NGACT Call to Action
In its fiscal 2015 budget submission to Congress, the Army has suggested it will propose an end strength of 315,000 troops for the Army National Guard, down from its current 350,000, and the transfer of much of the Army Guard’s helicopter fleet to the active-component force. The Army plan removes all AH-64 Apaches and half of the UH-72 Lakotas, along with other aircraft, replacing them with older UH-60 Black Hawks for a net loss of more than 100 aircraft for the Army Guard.
The National Guard in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia would be negatively touched by this plan, which would also threaten the Guard’s ability to accurately reflect the active-component force it augments as a reserve component. Also at risk would be the domestic mission it performs for governors.
We are asking you to write to Senators Blumenthal and Murphy and your member of the House to urge their support of an independent National Commission on the Structure of the Army to provide an unbiased recommendation for the best structure for America’s future security and Army force.
As the budget submitted to Congress is now, the Connecticut Army National Guard stands to lose 38 AGR positions, 41 Technician positions, 113 ADOS positions and 312 M-Day positions.
We have provided a sample letter HERE, a map of Connecticut’s Congressional Districts with who the elected official is in each HERE, and a list of contact options HERE for your use. You may also use the “Contact” feature on the websites of each member of Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation.
You may use the letter as is, adding your full name, address to include zip code, email address and phone number, or edit as you see fit. Please email the letter to both senators and only to the Congress person from your district as soon as possible as both the House and Senate will begin markup of the 2015 NDAA within the next few days. Please cc a copy of your letter to legislativeguard@gmail.com so we may track our contacts with the Hill.
Thank you.
SAMPLE LETTER:
I am writing as a constituent {and member of the National Guard Association of Connecticut} to ask your support for the commissioning of a National Commission on the Structure of the Army.
Our nation is counting on Congress and the Army to “get it right.” To ensure our nation’s interests are adequately reflected in our decisions on shaping the future Army structure, the commissioning of a National Commission on the Structure of the Army is absolutely necessary. An independent National Commission would review our Total Army and provide an unbiased recommendation for the best structure for America’s future security and Army force.
In its fiscal 2015 budget submission to Congress, the Army has suggested it will propose an end strength of 315,000 troops for the Army National Guard, down from its current 350,000, and the transfer of much of the Army Guard’s helicopter fleet to the active-component force. The Army plan removes all AH-64 Apaches and half of the UH-72 Lakotas, along with other aircraft, replacing them with older UH-60 Black Hawks for a net loss of more than 100 aircraft for the Army Guard.
The National Guard in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia would be negatively touched by this plan, which would also threaten the Guard’s ability to accurately reflect the active-component force it augments as a reserve component.
Also at risk would be the domestic mission it performs for governors.
The National Guard is tasked with two very distinct missions. The first mission is to act as a reserve component to the active forces during a time of war. The second mission is to homeland response during domestic emergencies. It is imperative that both of the unique missions are taken into account during any force structure planning.
Two studies done by Pentagon agencies tout the efficiencies found in the National Guard, which can perform the same missions as the active component for about one-third the cost. The National Guard offers opportunities to save money while sustaining defense capacity and capability, preventing the nation from having to unnecessarily cut people from the least expensive force.
The National Guard Bureau (NGB) has countered the Army’s plan with a plan of its own that will cover the ARNG’s $1.7 billion share of the cuts required under the Budget Control Act. NGB designed the plan to minimize personnel turbulence, retraining costs and other risks to military readiness. Army leadership rejected NGB’s plan in favor of the proposal now before Congress. The Army’s proposal creates unnecessary personnel turbulence, years of readiness problems and includes more than $1 billion in unprogrammed costs.
Under the Army’s plan, the Connecticut Army National full-time manning is significantly reduced. The CTARNG Active Guard Reserve (AGR) strength is reduced from 376 to 338 (loss of 38 positions). The CTARNG military technician strength is reduced from 394 to 353 (loss of 41 positions). This amounts to a programmed reduction of 79 full-time positions. Additionally, the CTARNG could lose funding for its 113 Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) Soldiers. The CTARNG will shrink from its current allocation of 3,546 to 3,234, a loss of 312 Soldiers. These cuts would have significant impact on our state’s military readiness, both in wartime, and in time of natural disaster.
Contact your Senator or Congressman:
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D)
90 State House Square, 10th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
860-258-6940 Fax 860-258-6958
702 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2823 Fax 202-224-9673
Richard_blumenthal@blumenthal.senate.gov
Senator Chris Murphy (D)
One Constitution Plaza, 7th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
860-549-8463 Fax 860-524-5091
303 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-4041 Fax: 202-224-9750
Chris_murphy@murphy.senate.gov
Congressman John Larson (D-1st District)
221 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06106
860-278-8888 Fax 860-278-2111
1501 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-2265 Fax 202-225-1031
John.larson@mail.house.gov
Congressman Joseph Courtney (D-2nd District)
55 Main St. Suite 250, Norwich, CT 06360
860-886-0139 Fax 860-886-2974
2348 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20215
202-225-2076 Fax 202-225-4977
Joe.courtney@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd District)
59 Elm Street New Haven, CT 06510
203-562-3718 Fax 203-772-2260
2413 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-3661 Fax 202-225-4890
Rosa.delauro@house.mail.gov
Congressman Jim Himes (D-4th District)
888 Washington Blvd., 10th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901
866-453-0028 Fax 203-333-6655
119 Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20515
202-225-5541 Fax 202-225-9629
Jim.himes@house.mail.gov
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-5th District)
114 West Main St., New Britain, CT 06051
860-223-8412 Fax 860-225-7289
509 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-4476 Fax 202-225-5933
Elizabeth.esty@house.mail.gov
