Not long ago, the active-duty military derided National Guard and Reserve units as “weekend warriors.” But, as the Pentagon relies more heavily on citizen soldiers, the chiefs of each military branch’s guard and reserve components are calling for modernization of equipment, training, and increased benefits.
Hokanson wants to transition some Air National Guard units to the newest military branch, the United States Space Force. Several existing Guard units have worked with the space program for over 28 years, he said, and transitioning would be more cost-effective.
According to Hokanson, starting a new unit can cost up to $1 billion. This includes equipment, uniforms, and training. Redesignating existing units already staffed by trained personnel would run $640 million.
“Overall, when you look at this, it would be a very easy decision,” he said.
Hokanson and the Chiefs of Reserve forces for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, want parity with active-duty military for their troops. This includes pay and benefits, along with weapons and technology.
Hokanson wants better medical and dental care for his troops. He pointed out that the part-time military personnel are sacrificing time from their families and civilian jobs. In addition, to providing a recruiting incentive, the benefits would ensure that soldiers are fit and ready to carry out their assigned missions when they are activated.
Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, Chief of Army Reserve, agreed.
She said reservists make up 20 percent of the Army but only get 5 percent of the budget. In addition, the guard and reserves have different pay scales than the full-time Army. This means two soldiers of the same rank, doing the same job, can receive different pay simply because one is a reservist on active duty and the other is full-time Army.
“The need for reserve component duty status reform cannot be overstated,” Daniels said. “Aligning benefits to duties performed and assuring our soldiers receive the entitlements they deserve.”
But the issues aren’t confined to ground forces.
Lt. Gen. John Healy, Chief of the Air Force Reserve, said 77 percent of the Air Force Reserve aircraft are so-called “legacy” aircraft—mostly F-15 tactical fighters, some up to 30 years old.
Healy told Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that an Air Force Reserve unit in her state was evidence of what reservists can achieve when provided the necessary equipment and support.
He said the 477th Fighter Group, an Air Force Reserve unit, in Anchorage flies the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. According to Healy, pilots of the 477th have twice the experience and three times the flight time in the F-22 that their active duty counterparts have. He said this is especially important considering their location.
“They’re exactly where they need to be. They are the tip, at the tip of the spear,” Healy said.
He said the rest of the Air Force Reserve should be brought to the same level.
“We want to be the surge capacity we’ve provided for the past 35 years,” Healy said.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is the ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee for the Senate Appropriations Committee.
She said the Biden administration proposed cutting the National Guard and Reserves budget by $3 billion in Fiscal 2024, even though guard members and reservists have made up a large part of the forces defending America in the past 20 years.
According to Collins, half of all the military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan came from the National Guard and Reserve forces. Collins said they have also supported the Department of Homeland Security at the Southern Border since 2018.
Subcommittee chair Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said it is up to Congress to ensure that guard and reserve units can fulfill their expanding missions.
“The National Guard and Reserves have always done more with less. The workload certainly isn’t decreasing,” Tester said.
