Taking all attack assets out of the National Guard and placing them in active duty. Good idea or not?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 23:10:38 -0500

One of the more controversial decisions in regards to Army Aviation is the proposed move to take all attack assets (AH-64s) from the National guard, and placing them in the Active component, completely phasing out the OH-58s, and augmenting the guard with more Blackhawks. Now I see many flaws with this plan, but Id like to get your opinions as well. Is this an effective cost cutting decision, or does anyone else see the eventual implosion we are headed to?

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 30 at 2014 11:29 PM

SFC James Baber — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 23:29:48 -0500

SSG M,

It is about the politics and money, instead of making the cuts at the top (Pentagon), they do it at the SM level and equipment/training, if we cut Congress's salaries and benefits in half we would be closer to being in the black than 5 years of DOD cuts.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 11:32 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 23:32:44 -0500

...im sorry, but being guard myself, I feel that the current standard of the guard is higher than it has been in its history. There should be no "taking of assets" from guard units. If you come in and take our Bradleys and Abrams what do we become, dish washers? Sooo many times ive heard negative on the guard...during my first enlistment we were called "no go's" as fallout from Vietnam when guard wasnt deployed, those days are gone. The guard is a capable, effective force that serves dual roles and needs to be left in place as is...my opinion

Response by PO1 Richard Nyberg made May 10 at 2018 9:18 PM

PO1 Richard Nyberg — Thu, 10 May 2018 21:18:47 -0400

The National Guard is the home guard, if it hadn't been for Clinton and Obama cutting back on the military the National Guard wouldn't have had to go into combat. When I was in the Army from 66 to 75 the National Guard didn't go over and handled the problems on the home front. My oldest son joined the Guard after 9/11 and did 2 tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. They are a proud service and did more than they needed to if it hadn't been for those 2 liberal Presidents.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 11 at 2018 11:41 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 11 May 2018 11:41:54 -0400

No- because what happens if you deploy a NG unit- now to give them ATK support, you have to task an AD unit. Then all the training for working with each other has to start all over again. When in the 82nd, we knew how the 82d CAB worked, what they needed and what the provided and we trusted them to do danger close. Would you want to do that with a strange unit?