FY15

Defense

Appropriations

Analysis of H.R. 83, the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill 

As of 15 December, 2014

Bills Status

Passed in 

Committee

Passed in 

Chamber

Conference 

Committee Report Final Passage Signed into Law

House 

June 10, 2014



June 20, 2014 

December 8, 2014



December 11, 2014 

December 16, 

Senate  2014

July 17, 2014



December 13, 2014

http://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/JointStaff/PersonalStaff/LegislativeLiaison.aspx
Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................- 1 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................- 2 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................- 2 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL ....................................................................................................................- 3 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL (OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS).........................................- 3 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE....................................................................................- 4 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE (OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS).........- 5 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL.........................................................................................................................- 6 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL (OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS) .............................................- 6 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE ........................................................................................- 7 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE (OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS).............- 7 -

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT ...................................................................................- 8 -

AIR PROGRAMS..............................................................................................................................................................-8-

ARMY PROGRAMS ........................................................................................................................................................-8-

JOINT PROGRAMS .......................................................................................................................................................- 9 -

EXPLANTORY STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................................-10-

HOUSE REPORT 113-473........................................................................................................................................... - 11 -

SENATE REPORT 113-211.....................................................................................................................-16-
- 1 -

Executive Summary

This guide provides a short summary and analysis of the many provisions in the fiscal year 2015 defense 

spending bill. To obtain a complete understanding of any particular provision, users are encouraged to 

review the actual legislative language. Once they are published, the bill and accompanying reports will be

available on the NGB-LL web page: 

http://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/JointStaff/PersonalStaff/LegislativeLiaison.aspx

Status: 

The FY15 Cromnibus funds 11 out of the 12 appropriations bill for the rest of the 2015 fiscal year. Included in 

the package is an FY15 Defense appropriations bill that contains $490.2 billion in base discretionary funding, 

$3.3 billion above fiscal year 2014 levels. The bill also includes $64 billion in emergency war Overseas 

Contingency Operations (OCO) funding. 

Highlights:

The defense spending bill includes numerous provisions that continue to demonstrate Congressional support 

of the Army and Air National Guard as an operational force. 

 Prohibits any funding being used to transfer or divest AH-64 Apache helicopters from the ARNG to 

the Army through the enactment of a FY15 NDAA (sec. 8133).

 Requires a report within 120 days on the aircraft being retired as part of ARI. The report should 

include the number of airframes being divested; the number of airframes being transferred to other 

government agencies, the number of airframes being offered for sale to other nations, the cost of 

divesting these aircraft, and the impact the divestment of these airframes will have on the domestic 

rotary wing industrial base. Further, the Secretary of the Army shall not resell or auction TH67 and 

OH-58 series aircraft until 30 days after the report is submitted by the Secretary of Defense

 Includes $1.2 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment account, appropriating $415 

million each for the ARNG and ANG. 

 Includes $175.46 million for National Guard Counter Drug programs

 Prohibits funding from being used to cancel the C-130 Avionics Modernization program of record, 

provided that the Secretary of the Air Force may proceed with a reduced scope program to address 

safety and airspace compliance requirements. This reduced scope program may use funds 

appropriated for AMP consistent with the FY15 NDAA. (Sec. 8124)

 Includes $100 million for ARNG HMMWV modernization and $60 million for HMMWV ambulance 

replacements. 

 Includes $115 million for ANG F-15 AESA radar upgrades and $7.7 million for ANG Digital radar 

receivers. 

 Prohibits the use of funds to divest, retire, transfer or place in storage any A-10 aircraft, or to 

disestablish any A-10 unit of the active or reserve component (Sec. 1543). 

 Includes $8.25 million program increase for National Guard mental health programs. 

 Prohibits use of funds to reduce the authorized positions for military technicians (dual status) of the 

Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve for the purpose of 

applying any administratively imposed civilian personnel ceiling, freeze, or reduction on military 

technicians (dual status), unless such reductions are a direct result of a reduction in military force 

structure (Sec. 8041).
- 2 -

National Guard Accounts Overview

Army National Guard Overview

(All Dollars in Thousands)

Army National 

Guard

FY15

President’s 

Budget 

Request

House

Passed

Delta from

Request

SAC

Mark

Delta from

Request Final Bill Delta from Request

ARNG Personnel $7,682,892 $7,644,632 $38,260 $7,425,722 $257,170 $7,643,832 $-39,060

ARNG Personnel 

OCO 

* $155,578 - - $185,578 $30,000 $174,778 +$19,200

ARNG O&M $6,030,773 $6,121,307 $90,534 $6,231,351 $200,578 $6,175,951 +$145,178

ARNG O&M OCO * $76,461 - - $76,461 - $77,661 +$1,200

NGREA** $0 - - $315,000 $315,000 $415,000 +$415,000

Air National Guard Overview

(All Dollars in Thousands)

Air National Guard

FY15

President’s 

Budget 

Request

House

Passed

Delta from

Request

SAC

Mark

Delta from 

Request Final Bill Delta from Request

ANG Personnel $3,156,457 $3,110,587 $45,870 $3,125,209 $31,248 $3,118,709 $-37,748

ANG Personnel 

OCO 

* $4,894 _ _ $4,894 $0 $4,894 -

ANG O&M $6,392,859 $6,393,919 $1,060 $6,351,281 $41,578 $6,408,558 +$15,699

ANG O&M OCO 

* $20,300 - - $20,300 $0 $22,300 +$2,300

NGREA** $0 - - $315,000 $315,000 $415,000 +$415,000
- 3 -

Defense Appropriations

Army National Guard

Army National Guard Personnel

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ARNG Personnel Appropriation FY15 President's 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

PAY GROUP A TRAINING (15 DAYS & DRILLS 24/48) 1

$2,616,067 $2,570,867 $2,530,667 $2,592,667

PAY GROUP F TRAINING (RECRUITS) 2

$441,606 $421,906 $441,606 $433,006

PAY GROUP P TRAINING (PIPELINE RECRUITS) $47,984 $47,984 $47,984 $47,984

SCHOOL TRAINING $347,137 $347,137 $347,137 $347,137

SPECIAL TRAINING3, $433,207 $433,207 $433,207 $457,307

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT 4,5 $3,766,624 $3,766,624 $3,662,424 $3,696,624

EDUCATION BENEFITS 6

$30,267 $30,267 $23,767 $23,767

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 1 (BAC-01) $7,682,892 $7,617,992 $7,486,792 $7,598,492

UNDISTRIBUTED ADJUSTMENT7,8,9,10 $26,640 $61,070 $45,340

TOTAL, ARNG PERSONNEL $7,682,892 $7,644,632 $7,425,722 $7,643,832

1) Readiness management excess growth 

2) Individual clothing and uniform allowance excess to requirement 

3) Military Burial Honors program – Army requested transfer from Military Personnel, Army BA-2 and BA-6

4) Bonuses excess to requirement

5) AGR pay and allowances excess growth 

6) Excess to requirement 

7) Unobligated/unexpended balances 

8) Fully funds two combat training center rotations – army requested

9) Transfer from OM, A SAG 121

10) Retired pay accrual shortfall due to COLA adjustment 

Army National Guard Personnel (Overseas Contingency Operations)

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ARNG Personnel (OCO) Appropriation FY15 President’s 

Budget Request House Passed SACMark Final Bill

PAY GROUP A TRAINING (15 DAYS & DRILLS 24/48) $28,674 - $28,674 $28,674

SCHOOL TRAINING1

$7,318 - $37,318 $29,818

SPECIAL TRAINING $105,591 - $105,591 $105,591

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT2

$13,995 - $13,995 $10,695

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 1 (BAC-01) $155,578 - $185.578 $174,778

TOTAL, ARNG PERSONNEL (OCO) $155,578 - $185.578 $174,778

1) Training shortfall

2) Pre-mobilization for AGR augmentation ARNG identified excess to requirement 
- 4 -

Army National Guard Operations & Maintenance

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ARNG O&M Appropriation FY15 President’s 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

MANEUVER UNITS 1 $660,648 $660,648 $683,648 $683,648

MODULAR SUPPORT BRIGADES $165,942 $165,942 $165,942 $165,942

ECHELONS ABOVE BRIGADE $733,800 $733,800 $733,800 $733,800

THEATER LEVEL ASSETS $83,084 $83,084 $83,084 $83,084

LAND FORCES OPERATIONS SUPPORT $22,005 $22,005 $22,005 $22,005

AVIATION ASSETS $920,085 $920,085 $920,085 $920,085

FORCE READINESS OPERATIONS SUPPORT2 $680,887 $680,887 $682,887 $682,587

LAND FORCES SYSTEMS READINESS 3 $69,726 $68,552 $69,726 $88,552

LAND FORCES DEPOT MAINTENANCE 4,5 $138,263 $138,263 $229,086 $186,586

BASE OPERATIONS SUPPORT 6,7,8 $804,517 $787,353 $804,517 $795,667

FACILITIES SUSTAINMENT, RESTORATION, & 

MODERNIZATION 9

$490,205 $539,225 $636,311 $565,205

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL HQ $872,140 $846,243 $872,140 $872,140

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY ONE (BAC-01) $5,641,302 $5,646,088 $5,903,231 $5,779,301

SERVICEWIDE TRANSPORTATION $6,690 $6,690 $6,690 $6,690

ADMINISTRATION10,11 $63,075 $63,075 $63,075 $57,788

SERVICEWIDE COMMUNICATIONS $37,372 $37,372 $37,372 $37,372

MANPOWER MANAGEMENT $6,484 $1,197 $6,484 $6,484

RECRUITING AND ADVERTISING 12 $274,084 $270,823 $260,285 $260,285

OTHER CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT AND REAL ESTATE 

MANAGEMENT $1,765 $1,765 $1,765 $1,765

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY FOUR (BAC-04) $389,471 $380,922 $375,671 $370,364

UNJUSTIFIED GROWTH FOR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL 

COMPENSATION - -$3,703 - -$3,700

COMBAT TRAINING CENTER ROTATIONS 13 - $23,000 -

RESTORE READINESS - $70,000 - $70,000

SOUTHWEST BORDER 14 - $5,000 - $5,000

REMOVAL OF ONE-TIME FY14 COST - - -$20,000 -$20,000

SERVICE SUPPORT CONTRACTOR REDUCTION - - -$20,000 -$20,000

NON-CYBER IT PROGRAMS - - -$7,551 -$5,034

TOTAL, ARNG O&M $6,030,773 $6,121,307 $6,231,351 $6,175,951

1) Fully funds two CTC rotations – Army request transfer from OM, A SAG 121

2) Program increase – emergency medical training

3) Justification does not match summary of price and program changes for printing reproduction 

4) Transfer denied – fiscal year 2015 funding for depot maintenance retained OM, ARNG SAG 123

5) Program increase

6) Remove one-time fiscal year 2015 funding increase

7) Justification does not match summary of price and program change for travel

8) Program increase – National Guard Mental Health 

9) Program increase 

10) Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff – unjustified program growth 

11) Supplies and materials – unjustified program growth 

12) Marketing and Advertising programs – unjustified program growth 
- 5 -

Army National Guard Operations & Maintenance (Overseas Contingency Operations)

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ARNG O&M (OCO) Appropriation FY15 President’s 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

MANEUVER UNITS1 $12,593 - $12,593 $13,793

MODULAR SUPPORT BRIGADES $647 - $647 $647

ECHELONS ABOVE BRIGADE $6,670 - $6,670 $6,670

THEATER LEVEL ASSETS $664 - $664 $664

AVIATION ASSETS $22,485 - $22,485 $22,485

FORCE READINESS OPERATIONS SUPPORT $14,560 - $14,560 $14,560

BASE OPERATIONS SUPPORT $13,923 - $13,923 $13,923

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS $4,601 - $4,601 $4,601

ADMINISTRATION $318 - $318 $318

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY ONE (BAC-01) - - -

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY FOUR (BAC-04) - - -

- - -

TOTAL, ARNG O&M (OCO) $76.461 - $76.461 $77,661

1.) Program increase – European Reassurance Initiative 
- 6 -

 Air National Guard

Air National Guard Personnel

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ANG Personnel Appropriation FY15 President’s 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

PAY GROUP A TRAINING (15 DAYS & DRILLS 24/48) $913,691 $913,691 $913,691 $913,691

PAY GROUP F TRAINING (RECRUITS) 1 $122,678 $116,178 $122,678 $116,178

PAY GROUP P TRAINING (PIPELINE RECRUITS) $5,384 $5,384 $5,384 $5,384

SCHOOL TRAINING $243,888 $243,888 $243,888 $243,888

SPECIAL TRAINING 2 $168,222 $168,222 $164,222 $166,222

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT 3, 4, $1,684,800 $1,663,400 $1,658,500 $1,656,500

EDUCATION BENEFITS $17,794 $17,794 $17,794 $17,794

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 1 (BAC-01) $3,156,457 $3,128,557 $3,126,157 $3,119,657

UNDISTRIBUTED ADJUSTMENT 5,6,7 $17,970 $948 $948

TOTAL ANG PERSONNEL $3,156,457 $3,110,587 $3,125,209 $3,118,709

1) Historical underexecution

2) Excess to requirement 

3) Full time pay and allowances – project underexecution 

4) Non-prior service enlistment bonus – excess to requirement

5) Unobligated/Unexpended balances

6) A-10 force structure program increase

7) Retired pay accrual shortfall due to COLA adjustment

Air National Guard Personnel (Overseas Contingency Operations)

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ANG Personnel (OCO) Appropriation FY15 President’s 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

SPECIAL TRAINING $4,894 - $4,894 $4,894

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 1 (BAC-01) $4,894 - $4,894 $4,894

TOTAL ANG PERSONNEL (OCO) $4,894 - $4,894 $4,894
- 7 -

Air National Guard Operations & Maintenance 

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ANG O&M Appropriation FY14 President’s 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS 1 $3,367,729 $3,366,229 $3,400,996 $3,400,996

MISSION SUPPORT OPERATIONS 2,3 $718,295 $707,095 $705,295 $694,095

DEPOT MAINTENANCE 4 $1,528,695 $1,528,695 $1,531,850 $1,531,850

FACILITIES SUSTAINMENT, RESTORATION & 

MODERNIZATION5

$137,604 $151,364 $137,604 $151,364

BASE OPERATING SUPPORT $581,536 $581,536 $581,536 $581,536

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY ONE (BAC-01) $6,333,859 $6,334,919 $6,357,281 $6,359,841

ADMINISTRATION $27,812 $27,812 $27,812 $27,812

RECRUITING AND ADVERTISING $31,188 $31,188 $31,188 $31,188

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY FOUR (BAC-04) $59,000 $59,000 $59,000 $59,000

O&M AND IT BUDGET INCONSISTENCIES 7 - - -$55,000 -$10,283

TOTAL, ANG O&M $6,392,859 $6,393,919 $6,361,281 $6,408,558

1) A-10 program 

2) Justification does not match summary of price and program changes for civilian personnel compensation 

3) Justification does not match summary of price and program changes 

4) A-10 program increase

5) Program increase

Air National Guard Operations & Maintenance (Overseas Contingency Operations)

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ANG O&M (OCO) Appropriation FY15 President’s 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS 1 $0 - - $2,300

MISSION SUPPORT OPERATIONS $20,300 - $20,300 $20,300

TOTAL ANG O&M (OCO) $20,300 - $20,300 $22,600

1) Program increase – European Reassurance Initiative 
- 8 -

National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account

The bill provides $1.2 billion in total for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account in the Overseas 

Contingency Operations account. Additionally, the bill includes direction for each Reserve and National 

Guard component commander to submit to the congressional defense committees a detailed assessment of 

that component’s modernization priorities, not later than 30 days after enactment of the legislation. 

(All Dollars in Thousands)

Other Provisions 

Military Technicians: The bill prohibits use of funds to reduce the authorized positions for military 

technicians (dual status) of the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve and Air Force 

Reserve for the purpose of applying any administratively imposed civilian personnel ceiling, freeze, or 

reduction on military technicians (dual status), unless such reductions are a direct result of a reduction in 

military force structure (Sec. 8041). 

Distance Learning: The bill allows the Chief of the National Guard Bureau the ability to permit use of 

equipment of the National Guard Distance Learning Project by any person or entity on a space-available, 

reimbursable basis on a case by case basis. (Sec. 8054)

National Ballistic Missile Defense System: The bill allows member of the National Guard serving on fulltime National Guard duty under 502(f) of T32, to perform duties in support of ground-based elements of the 

National ballistic Missile Defense System (Sec. 8064). 

Army National Guard Programs 

Apache Transfers: The bill prohibits any funding being used to transfer or divest AH-64 Apache helicopters 

from the ARNG to the Army through the enactment of a FY15 NDAA (sec. 8133).

Blackhawks: The bill includes a program increase of $103,026,000 for ARNG Blackhawk procurement.

Abrams Upgrade Program: The bill adds $120M for the Abrams upgrade program to maintain critical 

industrial base for the Army. 

HMMWV Modernization: The bill adds $100M for ARNG HMMWV modernization and $60M for ARNG 

HMMWV ambulance replacement program in procurement. 

AH-64 APACHE BLOCK IIIB REMANUFACTURING: Provides an additional $144M in OCO funding.

Air National Guard Programs 

A-10: The bill prohibits the use of funds to divest, retire, transfer or place in storage any A-10 aircraft, or to 

disestablish any A-10 unit of the active or reserve component (Sec. 1543). 

F-15 Aircraft: The bill includes $115M for ANG AESA radar upgrades for F-15 aircraft. 

MQ-9: The bill includes $155M for procurement of 12 MQ-9 for the Air Force.

C-130: The bill includes $30M for propeller upgrades, $22.6M for T-56 engine modifications and $35.8M for 

AMP

FY15 President’s 

Budget Request

House 

Passed

SAC

Mark Final Bill

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD $0 - $315,000 $415,000

AIR NATIONAL GUARD $0 - $315,000 $415,000
- 9 -

AWACS: The bill includes an increase of $10.6M. 

JSTARS: The bill includes the PB request for $73,088,000 in RDT&E for the NextGen JSTARS program. 

Electronic Warfare Development: The bill includes an increase of $7,750,000 for ANG digital radar warning 

receivers. 

Joint Programs

Mental Health Programs: The bill includes an $8.25M program increase. 

Counter-Drug – The bill includes $175,465,000 for the National Guard Counter Drug Program under Drug 

Interdiction and Counter-Drug defense activities.

Youth Challenge – The bill includes an additional $31M for the Youth Challenge program in the civil military 

programs account. 

STARBASE – The bill includes an additional $25M for STARBASE in the civil military programs account

Beyond Yellow Ribbon – The bill includes a $15M increase for Beyond Yellow Ribbon in defense human 

resources activity account. 

Technicians – The House bill includes a provision that would prohibit the furlough of dual status technicians 

during a government shutdown.

European Reassurance Initiative: The bill includes $810M for ERI to support increased capability, 

presence, readiness and responsiveness to deter further destabilization in central and eastern Europe. 
- 10 -

Conference Report Explanatory Statement

SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM

The agreement provides $5,709,000 in Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide to be transferred to the 

Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including the National Guard and reserve components, for 

support of high priority Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program requirements and activities. The 

agreement also provides an additional $25M to the Services, including the National Guard and reserve 

components, for continued implementation and the expansion of the Special Victim’s Counsel’s Program.

AIR FORCE FLING HOUR METRICS AND WEAPON SYSTEM SUSTAINMENT

It is understood that the Air Force is revising its budget documentation to better enable meaningful budget 

analysis and comprehensive oversight of the flying hour and depot maintenance programs. The agreement 

continues to support robust funding for theflying hour and depot maintenance programs and asserts that 

improving the clarity and completeness of the budget justification materials will improve management of the

programs and related funding. This language replaces both the language included in House Report 113-473 

under the headings "Air Force Flying Hour Metrics" and "Air Force Weapon System Sustainment.”

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET DOCUMENTATION

Both House Report 113-473 and Senate Report 113-211 included direction for various improvements to 

operation and maintenance budget justification materials. All of the items in each of the reports are agreed to 

with the exception of the requirements directed specifically to the Army National Guard, which are no longer 

required. During fiscal year 2015, the Service Secretaries are encouraged to work with the congressional

defense committees on building more meaningful performance criteria for recruiting, advertising, marketing, 

and retention initiatives.

AEROSPACE CONTROL ALERT MISSION EQUIPMENT

Given the uncertainty of the current and projected fiscal environment, there remains a concern regarding the 

availability of equipment to sustain and modernize the National Guard and reserve components for their 

missions both as an operational reserve and for necessary domestic support to the aerospace control and 

alert mission. In particular, there is concern regarding the availability of legacy aircraft as part of the 

aerospace control alert mission, including associated replacement of avionics and radars.

ARMY AVIATION RESTRUCTURE INITIATIVE

The Army's fiscal year 2015 budget request proposes the Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI), which includes 

the transfer of Apache helicopters from Army National Guard units to the active Army. This transfer is 

addressed in Section 8133 of this Act. With respect to the retirement ofTH-67 and OH-58 series aircraft, 

there is concern about the impact of the divestment of rotary airframes on the industrial base. Therefore, the

agreement directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees not 

later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act on the aircraft being retired as part of ARI. This report 

should include the number of airframes being divested, the number of airframes being transferred to other 

government agencies, the number of airframes being offered for sale to other nations, the cost of divesting 

these aircraft, and the impact the divestment of these airframes will have on the domestic rotary wing 

industrial base. Further, the Secretary of the Army shall not resell or auction TH-67 and OH-58 series aircraft 

until 30 days after the report is submitted by the Secretary of Defense.

C-130 AVIONICS MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

Senate Report 113-211 included language that directed the Secretary of the Air Force to obligate prior year 

C-130 Avionics Modernization Program funds to complete testing and to transition the program to production. 

The agreement provides the flexibility, consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

2015, to allow the Secretary of the Air Force to proceed with a reduced scope program to address safety and 

airspace compliance requirements. This language replaces the language included under this heading in 

Senate Report 113-211.

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT

The agreement provides $1,200,000,000 for National Guard and Reserve Equipment. Of that amount, 

$415,000,000 is for the Army National Guard; $415,000,000 is for the Air National Guard; $185,000,000 is 

for the Army Reserve; $65,000,000 is for the Navy Reserve; $60,000,000 is for the Marine Corps Reserve; 

and $60,000,000 is for the Air Force Reserve to meet urgent equipment needs that may arise this fiscal year.
- 11 -

Conference Report Explanatory Statement 

This funding will allow the National Guard and reserve components to procure high priority equipment that 

may be used by these units for both their combat missions and their missions in support of State governors. 

The National Guard and Reserve Equipment account shall be executed by the Chiefs of the National Guard 

and reserve components with priority consideration given to the following items: Acoustic Hailing Devices; C130 Propulsion Upgrades; C-130 and KC-135 Secure Line-of-Sight/Beyond Line-of-Sight Data Link and 

Situational Awareness Cockpit Displays; Chemical and Biological Protective Shelters; Coastal Riverine Force 

Boats and Communications Upgrades; Combat Mobility Equipment; Communications, Navigation and

Surveillance/ Air Traffic Management; Construction Engineering Equipment; Crash worthy Auxiliary Fuel 

Systems; Cyber Range Training Equipment; Electronic Flight Bags with Tablet Enabled Interface; 

Emergency Management Training Simulation; F-15C/D AESA Radars; F-15/F-16 Sensor Upgrades; FireResistant Environmental Ensemble; FMTV Virtual Trainers; Global Satellite Communications On-The-Move 

and all necessary related hardware; HMMWV Ambulances; HMMWV Modernization; HighMobility Engineer 

Excavators; In-Flight Propeller Balancing System; Integrated Vehicle Health Management System for UH72As; Interoperable Wideband Network Communications; Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures; Light 

Utility Helicopters; Mobile Ad Hoc Network Radios; Mobile Satellite Networking Technology; Naval

Construction Force Equipment; Radio Enhancements; Palletized Loading Systems; Reactive Skin 

Decontamination Lotion; Rotary Medium Cargo (H-60M) modernization; Security and Support/Civil Support 

Communication Package for UH-60s; SemiPermanent Humidity Controlled Shelters; Semitrailers; Simulation 

Training Systems; SINGCAR ASIP Radio Enhancements; Small Arms Simulation Training Systems;

TACSAT Radios; Tactical Communications Equipment for MQ-9s; Tactical Trucks; Ultra-Light Tactical 

Vehicles; and Wireless Mobile Mesh Network Systems.

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT REPORT

In the fiscal year 2015 National Guard and Reserve Equipment Report (NGRER), the Army changed the 

method used to calculate its equipment shortages to include modernized substitutes, which led the Army's 

equipment shortage data to not be included in the report. The agreement notes that this method caused a 

variation from past reports and that this change in calculation detracts from the usefulness of the report. The

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller) is directed to provide data excluding 

modernized substitutes in future NGRERs.

House Report 113-473

ARMY AVIATION RESTRUCTURE INITIATIVE

The Army’s fiscal year 2015 budget request proposes a significant restructuring of Army aviation assets. Part 

of this proposal is to transfer all Apache helicopters from Army National Guard units to the active Army and 

to shift Blackhawk helicopters from the active Army to the Arm National Guard. Another component of the 

proposal is to retire the Kiowa Warrior helicopter, including the TH-67 helicopter, currently being used as the 

training platform for Army aviation. The Committee approves the proposal, with the exception of the transfer 

of Apache aircraft from the Army National Guard. With respect to the retirement of TH-67 aircraft, the 

Committee is extremely concerned about the impact on the rotary wing industrial base of placing such a 

large amount of excess air frames on the market. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of Defense 

to submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later than 120 days after the enactment of 

this Act on the aircraft being retire as part of the Army proposal. This report should include the number of 

airframes being divested; the number of airframes being transferred to other government agencies, the 

number of airframes being offered for sale to other nations, the cost of divesting these aircraft, and the 

impact the divestiture of these airframes will have on the domestic rotary wing industrial base. Further, the 

Secretary of the Army is prohibited from divesting any aircraft until the report is submitted by the Secretary of 

Defense. 

READINESS

The Committee recommendation includes $1 billion in title VIII of the bill to be transferred to the operation 

and maintenance accounts for the active Services, the National Guard, and the reserve components, to buy

used only for improving military readiness. The funding is to be divided proportionately amongst the 

Services and the National Guard and reserve components, and shall be used only to improve readiness, 
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House Report 113-473 Continued

including increased training, depot maintenance, and base operations support. None of the funding provided 

may be used for recruiting, marketing, or advertising programs. 

DEPOT MAINTENANCE

The Committee has expressed concern for the last three fiscal years that base facility sustainment 

requirements are underfunded. The Committee provides an additional $720,000,000 to the facilities 

sustainment, restoration, and modernization to address the maintenance backlog for the active Services, the 

National Guard, and the reserve components. 

OPERATIONAL RESERVE

The Committee has previously expressed concern regarding the Army’s support for maintaining an 

operational reserve. After reviewing the fiscal year 2015 budget request, the Committee remains concerned 

that the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard readiness accounts are significantly underfunded. The 

Committee believes that this will have an immediate and lasting impact on the Army National Guard and the 

Army Reserve’s readiness that will be difficult to restore in future fiscal years. 

Significant taxpayer investment has been made to enable the Guard and reserve to become an integral part 

of the operational force. The Committee supports the enduring vision of an operational reserve and 

encourages all Services to continue resourcing and utilizing the Guard and reserve components as key 

members of the operational force. 

In addition to the $1,000,000,000 provided for increased military readiness described elsewhere in the 

Committee report, or which the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard will receive a proportional share, 

$135,000,000 is provided directly to the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard to be used specifically 

to further improve readiness of the operational reserve. The recommendation also includes $68,000,000 for 

the Army National Guard to fully fund two Combat Training Center rotations in fiscal year 2015 as scheduled. 

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE COMPONENT PROPORTIONATE FUNDING

The National Guard and reserve forces regularly receive less than a proportionate share of funding to 

resource their dual-use equipment needs. However, the role of the reserve components in providing fully 

equipped, trained, and ready forces in the Services’ force generation models is essential. The Committee 

recommends that the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force re-examine their funding and fielding plans 

for all National Guard equipment procurement and rebalance those plans to provide the Army and Air

National Guards with the same new equipment when their active component counterparts field new 

equipment. 

AIR FORCE FLYING HOUR METRICS

The Committee is concerned that the Air Force has not developed a cost effective, goal oriented, metric 

based program on which to base its flying hour requirements and annual funding request. In fiscal year 2015, 

the Air Force requests significant increases for air operations and states that the requested funding for flying 

hours is based on available funds rather than any stated requirement. Further, a review of execution of 

previous fiscal years’ flying hour programs shows that the Air Force consistently underexecutes its flying 

hour program. In these fiscally constrained times, ensuring that every dollar is spent to its maximum 

effectiveness means that flying to the budget instead of the readiness requirement risks significant waste of 

taxpayer resources. In addition, the lack of objective criteria or performance goals makes conducting 

objective, data driven analysis by the Committee impossible. 

The Committee strongly supports robust funding for flying hours and other training required to achieve pilot 

competence, safety, and combat readiness, and recognizes that providing sufficient funding for the flying 

hour program to achieve these goals requires significant investment and resources. Therefore, the 

Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the air operations 

program and to report to the congressional defense committees at the time of its fiscal year 2016 budget 

submission the results of this review. As part of the review of the flying hour program, the Committee directs 

the Secretary of the Air Force to consult with experts including, but not limited to, the Under Secretary for 

Personnel and Readiness, the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, and the leadership at 

the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, in order to establish metrics and goals for the 
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House Report 113-473 Continued

flying hour program which will directly relate the flying hours requested in the budget to a clear, requirementbased training curriculum which will leverage limited resources in order to achieve maximum readiness.

The Committee further directs the Secretary of the Air Force to review and revise the budget justification 

materials for the flying hours sub-activity groups in order to improve the clarity and completeness of those 

materials in future fiscal years, beginning with the fiscal year 2016 budget submission.

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT

The Committee recommends $2 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account in the 

overseas Contingency Operations funds, to meet urgent equipment needs. This funding will allow the Guard 

and reserve components to procure high priority equipment that may be used for both their combat missions 

and their mission in support of state governors. This funding will allow the National Guard and reserve 

components to procure items such as emergency management training simulation; in-flight propeller 

balancing systems; SINCGAR ASIP radio enhancements; interoperable wideband network communications; 

global satellite communications on-the move, and all necessary related hardware; C-130 propulsion system 

engine and propeller upgrades; electronically scanned array radars, wireless mobile mesh network systems; 

security and support mission equipment communications packages UH-60 civil support communications; 

reduced size external crashworthy fuel systems; acoustic hailing devices; high mobility engineer excavators; 

mobile ad hoc network radios; and small arm simulation training systems. 

HIGH MOBILITY ENGINEER EXCAVATOR

The Committee recognizes the versatility and broad application that the High Mobility Engineer Excavator 

(HMEE) provides for the military. The HMEE offers full spectrum capability to accomplish standard engineer 

missions of survivability, mobility and counter-mobility, and the expanded mission of route clearance and 

breaching operations. The HMEE is transportable by C–130 and C–17 aircraft and is capable of operating at 

speeds of 60 miles per hour. It is a versatile engineer vehicle for expeditionary forces and for homeland 

support missions. The Committee urges the Service Secretaries to thoroughly review requirements for this 

vehicle for tactical operations as well as for National Guard dual use applications. 

HIGH MOBILITY MULTIPURPOSE WHEELED VEHICLE MODERNIZATION

The Committee recognizes that the National Guard has consistently included modernized High Mobility 

Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) among its top funding priorities. The Committee includes $100 

million above the request to modernize the aging National Guard HMMWV fleet to satisfy this requirement. In 

conducting fleet modernization, the Committee urges the Secretary of Defense to integrate advance safety 

systems, including the application of emerging commercial technologies such as electronic control units and 

airbag technology, to improve the safety of these vehicles with respect to underbody blast, crash, or rollover 

events. 

AIR FORCE WEAPON SYSTEM SUSTAINMENT

The lack of objective data-driven metrics for the flying hour program has budget implications throughout the 

Operation and Maintenance, Air Force account. Within the Weapon System Sustainment (WSS) program, 

funding requirements for flying hours and depot maintenance are interrelated and can vary significantly 

depending on the number of flying hours executed. While the Air Force states that the WSS program is 

managed as an ‘‘enterprise level concept’’ and claims to regularly review the program in the year of 

execution to determine the actual requirement, the type and number of systems being inducted or work being 

performed can vary tremendously between what was included in the budget justification materials and what 

is actually executed. 

Further, while the Air Force has improved its effort to capture all funding requested for depot maintenance, 

including contractor logistics support, in the depot maintenance sub-activity groups (SAGs), it is not yet able 

to fully differentiate between flight-line activities, for which funding should be requested in the aircraft 

operations and mission support SAGs, and depot maintenance activities, for which funding should be

requested in the depot maintenance SAGs. The Committee remains concerned that the lack of fidelity and 

quality of the WSS and depot maintenance justification materials prevents the Committee from conducting 

meaningful analysis or oversight of either program. The Air Force acknowledges that its current justification 

materials could be seen as misleading, and the Committee understands that the Air Force will attempt to 
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House Report 113-473 Continued

provide more useful, complete, and meaningful justification material for the WSS program in future fiscal 

years. While the Committee recognizes that requirements can change due to unexpected changes in mission 

or requirements during the fiscal year, it also believes that the lack of program goals and metrics for the 

flying hour program drives much of the lack of fidelity in funding requirements in other areas, including WSS .

and depot maintenance funding. In addition to the review of the budget justification materials for the flying 

hours SAGs directed in previous report language, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to review and revise the budget justification materials for the mission support and depot maintenance SAGs to

improve the clarity and completeness of those materials in future fiscal years, beginning with the fiscal year 

2016 budget submission. 

KC–10

The Air Force has indicated that should spending limits contained in current law remain in force in fiscal year 

2016, it will propose to retire the entire fleet of 59 KC–10 tanker aircraft by fiscal year 2020, saving an 

estimated $2,300,000,000 over the future years defense program. The Committee believes that eliminating 

the KC–10 fleet poses a serious risk to the Air Force’s ability to carry out one of its stated core missions, that 

of providing global reach for the armed forces. The KC–10, with its ability to deliver 150,000 pounds of fuel at 

a range of 4,400 nautical miles using both the boom and drogue methods, is a critical element of pro-viding 

the air bridge to combatant commanders across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 

The Committee urges the Secretary of the Air Force to be more forthcoming about the operational impact of 

retiring the KC–10 fleet, a proposal which appears to be driven primarily by the Air Force’s stated preference 

for ‘‘vertical cuts’’ that eliminate entire fleets and their associated infrastructure to achieve the requisite level 

of savings under current law and Department of Defense policy. Current acquisition plans for the KC–46 will 

not provide an adequate replacement for the KC–10, since the Air Force already plans to replace the older 

fleet of KC–135s with KC–46s on a one-for-one basis. The Committee notes that the House-passed National

Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015 prohibits the Air Force from taking any action toward 

divestment of the KC–10 fleet and requires the Commander of the United States Transportation Command to 

submit an operational risk assessment and mitigation strategy to the congressional defense committees 

along with any proposal to divest the KC–10 fleet in the fiscal year 2016 budget.

COMBAT RESCUE HELICOPTER

The Committee fully supports the Air Force’s decision to proceed with an acquisition program for a new 

Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) despite budget constraints. The CRH will replace the Air Force’s rapidly 

aging fleet of HH–60 helicopters for the combat search and rescue mission. While the fiscal year 2015 

request includes no additional funds for CRH, the Air Force has indicated to the Committee that the 

$333,558,000 provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2014 is sufficient to fund the 

program through fiscal year 2015 given the adjustments the Air Force has made to extend the program 

schedule. The Committee is aware that the Air Force will need to rectify a $436,000,000 shortfall in the 

current future years defense plan to fully fund CRH development, but believes that this cost must be weighed 

against the considerable costs that likely would be incurred to extend the life of the HH–60 fleet should CRH 

be terminated. The Committee’s recommendation includes $100,000,000 for CRH to partially address this 

shortfall and designates these funds as a congressional special interest item. The Committee directs the 

Secretary of the Air Force to keep the Committee informed of the progress of the CRH program, including 

rates of obligation and expenditure. 

NEXT GENERATION JSTARS

The Committee fully funds the Air Force request for $73,088,000 to develop a next generation platform for 

the moving target indicator and battle management command and control (BMC2) missions currently 

performed by the E–8C JSTARS fleet. The Committee notes that while the program justification submitted 

with the fiscal year 2015 request appears to assume that the BMC2 system, sensor systems, 

communications systems, and air vehicle will be separately competed with the government as the lead 

system integrator, the Air Force presently is considering alternative acquisition strategies for the new system. 

Due to the reduction in capability that will result from the retirement of five operational JSTARS aircraft in 

fiscal year 2015, the Committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to adopt an acquisition strategy 

for a business jet-based integrated solution with mature technologies that is consistent with the completed 

analysis of alternatives, will minimize development cost and schedule, field new aircraft ahead of first 
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House Report 113-473 Continued

planned delivery date in fiscal year 2019, and provide an open system architecture to allow for competitively 

procured future upgrades. The Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to brief the congressional 

defense committees on its selected approach not later than 30 days following the approval of the acquisition 

strategy for the Next Generation JSTARS.

NATIONAL GUARD COUNTER-DRUG PROGRAM

The Committee is disappointed that, for a third year in a row, the budget request underfunds the National 

Guard counter-drug program. The Committee recognizes the importance of the mission of the National 

Guard counter-drug program as a support organization to combatant commands and federal, state and local 

law enforcement agencies. To help address the lack of funding in this important program, the Committee 

recommends an additional $80 million for fiscal year 2015. 

MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM

The Committee is pleased that the Secretary of Defense created a pilot program to improve efforts to treat 

servicemembers suffering from mental health disorders in the National Guard and reserve components 

through community partnerships. The Committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to expand this 

program to include additional community partners through a competitive and merit-based process

COOPERATION BETWEEN MILITARY MEDICAL FACILITIES, CIVILIAN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, 

AND UNIVERSITIES

The Committee recognizes the importance of cooperation between military medical facilities, universities, 

and other civilian partners to provide valuable medical trauma training to sustain the education of military 

medical providers. This training and real-life experience contributes to maintaining the capabilities of the 

National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Explosives Enhanced Response Force 

Packages, the National Guard Homeland Response Forces, and the Army Reserve Consequence 

Management Response Forces. The Committee encourages the Service Surgeons General and the Chief of 

the National Guard Bureau to continue to pursue trauma training with civilian partners in order to maintain 

unit medical readiness at optimum levels as military healthcare providers maintain their individual skills to 

respond effectively to emergency incidents. 

SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE

The Committee remains concerned by reports of sexual assaults being committed by those in key positions 

of trust, including sexual assault response coordinators, victim advocates, military recruiters, commanders, 

and military leaders. The Army recently conducted a review of personnel serving in key positions of trust, and 

almost 600 soldiers currently serving in those positions were disqualified for infractions. While the Committee 

commends the Army for conducting such a review and holding soldiers accountable and urges the other 

Services to conduct similar comprehensive reviews, it remains disturbed that so many of the personnel 

currently serving should never have qualified for those duties. 

The Committee is also concerned by the persistently high prevalence of sexual assault at the military 

academies. The Committee believes that more must be done to institute best practices at the military

academies, training bases, and recruiting commands to increase prevention efforts as well as to preclude 

perpetrators from serving in influential and sensitive occupations. While the Service Secretaries must be 

aggressive in prosecuting and punishing perpetrators of sexual assault, they must increase their efforts to 

protect service members from the threat of sexual assault in the first place. Further, commanders remain 

responsible for ensuring good order and discipline in their units and should be held responsible when crimes 

are committed under their watch. Recent allegations that commanders ignored reports of sexual assault or 

permitted inappropriate work environments in violation of Service sexual harassment and hazing policies is 

extremely concerning and must not be tolerated. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2014 provided an additional $25,000,000 to expand the 

Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC) program to all Services. This program provides legal representatives to give 

advice and representation to sexual assault victims. The SVC helps navigate victims through the legal 

process and intervenes on a victim’s behalf when appropriate. The Committee understands that the Air 

Force SVC pilot program has shown success in assisting victims throughout the process and believes 

victims throughout the military will benefit by having access to a SVC. The Committee is pleased to learn that 

an expansion of the program is underway and it fully funds the budget request for the SVC program. 
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House Report 113-473 Continued

The recommendation also includes a provision requested by the President to make funds available for the 

Services, including the National Guard and reserve components, to support high priority Sexual Assault 

Prevention and Response Program requirements and activities, including the training and funding of 

personnel. In addition, the Committee fully funds the budget request for Sexual Assault Prevention and 

response programs and encourages the Secretary of Defense and the Service Chiefs to do more to stop this 

destructive epidemic in the military. 

SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AND OUTREACH

Suicide remains an issue of concern in the Services, especially within the Guard and reserve components. 

Whereas service members serving on active duty return from deployments to military bases which provide 

structured support networks, returning Guardsmen and reservists are frequently geographically isolated from

their units and may not have the regular interactions with their peers and chain of command that their active 

duty counterparts experience. 

The Committee is aware of programs for the reserve components, such as the National Guard Psychological 

Health Program, to improve access to mental health providers, and the Committee recommendation fully 

funds the budget request for this program. The Committee recommendation provides additional funding for 

suicide prevention in the Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account. In addition, the Committee 

recognizes the important role that programs such as Yellow Ribbon play in helping Guardsmen and 

reservists transition to civilian life upon returning from deployment. 

The Committee acknowledges the steps that the Services have taken to implement suicide prevention 

training and outreach efforts and to lower the rate of suicide among service members but believes that more 

must be done to identify at-risk service members and to improve prevention and outreach efforts. The 

Committee urges the Service Secretaries to continue to make suicide prevention a key priority and to 

regularly update the Committee on actions being taken.

Senate Report 113-211

RESERVE COMPONENT BUDGET REPORTING

The Committee continues its requirement for the Department to provide a semi-annual detailed report to the 

congressional defense committees showing transfers between sub-activities within the military personnel 

appropriation. Reports shall be submitted not later than 30 days following the end of the second quarter and 

30 days following the end of the fiscal year. 

ADVANCED TRAUMA TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD

The Committee recognizes the valuable support universities, hospitals, and other military partners provide by 

offering civilian-based emergency response trauma training to sustain medics’ and medical providers’ 

capabilities of the National Guard Enhanced Response Forces Packages [CERFP], the National Guard 

Enhanced Response Forces Packages [NGHRF], and the Army Reserve Consequence Management 

Response Forces [CCMRF]. The Committee encourages the National Guard and Reserve to continue 

pursuing state-of-the art trauma training with these civilian partners, thus maintaining unit medical readiness 

postures at optimum levels as military healthcare providers in CERFPs, NGHRPFs, and CCMRFs maintain 

their individual skills to respond effectively to emergency incidents on the Homeland. Furthermore, in order to 

minimize the civilian-military operational gaps in the event of a catastrophic incident, the Committee also 

encourages the development of enhanced preparedness medical training programs focusing on mass 

casualty triage, advanced disaster life support, advanced hazardous material life support, emergency dental, 

and psychological health by increasing civilian-based advanced trauma expertise gained through day-to-day 

experiences and medical research programs. 

STEM EDUCATION AND STARBASE

The Committee finds that consolidation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics [STEM] 

education programs and significant changes to the STARBASE program are not advisable at this time. 

STARBASE provides a unique low-cost leveraging of community and military resources that another Federal 

agency will to be able to duplicate. The benefits of cooperative community and military relationships

stimulate the long-term interest of youth in STEM careers. Therefore, the Committee provides a $25,000,000 
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Senate Report 113-211 Continued

to continue the Department of Defense STARBASE program in fiscal year 2015. The Committee encourages 

the Secretary of Defense to continue the STARBASE program in future fiscal years. 

ARMY AVIATION RESTRUCTURE INITIATIVE

The Army’s fiscal year 2015 budget request proposes a significant restructuring of Army aviation assets. This 

includes transferring all Apache helicopters to the active Army from the Army National Guard and shifting 

Blackhawk helicopters from the active Army to the Army National Guard. The proposal also includes retiring 

the Kiowa Warrior helicopters and replacing the TH-67 trainer helicopters with Lakota helicopters. The 

Committee believes the Army has not considered the full fiscal implication of the proposal, and the Army has 

not provided the Committee a comprehensive divestiture plan for the retiring helicopters.

The Committee understands that the Army estimates saving a total of $11,942,000,000 under the ARI, 

including $10,300,000,000 from divestiture of the Kiowa Warrior helicopters. However, the Committee notes 

the Army’s cost estimate fails to account for increased costs to procure and maintain additional Lakota 

helicopters, to train the Army Active Duty and Army National Guard pilots for the new missions, and to 

operate and maintain Apaches and Blackhawks. Therefore, the Committee directs Cost Assessment and

Program Evaluation [CAPE] to do an independent cost analysis of both the ARI and the alternate Army 

National guard estimates to complete the proposed transfer and associated out-years costs. The Director, 

CAPE shall provide a report to the congressional defense committees 120 days after enactment of this act. 

In addition, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to the congressional defense 

committees not later than 120 days after the enactment of this act on the divestiture plan for unneeded Army 

helicopters. This report should address (1) the number of airframes being divested under the ARI by fiscal 

year, (2) the number of airframes being transferred to other Government agencies, (3) the number of 

airframes being offered for sale to other nations, (4) the cost of divesting these aircraft, (5) the impact the 

divestiture of these airframes will have on the domestic rotary wing industrial base and (6) the impact of the 

divestiture plan military readiness. Further, the Secretary of the Army is directed not to allow the resale or 

auction of any divested airframe until 30 days after the report is submitted to the congressional defense 

committees. 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD BLACKHAWKS

The Committee acknowledges that the older UH-60As need to be modernized and replaced as quickly as 

possible for the Army National Guard Blackhawk fleet to remain viable and mission capable. It is projected 

that the Army National Guard will not retire their last UH-60A until 2025, while the Active Army will retire their 

last UH-60A in 2020. Therefore, the Committee recommends accelerating the fielding of new UH-60M 

helicopters to the Army National Guard. 

HIGH MOBILITY MULTI-PURPOSE WHEELED VEHICLE [HMMWV] AMBULANCE

The Committee recognizes the continued value of the HMMWV ambulance, which is tasked to respond to 

contingency operations, domestic emergencies, and humanitarian assistance requests. The Committee also 

recognizes that the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve have identified significant shortfalls in 

HMMWV ambulances which hinder training and operational capabilities. Therefore, the Committee provides 

$60,000,000 for procurement of HMMWV ambulances. 

C-130 AVIONICS MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

The Committee supports modernization of the C-130H fleet and understands the Air Force plans to operate 

approximately 150 C-130H models for the foreseeable future. As such, the Committee supports continuation 

of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program [AMP] Program to ensure the Air National Guard operates 

relevant and modernized aircraft. Therefore, consistent with the report accompanying S. 2410, the National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, as reported, the Committee directs the Air Force to obligate 

prior year funds authorized and appropriated for the C-130 AMP program to conduct such activities as are 

necessary to complete testing and transition the program to production and installation of modernization kits. 

C-130 AIRCRAFT FLEET

The Committee recognizes the Air Force’s commitment to intra-theater lift as supported by the multi-year 

procurement plan of the C-130J aircraft. However, with a sizable fleet of older model C-130s residing within 

the Reserve components, the Committee is concerned with the long term sustainment of the fleet. Consistent
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Senate Report 113-211 Continued

with section 138 of S. 2410, the NDAA for fiscal year 2015, the Committee directs the Air Force to develop a 

modernization, recapitalization and fielding plan for the current C-1309 fleet that addresses the most recent 

Quadrennial Defense Review requirement that the Air Force maintain 300 intra-theater aircraft and 

addresses the recommendations of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force. 

JOINT SURVEILLANCE AND TARGET ATTACK RADAR SYSTEM [JSTARS] RECAPITALIZATION

The Committee is encouraged by the Air Force’s effort to replace the aging, and increasingly costly, JSTARS 

E-8C aircraft, and supports the conclusions of the Air Force’s Analysis of Alternatives [AOA] study. The AOA 

determined that a business jet aircraft outfitted with existing moving target indicator [MTI] radar and battle 

management command and control [BMC2] technology would meet the combatant commanders’ warfighting 

requirements at the lowest cost. However, the budget request shows that the Air Force intends to pursue a 

tradition acquisition program and expend nearly $2,000,000,000 on a research and development effort 

despite the fact that existing radars could be integrated onto existing business jet airframes. 

The Committee is concerned that the Air Force plans to begin retirement of this high demand/low density 

asset in 2016 just as it is embarking on an extensive development program with no production planned until 

2019. Further, the Air Force plans to launch into competitive prototyping in fiscal year 2015 before a formal 

capabilities development document is approved that finalizes the system requirements to be prototyped. The 

Air Force states their plan is to leverage high technology readiness level communication, sensor, and BMC2 

system technologies to reduce program cost, schedule, and risk. 

However, the program, as laid out, will not enter into the engineering, manufacturing, and development 

phase until fiscal year 2017, with over $400,000,000 spent prior to that phase. The current acquisition 

strategy does not reflect the mature, affordable and existing components that will be utilized. The Committee 

believes this is an integration effort rather than a research and development effort, and for that reason, 

reduces the fiscal year 2015 request by $63,088,000, and directs the Secretary of the Air Force to reassess 

the acquisition strategy to shorten the development phase and enter into production earlier.

NATIONAL GUARD EMBEDDED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

The Committee recognizes that suicide continue to be an area of concern in the National Guard and Reserve 

components. Programs to improve access to behavioral healthcare for National Guard and Reserve 

members and their families through a collaboration of Federal, State, and community partners are helping to 

address gaps in treatment. The Committee provides $10,000,000 to be utilized by the Director of 

Psychological Health Programs of the National Guard Bureau for implementation of embedded mental health 

programs in States determined by that office to be at high risk for suicides. 

NATIONAL GUARD FACILITIES AND ASSETS

The Committee recognizes the number of existing National Guard operational, training, logistics, and 

maintenance capabilities that can be utilized by Federal, State, and local entities to reduce Federal overhead 

costs. The Committee encourages the Department of Defense to coordinate interagency use of facilities and 

capabilities for cost-savings and improved efficiencies in achieving homeland security training and other core 

mission objectives. 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

To further inform the congressional review, the Committee directs every sub-activity group in O&M that funds 

recruiting and advertising activities shall include the budget profile broken out by recruiting and advertising 

for the prior year, current year, and budget year as part of the performance criteria in the OP-5 exhibit. The 

Army National Guard shall include three categories broken out separately: recruiting, marketing, and 

retention. The Army National Guard is further directed to break out funding profiles for specific programs 

under each category providing more specific information about what is funded in each. Among other line 

items, one under marketing shall be sports sponsorships.

COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

The Committee understands the Guard Reserve records are often the most difficult for the VA to obtain 

because many of these veterans saw multiple, non-consecutive deployments, with different units. In January 

2014, DOD created there service Single Points of Entry for VA to contact for information requests. The

committee understands that DOD and VA are still collaborating on expanding the Single Points of Entry 
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Senate Report 113-211 Continued

concept to assist in the transfer of Guard and Reserve records and encourages both Departments to 

standardize this process in order to ensure the timely processing of benefits for Guard and Reserve service 

members. 

NATIONAL GUARD COUNTER-DRUG PROGRAM

The Committee remains concerned that the Department continues to reduce funding for the National Guard 

Counter-Drug program, and disagrees with the fiscal year 2015 President’s budget request to eliminate 

funding for operation of the Counter-Drug Schools program. The counter-drug schools’ mission of providing 

combatant commands, law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations and military personnel 

with training to support and enhance their capabilities to detect, interdict, disrupt and curtail drug trafficking is 

an important component of our overall effort to reduce drug crimes and protect our national security. To 

ensure this training remains available, the Committee provides $216,700,000 to the National Guard CounterDrug program and directs the National Guard Bureau to continue operation of the existing counter-drug 

schools to achieve their full mission. 

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT

The Committee recommends $1 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account in the 

Overseas Contingency Operations account. The appropriation includes direction for each Reserve and 

National Guard component commander to submit to the congressional defense committees a detailed 

assessment of that component’s modernization priorities, not later than 30 days after enactment of the 

legislation.

High-Priority Items – The Committee directs the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account shall be 

executed by the Chiefs of the National Guard and Reserve components with the priority consideration given

to the following items: C-130 Propulsion Upgrades; C-130 and KC-135 Secure Line-of-Sight/Beyond Line-ofSight [SLOS/BLOS] Data Link and Situational Awareness Cockpit Displays; Chemical and Biological 

Protective Shelters; Coastal Riverine Force Boats and Communications Upgrades; Combat Mobility 

Equipment; Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management [CNS/ATM]; Construction 

Engineering Equipment; Crashworthy Auxiliary Fuel Systems; Cyber Range Training Equipment; F-15C/D 

AESA Radars; F-15/F-16 Sensor Upgrades; Fire-resistant Environmental Ensemble; TMTV Virtual Trainers; 

HMMWV Ambulances; HMMWV Modernization; In-Flight Propeller Balancing System; Integrated Vehicle 

Health Management System for UH-72As; Large Aircraft Infrared Counter-measures [LAIRCM]; Light Utility 

Helicopters; Mobile Satellite Networking Technology; Naval Construction Force Equipment; Radio 

Enhancements; Palletized Loading Systems; Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion; Rotary Medium Cargo 

[H-60M] modernization; Security and Support/Civil Support Communication Package for UH-60s; Semipermanent Humidity Controlled Shelters; Semitrailers; Simulation Training Systems; Small Arms Simulation 

Training Systems; TACSAT Radios; Tactical Communications Equipment for MQ-9s; Tactical Trucks; UltraLight Tactical Vehicles; and Wireless Mobile Mesh Network Systems.

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT REPORT

The Committee utilizes the annual National Guard and Reserve Equipment Report [NGRER] as a valuable 

repository for information on equipment requirements, inventories, and shortages for the Guard and Reserve 

components. In the fiscal year 2015 NGRER, the Army changed the way in which it calculated its equipment 

shortages to include modernized substitutes, and therefore the Army’s equipment shortage data was not 

included in the Report. The Committee notes that this is a break from past reports and that this change in 

calculation detracts from the usefulness of the Report. The Committee directs the Army to provide data

excluding modernized substitutes in future NGRERs. 

SIMULATION TRAINING SYSTEMS

The Committee acknowledges that simulation training is a cost-effective means by which military units can 

improve tactical decision-making skills and readiness. The Committee encourages the Department of 

Defense to use a portion of National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account funding to continue the 

procurement of simulation training systems and to seek the appropriate combination of Government-owned 

and operated simulators as well as contractor support in order to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.