WASHINGTON, DC - In support of a strong Army National Guard, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined a bipartisan group of 58 U.S. Senators in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel urging him to carefully consider the appropriate balance of active and reserve component personnel. The Army Chief of Staff has repeatedly called for a reduction in the Army National Guard end strength to 315,000 personnel, and Senator Collins is concerned that this level may inhibit the Nation's ability to respond to world events and domestic emergencies.
"As the military resizes following more than a decade at war, the Defense Department should place greater reliance on the Reserve and National Guard components, not less," said Senator Collins. "This is especially important because of the significant cost-savings that are associated with the Reserve and the Guard. Time and time again, it is the Army National Guard that answers our nation's call of duty, whether in America or half-way around the world, and we must make certain that we retain the important capabilities the Guard provides."
Maine's own Adjutant General, Brigadier General James Campbell, has been actively engaged with the Chief of Staff of the Army and other Army leaders on the issue of properly sizing the Guard while meeting budgetary requirements.
In fiscal year 2013, Congress rejected steep cuts proposed to the Air National Guard force structure, which has led to better cooperation between the active and reserve components regarding their respective end strengths.
"It is my hope that any proposal with respect to the end strength of the Army National Guard will be decided in conjunction with its leadership, ensuring a strong Total Army in the future," Senator Collins said.
Text of the letter is provided below:
Dear Secretary Hagel:
We understand you are evaluating options to cut Army National Guard end strength, force structure and aviation assets in order to meet budgetary requirements. We are concerned that such proposals will have irreversible impacts on the Guard's ability to respond to emergency events at home and support future overseas missions. We are also aware of the Guard's separate cost-efficient plan that would save the same amount of money and preserve capabilities for the Nation.
This generation of men and women in the Army National Guard and Reserve has proven effective, committed, and capable-indistinguishable on the battlefield from their Active Component counterparts. This provides the Nation with a unique and limited window for capitalizing on a nearly unprecedented level of professionalism and expertise in its Reserve Component. That is why we believe proposals that reduce the Army National Guard to 315,000 are untenable. Such reductions would threaten its ability to function as a cost-effective, dual-use force and would dangerously reduce our nation's strategic depth.
As you are aware, Congress rejected steep cuts proposed to force structure for the Air National Guard in Fiscal Year 2013. However, since that time, we have been pleased at the cooperation in the Air Force between the Active and Reserve Components within the regular process. We hope that any proposal from the Army will be forged through a process that includes the Army National Guard as a full partner and similarly considers all of the Nation's needs-both foreign and domestic.
We appreciate your willingness to consider multiple courses of action in pursuit of the most effective, efficient Department of Defense. With regards to our Army's end-strength and structure, we strongly encourage you to avoid courses of action that lead to unnecessarily large reductions that inhibit the Nation's ability to respond to world events and domestic emergencies. We look forward to working with you to ensure a strong Total Army in the future.
