November 1999 - Reserve-Component Aviation

By:  Major General Anthony Jones

Today’s Army is the most technologically advanced fighting force ever fielded by any nation. The full integration of the Army National Guard (ARNG) and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) is critical to the warfighting capabilities of the Army. ARNG/USAR aviation is best categorized as a capabilities-based force, with relevance across the full spectrum of operations. As Aviation Branch chief, I would like to briefly discuss the role of reserve-component aviation and how it adds another dimension to the versatility and capabilities of our Army, as members of the Army aviation warfighting team.

The Army is currently comprised of three major components: the active Army, the Guard and the Reserve. Today’s Army aviation warfighting team similarly consists of all three major components.

We have almost 7,000 soldiers deployed in Bosnia in a force that has been continually supported by reserve-component soldiers. Today, almost half of the Army’s aviation assets are in the Guard and Reserve. It should thus be no surprise that they play a critical role in current and future aviation operations and force strategy. As the aviation reserve component continues to grow and is recognized for the value it adds to the Total Army, the focus must remain constant. That is, every unit must be adaptable to a constantly changing Army environment, relevant to the current needs and missions of the nation, and ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Beginning in 1990, the ARNG/USAR embarked on a path of change by modernizing their aviation units from a Cold War force to one that is prepared for the 21st century. The Guard and Reserve have reduced in size by over 35 percent since 1990, as well as cutting the number of command, control and support headquarters in half. This process of restructuring enabled the Guard and Reserve to focus on the changing mission requirements worldwide.

ARNG/USAR aviation’s overarching purpose and the focus of their training programs is two-fold. First, they are a key part of the Army aviation team in the support of our Army's missions as directed by our national command authority. Second, they respond to and provide support for the individual states in the event of natural disasters or other humanitarian-relief operations.

Stability and support operations are becoming an integral part of the Guard and Reserve aviation mission. For example, the ARNG is currently providing the majority of soldiers to a program composite battalion which is performing peacekeeping duties in Sinai. Concurrently, there are Guard AH-64 units in both Bosnia and Kuwait, conducting stability operations as part of multinational forces. Over the past year, Guard aviation — in the form of aircraft from Oregon and Puerto Rico — has teamed with active-duty units to provide hurricane relief to Nicaragua. In addition, Guard aircraft have provided critical disaster-relief support and counterdrug operations in the continental United States (CONUS).

Guard aviation units are also tasked with providing support during state emergencies. While flying medical evacuations, aerial surveys, resupply and search-and-rescue missions, Guard and Reserve aviators have continuously demonstrated their professionalism and vital importance to our nation.

In the attack arena the Guard and Reserve have a total of nine corps- or divisional-level AH-64 battalions, seven in the Guard and two in the Reserve. All of the battalions have gone through training at Fort Hood, Texas, under what was the Apache Training Brigade. Five of the battalions are located west of the Mississippi River, with two battalions in Texas and one each in Arizona, Utah and Idaho. The remaining four battalions are located east of the Mississippi, with one battalion each in Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky and South Carolina. In addition, the Guard has a number of AH-1 Cobra attack battalions as part of the divisional structure. Some of these units are equipped with C-night, a night-vision optical targeting system, and are armed with TOW missiles.

The CH-47 heavy-lift companies are widely distributed in CONUS areas that may need heavy-lift support in the event of a natural disaster. Often they are called out, in a state mission role, to support disaster-relief operations after such events as tornadoes, hurricanes, fires or floods. Many of these units are included not just in the Army’s war plan, but in also their state’s disaster preparedness and relief plans.

Guard and Reserve UH-1 and UH-60 helicopters also play a significant role in supporting both state and national objectives. Like the CH-47s, the UH-60s are distributed by company or battalion elements throughout the country to provide state support while still providing corps- or divisional-level lift capability. In addition, the UH-60s can provide lift in the event that a state experiences a manmade or natural disaster. The Guard has a number of divisional utility-lift UH-1 battalions. Like the UH-60s and CH-47s, these are aligned to provide support to the Guard divisions and can be used as a utility asset for state emergencies. Lastly, the Guard has four light utility helicopter battalions intended for corps-level support. They are currently operating UH-1s, with the companies spread throughout the country to take advantage of their lift capabilities for state missions.

The importance of reserve-component aviation to the Army will remain as the force continues to modernize its aviation assets, removing older airframes from the fleet and reshaping itself to meet the current and future challenges facing our nation. Modernizing the National Guard and Army Reserve fleet — as well as our active component — is critical to the overall success of Army aviation. Our goal is to provide our soldiers the best equipment and training our nation can provide. Our aviation force demands this level of support.

Together, we have postured the National Guard and Army Reserve aviation forces as an integral part of Army aviation, to meet the challenges of the 21st century so that our forces will continue our 20th-century legacy of selfless service. Guard and Reserve aviation forces are on the leading edge of change and add another dimension to the versatility and warfighting capability that Army aviation brings to the future.

Above the Best.