Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, NGB Chief, told a Congressional task force Wednesday (see above) that he believes the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006 would address problems with the official structure of the Guard’s relationship to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. While both departments have made adaptations, he said, those adaptations have not been finalized on paper. “Gaps clearly exist,” he said. Blum characterized the Guard’s relationship with Homeland Security as “very informal”—he feels the relationship should be much closer.
The Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.