Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Lt. Gen. Clarke’s priorities: Minimal budget turmoil, optimum force mix, concurrent modernization By Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill
                National Guard Bureau
 WASHINGTON - Minimizing budget turmoil and working with the active duty Air Force and the Air Force Reserve to both find the optimum mix of forces and ensure concurrent modernization of the components of the total Air Force are the new director of the Air National Guard’s immediate priorities, he told Congress last week. “The men and women of the Air National Guard are the most dedicated and professional in our nation’s history,” Clarke told Congress. “They performed admirably, both overseas and at home. They have earned our respect and thanks.” Even before his formal acceptance of his new duties and responsibilities as director of the Air National Guard at a Friday ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley E. “Sid” Clarke III testified twice in two days on Capitol Hill, briefing Congressional committees on the state of the Air National Guard. On Tuesday, he appeared before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces as it held a hearing on maintaining the National Guard and the Reserves in a time of fiscal austerity. The next day, Clarke was back on the Hill testifying to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense about oversight of the National Guard. “I have set three immediate priorities,” Clarke told Congress. “First, to minimize the dramatic toll [the] current budget turmoil [is] taking on the Air National Guard’s readiness – both its people and its equipment. “Second, to work with the Air Force Reserve and the Air Force to provide an optimum mix of active, Reserve and Guard forces for a cost-effective national defense and robust domestic response capability. “Finally, to ensure that all components with[in] the Total Air Force are modernized concurrently so that they remain relevant and interoperable between both the air components and the joint forces.” Clarke experienced firsthand the result of an Air Force strategy to hold the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve to the same standards as the active-duty force when he was selected to command a 3,000-strong wing at the tip of the spear for operations in Iraq. “The Air National Guard [was] selected to lead a mission – one of the very important mission[s] for the kickoff of Iraqi Freedom – where we’re doing counter-Scud hunting in Western and Central Iraq,” Clarke said. “It was one of the top priorities by the administration just to make sure that we kept other nations out of that war.” For the Air National Guard to play a full role like that example, it has to remain capable and relevant, Clarke said. “We’ve done an outstanding job of meeting every requirement, every time, with great Airmen, largely because the Air Force decided years ago to make sure that the Air National Guard members ... meet the same standards, are inspected and are part of the Air Expeditionary Force,” Clarke said. The Air National Guard continues to play a vital role in the nation’s defense, Clarke said, using an example close to home: “As we’re sitting here right now, defending this capital, our Air Guardsmen, Army Guardsmen, and with a robust command and control structure ... so this constitutional body doesn’t have to worry about air attack,” Clarke said. “It’s well-defended, and it’s done by Guardsmen.” Among other Air National Guard issues that Clarke addressed with elected civilian leadership: Budget uncertainty: Sequestration and a continuing resolution risk affecting the Air National Guard’s readiness and slowing its modernization, Clarke said. Possible furloughs of military technicians would impact readiness. “The National Guard really rests on the use of our full-time force to train and administer our part-time force, but also to do operational duties,” he said.
    Support to service members: Continuing to fully fund programs that help Guard members, keeping equipment modernized and retaining operational missions are important to maintaining morale, Clarke said. “They continue to volunteer at rates unheard of,” he said.
    Employment: Meeting with employers prior to deployments to express appreciation for their sacrifices and maintaining unit-level lists of Guard-friendly employers are among solutions to improve employment stability for Guard members, Clarke said.
    MAFFS: “The capability to suppress the fire is most helpful particularly in light of civilian air fleet reductions,” Clarke said. The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System also is important as a hedge against a significant oil refinery or nuclear power plant incident, he said.
    Training: Readiness exercises and training are critical to maintaining operational abilities, Clarke said, using the examples of C-130 Hercules and F-16 Fighting Falcon crews. “It doesn’t matter if you like C-130s or an F-16: Those skills are perishable.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 4 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 11 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 12 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil