisson, the superintendent
of aircraft maintenance of the Vermont Air National Guard, who not only deploy
daily to dangerous places abroad in support of Expeditionary Aerospace Force
(EAF) operations -- but do it in critical Commander and maintenance chief
leadership positions.
The Air National Guard is
represented in all 54 states and territories by 88 Flying Wings; 579 Mission
Support Units, with over 108,000 proud and skilled people - 68% of whom are
Traditional Guard volunteers flying nearly 1200 aircraft. We are significantly
represented in nearly all Air Force mission areas contributing over 34 percent
of the Air Force operational mission for as little as 7.2 percent of the
budget.
Over the last decade, the Air National Guard
has significantly changed --in both relevance and accessibility - but most
significantly - in skill, professionalism and volunteer participation. Since
1990 - 1991 Desert Storm/Desert Shield, the Air National Guard contributions to
sustained operations have increased 1000%. We are no longer a 'force in
reserve', but are around the world partnering with our Active and Reserve
components as the finest example of Total Force integration. ANG support to all
USAF contingency operations over the last decade has increased from 24 to 34
percent of the Total Force aircraft employed. The number of Active Duty days per
ANG member (above the 39 day obligation) has increased on the average from 5 to
16 (320% increase) - all based on the volunteerism of our dedicated citizen
airmen.
In addition to our critical warfighting
capabilities, America depends on the Air National Guard to do other vital
missions like New York's 109th Airlift Wing's Antarctica support to the National
Science Foundation. The 109th was recently selected as one of five winners of
the Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award as well as the winner of top
international honors at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2000.
These men and women are the diverse face of humanitarian responses to
natural disasters both in our own borders and throughout foreign lands --
bringing food, water, relief to people or places in need - "responding" to a
call for help and intervention. Air Guard warriors like TSgt Chris Whitcomb from
North Carolina's 145th Airlift Wing fought the worst fires this year in over 50
years across 5.6 million acres of America -roughly the size of Massachusetts.
This year our nation entered the highest state of fire alert -- fire
preparedness level five. TSgt Whitcomb, a decorated Gulf War veteran says he
gets "more of a feeling of accomplishment directly protecting U.S. citizens and
their property from the wildfires."
But we're not just
fighting the fires from dangerous tree top levels. Air National Guard and Forest
Service fire fighters, RED HORSE and Prime BEEF engineers -from many units like
Montana's 120th Fighter Wing -- were on the ground hard at work -- in
life-threatening positions, while they were fed and supported by Nevada's 152nd
Services Flight led by SMSgt Tom Kurkowski - a 17 year veteran with Desert Storm
experience. Over the last 6 months, our three C-130 Modular
Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or MAFFs, flew over 870 sorties for nearly 980
hours; made 841 airdrops to disperse over 2.3 million gallons of retardant
across 19 states. We recently assisted the United States Forest Service with the
acquisition process to purchase eight upgraded Airborne Fire Fighting Systems
(AFFS) to enhance our effectiveness fighting this nation's forest fires.
Additionally, it is our inherent obligations to not only
protect, but to also defend. Homeland security entails the protection and
defense of our territory, population, institutions, and infrastructure from
external attacks and intrusions. Rapidly advancing technological capabilities
will give large and small nation states the ability to threaten or directly
attack the U.S. with asymmetric means such as weapons of mass destruction, cyber
weapons, and terrorism. Traditional means of defense often fail against these
unconventional threats. Homeland security will require us to engage, support and
cooperate with all levels of government and the private sector in new and
innovative ways. Our contributions don't stop at America's borders. During the
next year alone, these same Air National Guard C -130 MAFFs
units - like Wyoming's 153rd Airlift Wing -- will supply ready aircraft and
crews to fulfill Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) combat delivery
requirements in Operations Coronet Oak and Southern Watch. They define
"full-spectrum" Aerospace Expeditionary Forces -- responding to community, state
and National Command Authority needs from fighting fires in America to
supporting combat fighting operations around the world.
These Air National Guard men and women are the trained, skilled, and
"prepared" citizen warriors, like Texas' 147 Fighter Wing's Maj Mike "Bones"
McCoy. Mike put his civilian job as an airline pilot on hold for two weeks to
fly combat missions in a military campaign. Maj McCoy shows the Hussein's and
Milosevich's of the world what a galvanized nation of American citizens trained
in the military art of war -- can and will do to keep the world safe from
aggressors and tyranny.
It's a lesson our leaders
learned in Korea and the lesson we must insure our leaders know and understand
today and remember in the future. This past year we commemorated the 50th
Anniversary of the Korean War, where over 45,000 Air Guardsmen, 80 percent of
the force were mobilized to fight a war they were ill equipped and resourced to
fly. During this critical call by our nation, the Air National Guard reached the
"Turning Point" to become increasingly effective and relevant forever. I know
most of you know the history, but none of us should ever forget the lesson. We
must be resourced. We must be modernized. We must be appropriately trained. We
must be ready.
The Air National Guard is the most
relevant, ready, and accessible reserve component in the Department of Defense
today. Since the end of the Cold War, these forces have been increasingly
deployed in support of the full range of operations. In cycle one of the AEF,
the Air National Guard deployed 25,000 of its people -- nearly 24 percent --
almost 2,500 per AEF. We contributed almost 20 percent of the Total Force
aviation package and 7 percent of the Expeditionary Combat Support or ECS
requirements. The Air National Guard contributed 42 percent of the C-130 intra-theatre lift and 22 percent of the KC-135 steady
state air refueling AEF requirement. Of the Air Guard's 38 combat-coded fighter
units, all 6 A10 units, all 6 F-15 units, all 4 F-16 Block 40 units, the I F-16
Block 50 unit, and 17 of 21 General purpose F-16 units were aligned during Cycle
1 rotations. Air National Guard contributions to the Total Force will be even
more robust in EAF Cycle 2, when every combat-coded ANG fighter unit is aligned
to participate, including eight Air Guard Precision Guided Munitions or PGM
equipped units. In Cycle 2, a total of 22 ANG F-15 and F-16 units will fly the
air superiority mission.
Yes we are busy. Our people
are volunteering above Desert Storm Peak levels with nearly 75 percent of our
total workdays supporting CINC and Service requirements around the world. Our
men and women are proud of their contributions. We've reduced our support to
"good deal" exercises and now do "real world" missions that reduce the TEMPO
requirements on our active component by at least 10-15 percent in almost every
major mission area. Lt. Col. Steve Kopp can attest to that. He flies with
Tulsa's 138th Fighter Wing, which has been deployed to fly missions over Iraq
four times since 1996. The 138th is scheduled for another mission there this
summer.
With the fielding of the ANG's number one CAF
modernization priority - Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) capability -
Targeting Pods -the ANG was able to provide 100 percent of the strike and air
superiority fighters in AEF 9. We are more relevant to the fight than ever
before in our history.
Additionally, our KC-135 fleet
is tasked for the sole support of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
aircraft at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. This entails an annual 850 flying hours
and offloading over 6 million pounds of fuel during a 44-week year. Air National
Guard units deploy two aircraft with sufficient flight, maintenance, and support
personnel and equipment to sustain these operations.
This unprecedented contribution by your Air National Guard has occurred
all at a time when we have reduced our endstrength numbers to 1984 levels. The
bottom line: In 30 months - or two complete cycles of the AEF - nearly half the
Air National Guard will know first hand what it means to be an expeditionary
Aerospace Force. These same warriors will take this experience and knowledge
back to their communities, families, employers and local and state political
leaders. They will help the Air Force and the nation immeasurably in building
understanding and support for a strong and ready Aerospace Force. I routinely
visit these men and women in theater when they deploy. They consistently tell me
what Airman Aaron Bachstein of Indiana's 181st Fighter Wing said on the eve of
their AEF deployment to Turkey, "1 knew the deployments were more involved, but
that's part of the package. The additional responsibility is part of the
attraction. I can see where the Guard is picking up regular Air Force missions.
It's exciting."
In the last year, the Air National
Guard filled more than just "positions." We brought skills, experience and
training to the theater that exponentially increased Air Force AEF warfighting
capability. BrigGen Scott "Zapper" Mayes of the Alabama Air National Guard was
dodging anti-aircraft fire over Hanoi before most of the active-duty pilots in
AEF 9 were born. The pilots under his command have an average of 2,000 hours
flying in the F-16. With an Air National Guard base close to a commercial hub,
"Scotty" has pilots waiting to "morph into warriors." As the Aerospace mission
becomes more sophisticated, our remarkable Air National Guard experience and
maturity provides more solutions to a growing total force problem.
We can train others well because we are trained well
ourselves. It's new mission areas like Tyndall's Associate Unit where the
Florida Air National Guard trains the Total Force pilot to fly the F-15. Using a
mix of 18 Traditional Guard and 16 Full-time instructor pilots, we provide what
Col Charlie Campbell, the Squadron Commander, calls a "stabilized, highly
proficient instructor cadre with great continuity and leadership." His
perspective is backed by the former 325th Fighter Wing Commander, Brig Gen
Buchanan, who stated, "Our partnership with the Guard is a good way to strike a
balance that allows us to take advantage of the ANG's resident F-15 experience
while trying to bridge our current pilot gap." We're expanding this sort of
partnership and capability to many other training initiatives. This year, we
filled nearly 700 "extra" technical training slots -over and above the Trained
Personnel Requirements (TPR). We insured almost an entire additional ANG wing's
worth of better trained warriors. This year, so far, we've increased this
technical training number to well over 1000, and increased Basic Military
Training allocation by well over 900. This brings in serious new combat
capability to the AEF requirements. We exceeded our TPR allocations in critical
career fields like mechanics and fire protection. Once again, we provided the
Total Force solution to an identified AEF shortfall.
The Air National Guard received 186 undergraduate pilot training slots
in Fiscal Year 2001, up 13 from the previous year. The projected pilot shortage
for most of the next decade makes it imperative to increase the pipeline flow to
help sustain the Guard's combat readiness especially as we assimilate more
non-prior service individuals as a function of our overall recruiting effort.
We continue to pursue efforts to establish follow-on
training bases for the KC-135E and C-130 pilots to offset
training capacity shortfalls. Additional ANG F-16 pilot training units are being
established at Kelly AFB, Texas, and Springfield, Ohio. The recently converted
F-15 school at Kingsley Field, Oregon is still expanding student production. The
Air Control Squadron in Phoenix Arizona is converting to a schoolhouse unit to
train Guard and Active Duty personnel.
From 14 control
towers and 11 air traffic control radar facilities around the country, our air
traffic control personnel controlled over 1 million aircraft, placing the Air
National Guard as the third busiest of the nine Major Commands in the Air Force
and ensuring our ability to train and remain combat ready to perform this
function during any contingency.
Ancillary training
requirements have been competing with our capability to prepare for and deliver
our combat mission. We canvassed our units to identify the pressure points and
just released a new requirement list that significantly reduces the numbers
considered absolutely essential to our Expeditionary Aerospace Force culture.
This has resulted in a reduction from 530 previous requirements to 69 current
ones -- of which 53 apply to the Air National Guard. This gives our men and
women more effective time to focus on mission and weapon system specific
training. In addition, we are pushing for increased utilization of Distance
Learning methods for training requirements that reduce the burdens of time,
travel and expense for our people -- and compete with AEF commitments. The Air
National Guard Warrior Network now reaches more than 202 sites throughout the
nation and broadcasts training from 3 major training centers. In addition, the
Air Force and Air Force Reserve now share the same satellite system. This gives
us expanded access to mutual training programs. In addition, we were primary
members on the DoD compensation Integrated Process Team which recommended
methods of payment to our people who conduct Distance Learning training away
from their respective units. We can now operate smarter and better for our
dedicated people. Our expeditionary requirements demand new approaches.
These warriors are doing the jobs they've trained a
lifetime to do and they are doing them with great attention to safety.
Command emphasis and leadership has made the difference.
Over the last decade the Air National Guard has become the model for safety. We
are starting the new millennium on a very positive note for flight, ground, and
weapons safety programs.
Despite the increased OPTEMPO,
PERSTEMPO, and the first cycle of the Expeditionary Air Force, we have
accomplished another outstanding safety year. The Air National Guard ended FY00
with a rate of 0.89 flight mishaps per 100,000 flying hours. FY00 ties the
record established in FY98 as our best year ever for Class A flight mishaps.
For the world's most effective, engaged, and employed
reserve component, our Air National Guard capability in the future hinges on
effective weapon system modernization and recapitalization - along side
our Active Component. We need to ensure that our people are armed with the best
and safest equipment our active component operates. Of the seven major weapon
systems the Air Force operates, the ANG has -- on average -- the oldest systems
in every one - except the C-130. Our readiness continues to be
strained due in large part to aging aircraft, lack of spare parts, and
increasing workloads associated with both. Our Air National Guard
modernization efforts and roadmaps continue to push the envelope for all
airframes. We are still focused on our Combat Quadrangle and AEF support with
priorities given to precision strike, information dominance and battlespace
awareness through Data Link/combat ID, 24 hour operations and enhanced
survivability. Our "medium look"-- extended to 2010 -- focuses on structural
integrity and engines and keeping our airframes lethal. Our "long look"-- out to
2015 -- projects the future missions and their impact on an expected decreasing
force structure with a focus on seamless forces and capabilities across the
Total Force -- and our ANG preparations for this future.
Your support and funding have enabled us to make some major inroads
this year and set the foundation for continued improvements. Let me bring you up
to date on some of these now.
The ingenuity of Air
National Guard has made positive, mission impacting strides for our total force.
Recently, our unit in Tulsa, Oklahoma conceptualized, assisted in the
development and testing, and fielded a down-sized Low Altitude Navigation and
Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod test station. The previous legacy
test station used in the Air Force, LANTIRN Mobile Support Shelter (LMSS), is
currently considered too large to be moved effectively to support contingencies
due to the airlift it consumes. The new downsized test station fielded by the
Air National Guard gives the Air Force an optimum deployment LANTIRN support
capability that is otherwise not available.
Thanks to
your support, the ANG F-16 pre-block 40 fleet now possesses full front line
combat capability. Your continued support is vital to our efforts to continue
these critical programs and remain a fully relevant Total Force partner. Our
Block 25/30/32 jets are capable of employing Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) by
means of a self- designated laser targeting pod. Our next group of pods are due
for delivery in the March 01 through February 02 time frame, which combined with
prior purchases will give us a total of 64 pods in our fleet. We still need 96
more pods to fill our one for one requirement. Until then, by sharing existing
pods, the Air Guard will fully train nearly 22 F-16 pilots by 2003 and will
fully equip all units by 2006.
In the last six months,
all of our Block 25/30/32 jets were wired for the Global Positioning System
(GPS) giving us precise navigation and target acquisition capability. At the
same time our Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) was completely installed on our
F-16's giving us 24-hour combat capability. Combined with installation of the
Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL) we have significantly improved our F-16
Fleet- thanks to your significant support. Our focus now is on full support for
"Falcon Star" - a structure modification program that significantly extends the
service life of this airplane. When we add a new capability - the Theatre
Airborne Reconnaissance System or TARS - our F-16's become increasingly viable
as both a weapons delivery system as well as an information exploitation
platform. For those of you who may not be familiar with the TARS capability, let
me take a few minutes to highlight its features. TARS will return the manned
tactical reconnaissance mission to the Air Force. In keeping with the modern
battlefield's need for a responsive kill-chain, TARS improves the Air Force's
ability to find, identify, and engage mobile/relocatable targets. Our current
capability includes two electro-optical sensors for day, under the weather
reconnaissance. We are working closely with our industry partners on an
improvement package to add synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a datalink, and the
high bandwidth necessary to make this system an all-weather, day or night
sensor. We will demonstrate the ability to gather and relay critical information
through the datalink to the Air Operations Center (AOC) this summer. If
successful, the result will be bombs on target within single digit minutes.
With a focus on Precision Guided Munitions capability,
combined with Falcon Star engine and structure modifications and TARS, the Air
National Guard F-16 block 25/30/32 community will provide the bridge to the next
generation of power-projection precision combat systems.
But our fighters don't get to the fight or get home safely without the
efforts of our stalwart Tanker fleet. Increasingly, our Air Guard
modernization focus has shifted to necessary improvements in our KC- 135
fleet and we need to accelerate the R model conversion kits. Over the last year,
with the assistance of our Adjutants Generals, we developed a consolidated plan
that includes the purchase of 100 R conversion kits at a rate of 16 per year.
This would fix two full squadrons a year over the next six years. Up till now,
the Air National Guard was at the front of this push. There has recently been a
significant increase in support for expediting the "E to R to X" conversion.
With the Pacer Crag upgrade completed this time next year and the Global Air
Traffic Management (GATM) kits buy beginning the same time, we are well on our
way to serious improvements in our Air Guard tanker assets. With our anticipated
addition of Situation Awareness Data Link (SADL) the Air National Guard, once
again leads the way for issues that directly effect future expeditionary
operations. With nearly half the entire air refueling mission, the Air National
Guard must not let tanker modernization issues be ignored.
Our F-15s led the Air Superiority role in AEF 9 in
Southwest Asia while continuing their air sovereignty alert requirements at
home. Thank you for the support you have given this valuable weapon system as we
struggle to remain viable versus ever more capable threats. The 26.4 million
dollars you added for the Bolt-On-Launcher (BOL) for advanced infrared
countermeasures and the 17.5 million dollars added to complete installation of
the Fighter Data Link (FDL) ensures the Guard F-15s are able to face the threats
being faced during their AEF rotations. I am still concerned with the long-term
reliability and sustainability issues associated with this aging aircraft. We
need to study the future of this community and consider the implications of Air
Force F-22 purchases. Our current plan is to realize the benefits of Air Force
F-15 flow downs. The current Air Force F-22 program anticipates the ANG in an
associate role and we are hopeful that in the future there will be a
unit-equipped role.
The focus over the last year for
our A-10's has been to insure precision engagement capability that includes
SADL, Targeting Pod integration, DC power, digital stores management system and
a 1760 bus. Last October, we began the Air Guard installation of the new
countermeasures management system at Bradley Air National Guard Base in
Connecticut, which will be complete in two years. By doing this ourselves we
save the Air National Guard nearly $3 million dollars. In addition, the A-10 has
received some additional support this year -- coming off their significant
contributions to Operation Allied Force.
However, in
some circles, the A-10 is still perceived as a "cash cow" and reprogramming
could jeopardize our initiatives to upgrade these systems. We are looking at
more commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) engine solutions to save money and still
improve the capabilities of this first-called, most-used "hog."
Our Kansas and Georgia Air National Guard B-1's made history on October
13th this year when they became the first Guard aircraft to successfully drop
America's newest smart bomb in the Utah Test Range. These Air National Guard
B-1s scored direct hits on their targets using 2000 pound Joint Direct Attack
Munitions (JDAM). This is the same smart bomb used with devastating effects by
B-2s in Kosovo. The 8 Air Guard B1Bs -- which can carry 24 JDAM versus the B-2's
16 and the B-52's 12 -now possess more precision striking power than all the
allied forces delivered on the first night of Operation Desert Storm. On hand to
witness this historic event was General Richard Myers -- the Vice Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At the completion of the flight, General Myers said,
"1 am extremely pleased I had the opportunity today to participate in the first
live JDAM mission flown by the Kansas Air National Guard in a 184th Bomb Wing
B-1B aircraft. This mission once again demonstrates the ability of our reserve
forces to perform to the highest standards.
" In
addition to the new use of laptop computers connected to hand held global
positioning Systems that give our B-1s better threat avoidance, this new
capability increases the effectiveness of our B-1s by more than 2000 percent. We
still have issues to work like the lack of independent and expensive Readiness
Spares Parts (RSP) kits--though we have achieved success in establishing the
requirement over the last year. The addition of Beyond the Line of Sight (BLOS)
Data Link - a 2 way link that provides near real time target and threat
information, as well as Defensive system upgrades and Airborne Video Tape
recorder answers a growing call for long range strike capability.
We still require the C-130 cockpit armor
as mandated by USCENTCOM, to make significant improvements in the survivability
of our fleet while supporting AEF taskings. With increasing reliance on our
tactical lift workhorse we need defensive countermeasures systems and
battlespace situational awareness capabilities that allow us to operate in
hostile conditions and to counter the prolific Infrared (IR) threats. We
continue our work to bring the full complement of C-130J
aircraft to Air National Guard Units in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and
California. In addition, our Air National Guard unit in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
is converting from their EC-130Es to the EC-130Js cross- decking the special
mission equipment that makes this one of a kind psychological warfare mission
possible. We are progressing in this "revolutionary" program working with all
stakeholders to iron out the bugs that come with any new weapon systems. Our
biggest Total Force issue remains the C-130 Avionics
Modernization Program development. We expect contract award very soon,
hopefully by the end of May. This four billion dollar program will modify the C-130 fleet through 2013 making it viable well into this
century.
We are striving to move the C-17 conversion
forward at Jackson, Mississippi - replacing the aging and retiring C-141s. We
are laying the groundwork for the necessary infrastructure and support
requirements, however we harbor serious concerns regarding the associated
funding. We continue to work for the bed-down in Fiscal Year 04. With the
current focus on strategic airlift shortfalls, many would hope for an increase
in C-17 fleet-wide numbers. The C-5 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP)
is the first of a two-phased comprehensive modernization for the C-5.
This program redesigns the architecture of the avionics system, installs
All-Weather Flight Control System (AWFCS), Traffic Alert and Collision
Avoidance. System (TCAS), Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) and makes
the C-5 Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) compliant. The AWFCS replaces low
reliability Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) in the automatic flight control system
and replaces aging mechanical instruments in the engine and flight systems. A
GATM capability, which encompasses communications, navigation, and surveillance
(CNS) requirements, will be concurrently incorporated into the aircraft to
maintain worldwide airspace access well into the 21st Century.
The Reliability Enhancement and Reengining Program (RERP) is the second
of the two-phased modernization of the C-5 that improves reliability,
maintainability, and availability. This effort centers around replacing TF39
engines with more reliable, commercial off the shelf (COTS) turbofan engine.
This program also upgrades numerous other systems including: flight controls,
electronics, hydraulics, landing gear, fuel system, airframe, fire suppression
system, and pressurization/air conditioning system.
The
201 st Airlift Squadron District of Columbia Air National Guard provides
worldwide air transportation for Congressional Members/Delegations (CODEL), the
Executive Branch, Department of Defense (DOD) officials, high-ranking U.S. and
foreign dignitaries and HQ USAF inspection team travel. The 201st currently uses
the C-22B fleet to meet team travel and CODEL missions but due to age and cost
to upgrade, they are scheduled for retirement starting in October of 2001. The
currently utilized C-22B is a 1964 model Boeing 727-100 aircraft. Congress
recognized the need for a replacement aircraft and provided funding to purchase
the first C-40C in FY01.
The readiness levels of the
Air National Guard depend on modern equipment availability. Adequate funding
levels for Guard and Reserve equipment are becoming increasingly critical.
Reserve components are being called on to perform a greater share of day-to-day
missions, as well as to relieve the high operational tempo for active duty
forces. Compatible equipment is essential to reduced logistics costs and to
enable active, Guard and Reserve units to train together. The equipment
readiness goal is to ensure the Reserve Components have compatible equipment to
enable mission accomplishment side-by-side with active forces and coalition
partners.
A high state of readiness also depends on a
robust infrastructure.
Facilities in the Guard today
run the gamut between those needing considerable work and those which have won
design and construction awards. As a direct result of Congressional support
nearly 50 percent of the Air National Guard facilities are adequate, and we
thank you for that. Our working environment becomes our Quality of Life
sustainment. We know that given the funding, we can produce right- sized,
efficient, quality work places for our airmen. However, there are three barriers
that stand in our way - an aging infrastructure, funding constraints, and the
impact of new mission conversions, which consume available funding before
current requirements can be addressed. The recently published Installations
Readiness Report for 2000 shows that of the six categories that apply to the Air
National' Guard, four were rated C-4. This indicates major deficiencies that
preclude satisfactory mission accomplishment. Our backlog of maintenance and
repair projects currently exceeds 1.5 billion dollars.
The challenge of maintaining facilities and readiness has also provided
opportunities to excel. We have undertaken several initiatives within the Guard
to get the most out of every dollar. We continue to pursue joint projects at
every opportunity, have improved our execution strategies, and aggressively
manage our funds to provide for reprogramming actions.
It is because of the exceptional people in our units that we continue
to overcome these challenges. While we've put more on our members plates, we've
done it smartly and with attention to bonuses, grade relief, grade enhancements
and employer and family support.
Our current economic
and recruiting climate has caused us to be more aggressive in our approach to
recruit and retain quality members to support mission requirements. Our
recruiting successes are a direct result of additional resources and
initiatives, and heavy involvement by Adjutants General, Commanders and the
members themselves. One of the major challenges facing our recruiters today is
the shrinking pool of active duty accessions resulting in an increased reliance
on non- prior service recruits. This increases the need for formal school
training allocations. As a counter to that, we have requested additional
recruiter authorizations. We will utilize these positions at every active duty
Air Force Base. With an inservice recruiter at each location, the Air National
Guard will offer the newly separated individuals a chance to remain in uniform
while increasing the Guard's experience base and decreasing the shortfalls.
We take great pride in the fact that our retention figures
for the past five years averages in the 90 plus percentile. Additional future
recruiting and retention programs include enhanced high school presence by use
of greatly expanded internet exposure, establishing retention focus groups
across the five regions to identify root causes for staying or leaving, and
maximizing current incentive programs.
The Air National
Guard Incentive Program is designed as a monetary motivator to support critical
manning requirements in units with skills that are severely or chronically
undermanned. For critical skills, we offer maximum incentives and have increased
the number of career field specialties eligible for bonus payments. We've
succeeded in our efforts to offer Aviator Continuation Pay (ACP) to eligible
Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) pilots who agree to stay with us for three years
at 15 thousand dollars per year, or five years at 25 thousand dollars per year.
In light of our increased operational tempo, we are actively pursing staff
options to provide incentive programs for our traditional guardsmen. Control
Grade Relief at the unit level would provide the additional boost required
supporting our full-time AGR force. We had over 350 deserving people awaiting
promotions. Thanks to your efforts, we achieved success this fiscal year. The
plan increases both officers and enlisted personnel and - through a domino
affect - should help to alleviate the pressing problem. Through all these
efforts, we made a difference for an Air National Guard force of seasoned
warriors who deserve no less and are committed to more.
As the Air National Guard has become a total 'expeditionary' aerospace
partner, we are finding an increasing need for viable and sustainable external
support for our members. Our readiness, retention, and volunteerism depend on
our families' sense of belonging and participation, and on our employers'
education and support.
Last year's focus on the "Year
of the Family", coupled with the sustained AEF rotations, brought to the
forefront the need for a formal family support program. We have many outstanding
volunteers who give consistently and unselfishly like Mrs. Cindy Whitney, the
spouse of a Maine Air National Guard member and first Air National Guard
recipient of the National Military Family Association, "Very Important Patriot"
Award.
Mrs. Whitney supports our families at home while
their loved ones are deployed with the Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF)
cycle. However, when we researched how Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command
handled this requirement, we found some very interesting and telling
information. The Air Force currently allocates through their Family Support
Center staff and operating budgets alone, 125 dollars per member; Air Force
Reserve Command - programmed in the Air Force POM since Desert Storm - spends 58
dollars per member with an expected increase to 70 dollars. The Air National
Guard last year took 750 thousand dollars out-of-hide to provide a 7 dollar per
member allocation using additional duty staff or unpaid, overburdened
volunteers. This is clearly not enough. The Air National Guard intends to make
available a fulltime contract family readiness coordinator at each unit. This
full-time dedicated contract capability will give the wings and states the help
they need to support our nearly 350 thousand family members. This action does
not change any part of the existing National Guard Bureau Family Program
structure except to add dedicated capability to the wing levels.
Under the great leadership of Maj Gen Paul Sullivan of Ohio, we've
brought together an Integrated Process Team (IPT) to develop childcare
alternatives based on demographic needs at the unit level. This IPT has moved
forward at breakneck speed. This past January, the Air Force sent out a letter
to all their child care centers permitting children of National Guard members to
participate when space is available. This includes the extended hour program
that can be used for drill weekends. All Department of Defense child care
facilities are being asked to do the same.
Phase 2 is a
pilot program that will establish civilian child care for our Guard members at
units not co-located with an active duty base. This subsidy will be based on the
Guard member's total family income. The pilot will test both full-time and drill
weekend child care. The pilot sites include Air National Guard bases in New
York, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Idaho, West Virginia, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota,
Vermont, Arizona, Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
This
past January, we began to focus on critical enablers and partners - the
employers of our National Guard men and women. The year 2001 has been designated
"Year of the Employer". Over the last 10 years, employer awareness,
understanding, and support have become vital to our ability to meet our
requirements. We must continue to strengthen our relationships to solidify our
readiness and relevancy. If our employers aren't happy, our Guard men and women
aren't happy. We need to make it easy and valuable for both to participate. If
we don't, we lose a fundamental Air National Guard core competency - protection
of our citizen-airman and soldier heritage.
During the
year, we will partner with the National Committee for Employer Support of the
Guard and Reserve (NCESGR) to ensure our employers remain satisfied with our
"shared" people and their dedicated commitment to continued military service. At
the same time, we have an opportunity to increase the visibility of the military
in the communities to help the Total Force bridge the growing civil- military
gap. In our effort to educate America's employers, we educate a large community
of leaders on the mission and values of military service.
We've already taken large steps toward this goal. We've made
participation for today's employers easier by our Aerospace Expeditionary Force
(AEF) predictability and stability. We've ensured a dedicated rotator to get our
men and women to and from an AEF location. We've identified employer support in
our Strategic Plan. We've taken the lead to establish a Reserve Component
Airline Symposium where we meet with the nation's airline industry's chief
pilots. These are but a few of the initiatives taking hold as we focus on the
'silent partner' behind all of our men and women. The importance of the family
and employers can best be summed up in the words of 13 year old Jennifer Causey,
the daughter of a Wyoming Air National Guard member who wrote, "1 think Guard
families matter because productive members raise new generations of productive
and proud Guard members. They know what to do and the level of commitment it
takes. They know all the hard work that the Guard member goes through, not only
on the job in their civilian occupation but also at the Guard and in their
relationships at home. They also know the pride and integrity it instills to be
able to serve your country in a dual role as a military member and civilian
community member. I think if you are a Guard member, you should have a lot of
self-respect. You have earned it."
Mr. Chairman, 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. Mr. Chairman, we
count on your support to continue meeting our mission requirements. We are
confident that the men and women of the Air National Guard will meet the
challenges set before us. I thank you for allowing me this opportunity to give
you the Air National Guard posture.
Document 94 of 112. 