FY19 SenateAppropriations 

Committee

Defense AppropriationsAct

As of July 13th, 2018

Bill Status

Passed in 

Committee Passed in Chamber Final Passage Signed into Law

House June 13th, 2018 June 28th, 2018

Senate June 28th, 2018
Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................................... .- 3 -

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

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

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL .................................................................................................................... - 5 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL (OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS)......................................... - 5 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE.................................................................................... - 1 -

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE (OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS).........- 1 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL......................................................................................................................... - 2 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL (OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS) ............................................. - 2 -

AIR NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE ........................................................................................ - 2 -

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

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS......................................................................................................................................... - 8 -

REPORT LANGUAGE ................................................................................................................................................... - 9 -
Executive Summary

This guide provides a short summary of the initial subcommittee markup for the Fiscal Year 2019

Defense Appropriations Act. To obtain a complete understanding of any particular provision, users are 

encouraged to review the actual legislative language. Bill text and report language can be found on the 

LL website: www.nationalguard.mil/ll.

Status: 

On June 26th, 2018, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense passed the FY19 Defense 

Appropriations Act. The full committee passed the bill on June 28th. The bill appropriates $607.1 billion 

for base defense spending and $67.9 billion for OCO, for a total of $675 billion.

Highlights: 

• Funds an end-strength of 343,500 for the ARNG and 106,600 for the ANG

• Adds $7M for State Partnership Program

• Adds $13M for Youth ChalleNGe

• Adds $7M for wildfire training

• Adds $100M for NG Counterdrug Program and $25M for schools

• Adds $3M for Advance Trauma Training Program

• Appropriates $4M each for the ARNG and ANG for a preventative mental health program

• Appropriates $320M for 15 UH-60s for ARNG

• Appropriates $291M each for ARNG and ANG for NGREA

• Appropriates $120M for ARNG HMMWV Ambulances

• Continues JSTARS Recapitalization

1
National Guard Accounts Overview

(All Dollars in Thousands)

Army National 

Guard

FY19

President’s 

Budget Request

FY19

HAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request 

FY19

SAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 Conference

ARNG 

Personnel $8,744,345 $8,589,785 -$154,560 $8,650,645 -$93,700

ARNG 

Personnel 

OCO 

$195,283 $195,283 - $195,283 -

ARNG O&M $7,399,295 $7,329,771 -$69,524 $7,261,295 -$138,000

ARNG O&M 

OCO $110,729 $110,729 - $110,729 -

NGREA - $421,000 +$421,000 $291,500 +$291,500

Air National 

Guard

FY19

President’s 

Budget Request

FY19

HAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request 

FY19

SAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 Conference

ANG 

Personnel $3,725,380 $3,707,240 -$18,140 $3,718,780 -$6,600

ANG 

Personnel 

OCO 

$5,460 $5,460 - $5,460 -

ANG O&M $6,427,622 $6,438,162 +$10,540 $6,433,697 +$6,075

ANG O&M 

OCO $15,870 $15,870 - $15,870 -

NGREA - $421,000 +$421,000 $291,500 +$291,500

2
Army National Guard

Army National Guard Personnel

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ARNG Personnel Appropriation

FY19

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D 

Mark

Delta from 

Request 

FY19

SAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

PAY GROUP A TRAINING (15 

DAYS & DRILLS 24/48) $2,805,051 $2,786,0511 -$19,000 $2,805,051 -

PAY GROUP F TRAINING 

(RECRUITS) $575,310 $565,3102 -$10,000 $575,310 -

PAY GROUP P TRAINING 

(PIPELINE RECRUITS) $43,618 $43,618 - $43,618 -

SCHOOL TRAINING $554,644 $551,6443 -$3,000 $554,644 -

SPECIAL TRAINING $695,097 $707,3374,5,6 +$12,240 $698,6977 +$3,600

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT $3,925,593 $3,925,593 - $3,925,593 -

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN 

MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS $55,530 $55,530 - $55,530 -

EDUCATION BENEFITS $89,502 $89,502 - $89,502 -

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 1 

(BAC-01) $8,744,345 $8,724,585 -$19,760 $8,747,945 +$3,600

UNDISTRIBUTED ADJUSTMENT - -$136,000 -$136,000 -$99,5008,9 -$99,500

TRAUMA TRAINING - +$1,200 +$1,200 +$1,200 +$1,200

WILDFIRE TRAINING - - - +$1,000 +$1,000

TOTAL, ARNG PERSONNEL $8,744,345 $8,589,785 -$154,560 $8,650,645 -$93,700

HAC-D Items

1. Excess growth -$19,000

2. Excess to requirement -$10,000

3. Historical overestimation of accessions mission -$3,000

4. Program increase - SPP +$2,940

5. Program increase - CPTs +1,300

6. Program increase - training and operational support on the southwest border +$8,000

Army National Guard Personnel (Overseas Contingency Operations)

ARNG Personnel (OCO) 

Appropriation

FY19

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D 

Mark

Delta from 

Request 

FY19

SAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

PAY GROUP A TRAINING (15 

DAYS & DRILLS 24/48) $47,114 $47,114 - $47,114 -

SCHOOL TRAINING $2,939 $2,939 - $2,939 -

SPECIAL TRAINING $135,655 $135,655 - $135,655 -

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT $9,575 $9,575 $9,575 -

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 1 

(BAC-01) $195,283 $195,283 - $195,283 -

TOTAL ARNG PERSONNEL $195,283 $195,283 - $195,283 -

SAC-D Items

7. Program increase – SPP +$3,600

8. Rate adjustments -$7,000

9. Revised budget estimate -$92,500

3
Army National Guard Operations & Maintenance

ARNG O&M Appropriation

FY19

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D Mark

Delta 

from 

Request 

FY19

SAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

MANEUVER UNITS $810,269 $776,4951,2,3 -$33,774 $790,26913 -$20,000

MODULAR SUPPORT BRIGADES $193,402 $185,4024 -$8,000 $193,402 -

ECHELONS ABOVE BRIGADE $753,815 $755,8155 +$2,000 $753,815 -

THEATER LEVEL ASSETS $84,124 $84,124 - $84,124 -

LAND FORCES OPERATIONS 

SUPPORT $31,881 $31,881 - $31,881 -

AVIATION ASSETS $973,874 $973,874 - $973,874 -

FORCE READINESS OPERATIONS 

SUPPORT $784,086 $785,5866,7 +$1,500 $765,28614,15 -$18,800

LAND FORCES SYSTEMS READINESS $51,353 $51,353 $51,353 -

LAND FORCES DEPOT 

MAINTENANCE $221,633 $221,633 $221,633 -

BASE OPERATIONS SUPPORT $1,129,942 $1,114,9428 -$15,000 $1,108,94216,

17 -$21,000

FACILITIES SUSTAINMENT, 

RESTORATION, & MODERNIZATION $919,947 $999,9479 +$80,000 $919,947 -

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL 

HQ $1,010,524 $1,002,05910,11 -$8,465 $1,010,524 -

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY ONE 

(BAC-01) $6,964,850 $6,983,111 +$18,261 $6,905,050 -$59,800

SERVICEWIDE TRANSPORTATION $10,017 $10,017 - $10,017

ADMINISTRATION $72,746 $75,68612 +2,940 $76,546 +$3,800

SERVICEWIDE COMMUNICATIONS $83,105 $83,105 - $83,105

MANPOWER MANAGEMENT $10,678 $10,678 - $10,678

RECRUITING AND ADVERTISING $254,753 $254,753 - $254,753

OTHER CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT 

AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT $3,146 $3,146 - $3,146

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY FOUR 

(BAC-04) $434,445 $437,385 +$2,940 $438,245 +$3,800

UNJUSTIFIED GROWTH - - - -$88,000 -$88,000

WILDFIRE TRAINING - - - +$6,000 +$6,000

RESTORE READINESS - +$20,000 +$20,000 - -

HISTORICAL UNOBLIGATION - -$110,725 -$110,725 - -

TOTAL, ARNG O&M $7,399,295 $7,329,771 -$69,524 $7,261,295 -$138,000

1.

HAC-D Items

1. Fiscal year 2018 decrease not properly accounted -$20,000

2. Training excess growth -$11.169

3. Transportation excess growth -$2,605

4. Fiscal year 2018 decrease not property accounted -$8,000

5. Program increase - training and operational support of the southwest border +$2,000

6. Program increase - cyber protection teams +$500

7. Program increase - expanded training environment +$1,000

8. Fiscal year 2018 decrease not properly accounted -$15,000

9. Program increase +$80,000

10. Fiscal year 2018 decrease not properly accounted -$5,000

11. Excess growth -$3,466

12. Program increase – SPP +$2,940

SAC-D Items

13. Unjustified growth -$20,000

14. Program decrease unaccounted for -$20,000

15. Program increase – Advanced trauma training +$1,200

16. Program decrease unaccounted for -$25,000

17. Program increase – ARNG preventative mental health 

program +$4,000

18. Program increase – SPP +$3,800

4
Army National Guard Operations & Maintenance (Overseas Contingency Operations)

ARNG O&M (OCO) Appropriation

FY19

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D 

Mark

Delta from 

Request 

FY19

SAC-D Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

MANEUVER UNITS $42,519 $42,519 - $42,519 -

MODULAR SUPPORT BRIGADES $778 $778 - $778 -

ECHELONS ABOVE BRIGADE $12,093 $12,093 - $12,093 -

THEATER LEVEL ASSETS $708 $708 - $708 -

AVIATION ASSETS $28,135 $28,135 - $28,135 -

FORCE READINESS 

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

$5,908 $5,908 - $5,908 -

BASE OPERATIONS SUPPORT $18,877 $18,877 - $18,877 -

MANAGEMENT AND 

OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

$956 $956 - $956 -

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY ONE 

(BAC-01) $109,974 $109,974 - $109,974 -

SERVICEWIDE 

COMMUNICATIONS $755 $755 - $755 -

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 

FOUR (BAC-04) $110,729 $110,729 - $110,729 -

TOTAL, ARNG O&M (OCO) $110,729 $110,729 - $110,729 -

5
 Air National Guard

Air National Guard Personnel

(All Dollars in Thousands)

ANG Personnel Appropriation

FY19 

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D 

Mark

Delta from 

Request 

FY19 

SAC-D 

Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

PAY GROUP A TRAINING (15 

DAYS & DRILLS 24/48) $989,368 $989,368 - $989,368

PAY GROUP F TRAINING 

(RECRUITS) $85,771 $85,771 - $85,771

PAY GROUP P TRAINING 

(PIPELINE RECRUITS) $8,113 $8,113 - $8,113

SCHOOL TRAINING $334,293 $334,293 - $334,293

SPECIAL TRAINING $167,411 $168,6711 +$1,260 $171,0113 +$3,600

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT $2,099,045 $2,098,0452 -$1,000 $2,099,045

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN 

MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS $25,177 $25,177 - $25,177

EDUCATION BENEFITS $16,202 $16,202 - $16,202

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY 1 

(BAC-01) $3,725,380 $3,725,640 +$260 $3,728,980 +$3,600

UNDISTRIBUTED ADJUSTMENT - -$20,200 -$20,200 -$12,0004,5 -$12,000

TRAUMA TRAINING +1,800 +$1,800 +$1,800 +1,800

Total, National Guard Personnel, 

Air Force $3,725,380 $3,707,240 ·$18,140 $3,718,780 -$6,600

HAC-D Items

1. Program increase – SPP +$1,260

2. Historical underexecution -$1,000

SAC-D Items

3. Program increase – SPP +$3,600

4. Rate adjustments -$2,000

5. Revised budget estimate -$10,000

Air National Guard Personnel (Overseas Contingency Operations)

ANG Personnel (OCO) 

Appropriation

FY19 

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D 

Mark

Delta from 

Request 

FY19 

SAC-D 

Mark

Delta from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

SPECIAL TRAINING $5,460 $5,460 - $5,460 -

6
Air National Guard Operations & Maintenance 

ANG O&M Appropriation

FY19 

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D 

Mark

Delta 

from 

Request 

FY19 

SAC-D Mark

Delta 

from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS $2,619,940 2,579,9401 -$40,000 $2,533,9404,5 -$86,000

MISSION SUPPORT OPERATIONS $623,265 623,8052 +$540 $631,5406,7,8,9,10,11 +$8,275

DEPOT MAINTENANCE $748,287 $748,287 - $748,287 -

FACILITIES SUSTAINMENT, 

RESTORATION & MODERNIZATION $303,792 343,7923 +$40,000 $309,29212 +$5,500

CONTRACTOR LOGISTICS SUPPORT 

AND SYSTEM SUPPORT $1,061,759 $1,061,759 - $1,061,759 -

BASE OPERATING SUPPORT $988,333 $988,333 - $1,023,63313,14,15 +$35,300

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY ONE (BAC01) $6,345,376 $6,345,916 +$540 $6,308,451 -$36,925

ADMINISTRATION $45,711 $45,711 - $45,711 -

RECRUITING AND ADVERTISING $36,535 $36,535 - $36,535 -

TOTAL, BUDGET ACTIVITY FOUR 

(BAC-04) $82,246 $82,246 - $82,246 -

RESTORE READINESS - +$10,000 +$10,000 - -

DECREASE UNACCOUNTED FOR - - - -$18,000 -$18,000

BUYBACK 3 PMAI JSTARS AIRCRAFT - - - +61,000 +$61,000

TOTAL, AIR NATIONAL GUARD O&M $6,427,622 $6,438,162 +$10,540 $6,433,697 +$6,075

1.

Air National Guard Operations & Maintenance (Overseas Contingency Operations)

ANG O&M (OCO) Appropriation

FY19 

President’s 

Budget 

Request

FY19

HAC-D Mark

Delta 

from 

Request 

FY19 

SAC-D 

Mark

Delta 

from 

Request

FY19 

Conference

MISSION SUPPORT OPERATIONS $3,560 $3,560 - $3,560 -

BASE SUPPORT $12,310 $12,310 - $12,310 -

TOTAL, ANG O&M (OCO) $15,870 $15,870 - $15,870 -

SAC-D Items

4. Projected underexecution -$80,000

5. Program decrease unaccounted for -$6,000

6. Program decrease unnacounted for -$15,000

7. Disaster relief mobile kitchen trailers +$7,800

8. Program increase – ANG readiness training ranges +$9,000

9. Program increase – Advanced trauma training program +$1,800

10. Program increase – ANG preventative mental health program 

+$4,000

 

HAC-D Items

1. Unjustified program growth -

$40,000

2. Program increase –SPP +$540

3. Program increase -+$40,000

11. Program increase – SPP +$675

12. Program increase – KC-46A emergent requirements 

+$5,500

13. ANG-requested transfer for environmental projects from

ERA, Air Force account +$11,000

14. Program increase – Cold weather aviation systems +$5,300

15. Program increase – Sec. 315 of S.2987, Senate NDAA as 

reported +$19,000

7
Legislative Provisions

SEC. 8004. No more than 20 percent of the appropriations in this Act which are limited for obligation during 

the current fiscal year shall be obligated during the last 2 months of the fiscal year: Provided, that this section 

shall not apply to obligations for support of active duty training of reserve components or summer camp 

training of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

SEC. 8040. None of the funds available in this Act may be used 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. 8042. Funds appropriated in this Act for operation and maintenance of the Military Departments, 

Combatant Commands and Defense Agencies shall be available for reimbursement of pay, allowances and 

other expenses which would otherwise be incurred against appropriations for the National Guard and 

Reserve when members of the National Guard and Reserve provide intelligence or counterintelligence 

support to Combatant Commands, Defense Agencies and Joint Intelligence Activities, including the activities 

and programs included within the National Intelligence Program and the Military Intelligence Program 

provided that nothing in this section authorizes deviation from established Reserve and National Guard 

personnel and training procedures.

SEC. 8051. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau may 

permit the use of equipment of the National Guard Distance Learning Project by any person or entity on a 

space-available, reimbursable basis. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall establish the amount of 

reimbursement for such use on a case-by-case basis. (b) Amounts collected under subsection (a) shall be 

credited to funds available for the National Guard Distance Learning Project and be available to defray the 

costs associated with the use of equipment of the project under that subsection. Such funds shall be 

available for such purposes without fiscal year limitation.

SEC. 8058. Notwithstanding section 12310(b) of title 10, United States Code, a Reserve who is a member of 

the National Guard serving on full-time National Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32, United States 

Code, may perform duties in support of the ground-based elements of the National Ballistic Missile Defense 

System.

SEC. 8060. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, or his 

designee, may waive payment of all or part of the consideration that otherwise would be required under 

section 2667 of title 10, United States Code, in the case of a lease of personal property for a period not in 

excess of 1 year to any organization specified in section 508(d) of title 32, United States Code, or any other 

youth, social, or fraternal nonprofit organization as may be approved by the Chief of the National Guard 

Bureau, or his designee, on a case-by-case basis.

8
SAC-D Report Language 

Advanced Battle Management System

The fiscal year 2019 President’s budget request supports the Air Force’s new approach to battle 

management, the Advanced Battle Management System [ABMS]. The Committee understands that the 

ABMS will be a decentralized network of platforms and sensors that will integrate battlefield surveillance 

information. The Committee is supportive of the Air Force’s new approach given the changing threat 

environment and need for resilient and survivable networks against near peer competitors. However, the 

Committee is concerned with the near-term risks in cancelling the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar 

System [JSTARS] recapitalization program and time required to operationalize these new capabilities.

As a result, the Committee fully funds the budget request for ABMS and recommends an additional 

$375,000,000 to address near-term risks, to include procurement funding for additional MQ–9 Reaper 

unmanned aerial vehicles and support of the battlefield airborne communications node mission; research, 

development, test and evaluation funding for radar and agile communications development; and operation 

and maintenance in the Air National Guard funding to continue to operate and sustain the legacy E–8 

JSTARS fleet. Further, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the 

congressional defense committees not later than 90 days after enactment of this act on a revised ABMS plan 

and execution strategy, updated costs and schedules of each activity within the ABMS plan, and a gap and 

threat assessment of both the ground moving target indicator and battle management command and control 

mission areas.

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 National Guard and Reserve

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

offering civilian- based emergency response trauma training and critical care training including public health, 

bio-environmental, and biomedical instruction to sustain medics’ and medical providers’ capabilities of the 

National Guard Enhanced Response Forces Packages [CERFP], National Guard Homeland Response 

Forces [NGHRF], the Army Reserve Consequence Management Response Forces [CCMRF] and other 

National Guard and Reserves medical conversion/readiness requirements. The Committee encourages the 

National Guard and Reserves 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, NGHRFs, 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 medical and 

critical care preparedness medical training programs focusing on public health curriculums and the 

epidemiology of public health diseases, 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.

Report on Guard and Reserve Benefits and Compensation

The Committee recognizes that additional active duty service requirements are being asked of currently 

serving members of the National Guard and Reserve in order to enhance the readiness of the force. The 

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

later than 90 days after the enactment of this act that includes proposals for compensation, allowances, and 

benefits for members of the reserve components who perform additional periods of active duty service for 

non-contingency operations that exceed the standard duty obligations required of service in a reserve 

component. These proposals should provide for compensation, allowances, and benefits commensurate with 

the additional duties assigned.

9
National Guard Cyber Protection Teams

The Army National Guard currently has 11 Cyber Protection Teams [CPT] with a plan to reach Full 

Operational Capability by fiscal year 2022. The Committee recognizes the National Guard’s unique authority 

to provide cyberspace operations support to State and local agencies for domestic operations, supports 

additional CPTs and encourages the Army to investigate the viability of a CPT in each State’s Guard.

Properly Budgeting for Full Requirements

During the review of the fiscal year 2018 President’s budget request, the Air Force revealed to the 

Committee that it starts each fiscal year with nearly $1,000,000,000 in programmatic shortfalls in its 

operation and maintenance account for must-pay mission bills. The increases in readiness funding provided 

by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 have allowed the Air Force to close that gap; however, the Committee

continues to discover examples of the Air Force not programming or budgeting for the full amount of known 

requirements.

This is not only evident in the larger programs such as Operational Support Airlift or Base Operations 

Support, but also very specific smaller programs such as the operational funding for the C–130H Weapons 

Instructor Course and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center hosted by the 139th Airlift Wing with the 

Missouri Air National Guard. The Committee understands that the 139th Airlift Wing requirements have 

historically been sourced exclusively during the year of execution at the expense of other funded programs.

Failure to properly budget resources for known requirements places unnecessary burdens on smaller 

programs, increases the probability of reprogramming requests, and often leads to an application of a tax 

against mission accounts to cover under-programmed requirements. The Committee recognizes the efforts 

made to improve the operation and maintenance budget formulation process to match historical execution 

and directs the Secretary of the Air Force to continue to emphasize properly programming resources in order 

to fully fund known requirements for the active, guard and reserve components.

Air Force Associate Units

The Committee recognizes the importance of Total Force Integration within the Air Force and certain Air 

National Guard units who have a critical role in construction and engineering. This integration ensures crosscomponent interoperability to fill current and future mission requirements. The Committee encourages the Air 

Force to continue placing an increased focus on actively managing associate units between the Air National 

Guard and the active duty component and to establish robust memorandum of agreements to ensure units 

are not left without equipment when the active component deploys.

Advanced Turbine Engine Army Maintenance [ATEAM]

The ATEAM is a military special repair activity located on Fort Riley, Kansas. The ATEAM provides rebuiltAGT 1500 engines and X1100 transmissions in support of the Army National Guard, Army Material 

Command, the United States Marine Corps, the Tank and Automotive Command [TACOM], as well as 

foreign military partners.

The Committee is encouraged that the U.S. Army, National Guard Bureau, TACOM and Kansas National 

Guard are establishing a Memorandum of Agreement to facilitate the contracting of parts and equipment 

when workload obligations exceed the capacity of the Kansas National Guard. However, authorities for Title

32 Federal technicians are not well defined as it relates to work on foreign military sales contracts 

specifically, such as Full Up Power Pack repairs. The unclear policies have hampered the ability of the

ATEAM to meet obligations and maintain workload.

Therefore, the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, is directed to 

conduct a review and establish policies that clearly define ATEAM authorities to fulfill obligations. The review 

shall inform a report addressing the following: (1) the duties and responsibilities of the U.S. Army, National

Guard Bureau, TACOM and the Kansas National Guard for the ATEAM to meet obligations; (2) an ATEAM 

workforce transition plan and policies for work on foreign military sales contracts; and (3) a justification from 

the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Kansas National Guard, that certifies any change 

in the workforce of the ATEAM will not adversely affect the ATEAM’s ability to meet existing and future 

obligations of the U.S. Army and foreign military sales contracts. The report and a briefing on its findings to

10
the House and Senate Appropriations Committees shall be completed not later 60 days after the enactment

of this act.

AH–64 Apache Block IIIB New Build

The Committee recommendation includes $1,184,687,000 for the procurement of AH–64 Apache Block IIIB 

New Build aircraft, an increase of $720,000,000 above the budget request. The Secretary of the Army is 

encouraged to increase readiness by addressing the shortfall of aircraft in the Army National Guard Apache 

battalions.

UH–60 Black Hawk

The Committee recommendation includes $1,308,310,000 for the procurement of 64 UH–60M Black Hawk 

aircraft, an increase of $319,500,000 and 15 aircraft above the budget request. Of the 64 aircraft funded 

within the fiscal year 2019 President’s budget request, 15 are designated only for the Army National Guard.

High-Priority Items

The Committee directs that 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, Arctic Sustainment Package, Cold Weather and Mountaineering Gear and 

Equipment, Commercial Off-the-Shelf Simulation Devices, Detect and Avoid Systems for MQ–9 Aircraft, 

Digital Radar Warning Receivers for F–16s, MQ–9 Deployable Launch & Recovery Element Mission Support 

Kits, Radiac Sets, and Small Unit Support Vehicles.

Commercial Off-the-Shelf Simulation Devices

The Committee commends the Army National Guard for its innovative approach to acquiring commercial offthe-shelf simulation devices. Utilizing COTS training devices enables the Guard to provide high quality,

timely simulation training at an affordable cost. The Committee encourages the Guard to continue utilizing 

COTS simulation training devices and to consider a service and support business model for simulation 

training in order to maximize the benefits of modern, realistic training scenarios.

Behavioral and Mental Health Care for National Guard and Reserve

The Committee recognizes that the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve components need 

greater access to care if they are to maintain a high state of medical readiness to support regularly occurring 

deployments. It also recognizes that the suicide rate in the reserve components is consistently higher than

the suicide rate for both the active duty military and the civilian population. Therefore, the Committee 

encourages the Department to better ensure that periodic health assessments are followed by medical 

treatment to address any behavioral or mental health conditions that could impact a servicemember’s ability 

to deploy, even if such care falls outside of the pre-deployment window. This practice would allow for a more 

medically ready, deployable force and would expand access to behavioral and mental healthcare for reserve

component servicemembers.

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