USAF/ANG: BRAC proposes combined fighter units

I have been watching some of the BRAC hearings on C-Span, usually because I get bouts of insomnia. I noted 2 things so far, one is that one of the BRAC guys said all the block 30s will be gone by 2010 and that total force will be meshing AD and ANG together in fighter units. I can see that working in heavies but have questions about fighters. Unless things have drastically changed they are in 2 different worlds. I ask that AD and ANG people post and do a comparison of the two. Things like pay, how promotions work, work week, how many shifts, leave,retirement, and anything else you can think of. I'm talking about a full time guardsman compared to Active duty.

I wonder how they will handle drill weekends, overtime pay, military justice, performance reports, etc. I remember a guy from the Ohio guard was bragging about how for every Air Force regulation there was an opposite but equal guard wavier, Like I said unless things have changed it could be an us versus them problem.

vinnie wrote:I noted 2 things so far, one is that one of the BRAC guys said all the block 30s will be gone by 2010 and that total force will be meshing AD and ANG together in fighter units.

When the reserves were first started, the idea was that they be separate from the regular military. Somehow during the 1980's some "wiseguy" got the idea to integrate the reserves into the regular military. After four presidential terms of military reductions, the reserves are making up a larger and larger percentage of forces capable of responding to a situation.
I also watched a C-SPAN-2 Channel and the topic was the "Base Closure Committee's" hearings on the latest round of base closures. The one base being discussed was the ANG unit based at Portland (Oregon) International Airport. Close of that base would mean the only bases ready to scamble aircraft at any given time would be Mountain Home AFB Idaho and Yosemite International Airport at Fresno California! The NORAD commander said that he could call upon any number of additional forces should the need arise. He could call upon any carrier at sea or its airwing stationed at a nearby base, the US Coast Guard, etc.! (Like the carrier in the Sea of Japan that was buzzed by Russian fighters, the first aircraft in position to be launched was an A-6!!! Boy, that's some deterence.

This need would be based upon intelligence raising the threat level.
Another 09/11/01 with no elevated threat warning, would leave the West Coast of the contiguous (lower forty-eight) USA, with four interceptors at any given time.... the commander had to admit! He also used the word "acceptible risk!" He and the other USAF officers who spoke to the committee sounded like a bunch of lawyers wording a contract so if something went wrong... "it's not my fault!" If a sneak attack took place then, it is not the fault of the military, it's intelligences fault.

Mention was also made on closing the Navy's major patrol aircraft base at New Brunswick. I had already heard the Oceanna NAS with its six squadrons was being closed! Closure of these two bases will really hurt the P-3's.

I got physically ill! Where are the strong military leaders like the admirals who were involved in the "admiral's revolt" back in the late 1940's or Adm. Tom Connally who stood up, took some heat but, remained firm that the F-111B would be a disaster for the US Navy. We don't seem to have these leaders any more. The first warnings that miltary cuts were getting to deep came in clinto's third year of his presidency! The cries contiue to come but the presidents choose to turn a blind eye. In five to ten years, the USA will no longer be a super power!

I hope President Regan is not turning over in his grave! The six hundred warship Navy and the thirty-six airwings of military aircraft are part of history.

Adrian

I have to agree with avon1944. I hope the commision will see the futility of the DOAF's recommendations and put a stop to them. I hope now that the TAG's of each state will stand firm to their commitment of a flying unit in every state. They are todays "admirals." listening to the AF reps talk was just amazing. I really don't think they were believing what they were saying. The NORAD commander wasn't very reassuring either. Taking the F-15's out of Portland and the F-16's out of Great Falls leaves only the F-15E's in Mountain Home to cover the whole of the northwest. I don't think the wing there wants to keep 2 airplanes configured for A to A on alert all the time. Idaho's A-10's can't do it and the Fresno guard and F-18's at Lemoore are too far away. There is Klamath Falls, but they are a training unit. Oh and right i forgot the carrier at Everet and Bremerton, because they always have armed and ready aircraft on the deck 24/7 even in port! What was that guy thinking and he is in the Navy! Oh well i guess we will see Sept. 8.