{"id":1942455,"date":"2023-06-02T01:38:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-02T05:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-officers-want-national-guard-and-reserve-forces-modernized\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T01:41:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T05:41:18","slug":"top-officers-want-national-guard-and-reserve-forces-modernized","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-officers-want-national-guard-and-reserve-forces-modernized\/","title":{"rendered":"Top officials seek modernization of National Guard and Reserve forces."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftop-officers-want-national-guard-and-reserve-forces-modernized%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1942455&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The National Guard and Reserve Call for Modernization and Increased Benefits<\/h2>\n<div class=\"post_content\">\n<div class=\"aplayer_app\" data-source=\"https:\/\/vs1.youmaker.com\/assets\/2023\/0601\/f9f82701-d71b-474b-b623-f16720994a9a\/audio.mp3?length=3094605&#038;duration=258\"><\/div>\n<p>Not long ago, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/civil-war-is-brewing-in-france-thousands-of-soldiers-warn-macron-of-dire-threat-from-islamization\/\" title=\"\u2018Civil War Is Brewing In France\u2019: Thousands Of Soldiers Warn Macron Of Dire Threat From \u2018Islamization\u2019\">active-duty military<\/a> derided National Guard and Reserve units as \u201cweekend warriors.\u201d But, as the Pentagon relies more heavily on citizen soldiers, the chiefs of each military branch\u2019s guard and reserve components are calling for modernization of equipment, training, and increased benefits.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a matter of readiness,\u201d Gen. Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, told the Defense Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 1.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Hokanson wants to transition some Air National Guard units to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-slam-psakis-space-force-slight\/\" title=\"Republicans Slam Psaki\u2019s Space Force Slight\">newest military branch<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOverall, when you look at this, it would be a very easy decision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5306166\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01\/id5306166-06012023-DSC07053-Hokanson-1200x800.jpg\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01\/id5306166-06012023-DSC07053-Hokanson-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"U.S. Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Defense in Washington on June 1, 2023.\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h3>Parity with Active-Duty Military<\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, Chief of Army Reserve, agreed.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/army-investigating-chaplain-who-said-transgender-people-unqualified-to-serve\/\" title=\"Army Investigating Chaplain Who Said Transgender People \u2018Unqualified To Serve\u2019\">active duty<\/a> and the other is full-time Army.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe need for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-officers-want-national-guard-and-reserve-forces-modernized\/\" title=\"Top officials seek modernization of National Guard and Reserve forces.\">reserve component duty status reform<\/a> cannot be overstated,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cAligning benefits to duties performed and assuring our soldiers receive the entitlements they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Issues with Air Force Reserve<\/h3>\n<p>But the issues aren\u2019t confined to ground forces.<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Gen. John Healy, Chief of the Air Force Reserve, said 77 percent of the Air Force Reserve aircraft are so-called \u201clegacy\u201d aircraft\u2014mostly F-15 tactical fighters, some up to 30 years old.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5306407\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01\/id5306407-06012023-DSC07153-John-Healy-1200x800.jpg\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01\/id5306407-06012023-DSC07153-John-Healy-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, Chief of U.S. Air Force Reserve, testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Defense in Washington on June 1, 2023.\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n\t<\/figure>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re exactly where they need to be. They are the tip, at the tip of the spear,\u201d Healy said.<\/p>\n<p>He said the rest of the Air Force Reserve should be brought to the same level.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to be the surge capacity we\u2019ve provided for the past 35 years,\u201d Healy said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5306478\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01\/id5306478-06012023-DSC07179-Senator-Tester-1200x800.jpg\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01\/id5306478-06012023-DSC07179-Senator-Tester-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) holds\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>the National Guard Bureau, emphasizes the need for modernization of equipment, training, and benefits for citizen soldiers. As the Pentagon increasingly relies on National Guard and Reserve units, the chiefs of each military branch&#8217;s guard and reserve components are pushing for improvements to ensure readiness. The days of calling them &#8220;weekend warriors&#8221; are long gone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1615,"featured_media":1942456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[3945,4570,28115,4107,3638,6365,4165],"class_list":["post-1942455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times","tag-forces","tag-guard","tag-modernization","tag-national","tag-officials","tag-reserve","tag-seek"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1942455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1615"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1942455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1942455\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1942456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1942455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1942455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1942455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}