WASHINGTON — The US Air National Guard has always been defined by its ability to fulfill both military and civil missions. But with budget draw downs, the service faces increasingly tough choices about how to spend what remains of its modernization budget while serving two masters.
A March report by the Pentagon warned that “many support equipment items critical to daily operations are rapidly nearing the end of their expected lives and are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain economically.” Air Guard assets are an average of 25 years old.
The tough choice between modernizing its equipment and sustaining capability is one the active is struggling with as well. Top generals, such as Air Combat Command head Gen. Mike Hostage, have identified that as incredibly difficult in the current budget environment.
But unlike the active, the Guard has an additional challenge: balancing its twin civil-overseas missions.
That means the limited pot of money the Guard has for its equipment — generally $350 to $450 million annually in National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account funds — has to be divided between what is needed for military missions, and what is needed to support the governors.
“The need to balance the equipment requirements that support the federal mission with the equipment requirements that support the state mission is critical,” one source with knowledge of the Guard said. “Allocate too much in one mission area and the other mission might suffer.”
“With the need to fully fund ongoing operations and continued pressure on defense budgets, obtaining adequate funding for both
Article source: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140820/DEFREG02/308200039/Equipment-Balance-Air-National-Guard-Juggles-National-Local-Demands
