Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt, Air National Guard director, last week called for careful deliberation when the Air Force considers stripping Air Guard units of flying missions, since those flying units also possess dual-use equipment, such as firefighting vehicles, that are crucial for helping local communities deal with disasters. In written testimony prepared for the House Armed Services Committee’s military personnel panel, Wyatt stated that an F-16 wing, for example, “contains not only F-16 fighter aircraft, but fire trucks, forklifts, portable light carts, emergency medical equipment—including ambulances—air traffic control equipment, explosives ordinance equipment, etc., as well as well trained experts.” These assets are “all extremely valuable in response to civil emergencies,” he noted. If an F-16 wing converts to a non-flying mission, or even a remotely piloted aircraft mission, “much of this dual-use equipment may leave” with the F-16s, stated Wyatt. Accordingly, “we need to ensure our citizens are not left without essential disaster response capabilities” as the Air Force proceeds with its recapitalization and modernization plans, he wrote for the July 27 hearing. (Wyatt’s prepared testimony)
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
