WASHINGTON --- Based on his organization's performance following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Lt. Gen. Daniel James III says the Air National Guard is needed "now, more than ever."
James, director of the ANG, made his comments Sept. 18 during a speech at the 2002 Air Force Association National Convention here.
According to James, ANG aircrews have flown the lion's share of Operation Noble Eagle homeland defense fighter and tanker missions, at 74 percent and 62 percent, respectively, as of Sept. 12. Guard crews have also flown 37 percent of ONE airlift missions.
Additionally, guardsmen have flown 42 percent of fighter missions, 29 percent of tanker missions and 40 percent of airlift missions as part of the air and space expeditionary force.
Since the terrorist attacks, some 6,697 guardsmen have been mobilized for the AEF and another 11,251 for ONE.
James said his motto, "now, more than ever," was derived from three key words: ready, reliable and relevant.
"Ready. Certainly readiness is important to us and will continue to be important to us," he said. "We've been challenged to keep our readiness so that we can continue to participate in AEFs while we're flying (combat air patrols).
"Reliable. The National Guard is accessible. Can we rely upon them to be there? Since (Sept. 11), and even before that, whenever there was a contingency, whenever there was an emergency, whenever there was a need, the National Guard was there," James said.
"Relevant. That speaks to our involvement in modernization," he said. "The Guard must remain relevant to remain an active player. My (feeling) about modernization is we don't have to be first, but we certainly should not be last."
According to James, the next four years may be the most challenging and demanding for the ANG.
"Very clearly the ANG will be a part of the transformation of this great Air Force," he said. "The key factor in transformation is we have to work within the end-strength cap, and we have to work within the constraints of the budget.
"We need to consider our involvement in the full spectrum of missions. New missions have to be looked at," James said.
Those include space, information warfare, information management and unmanned aerial vehicles, he said. Another mission involves the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, which the ANG will formally begin Sept. 30.
"(The JSTARS unit is) a blended unit, with active-duty and ANG command and control personnel working side-by-side," James said. "The mission is going very well. It's the first of many to come, I believe."
The ANG has to come up with innovative ways to do the new missions, or will risk losing its relevancy, he added.
"We recognize there's a key role for the ANG in homeland security, as part of the total force," he said. "We must, and should, always be engaged in the full spectrum of missions."
"Ready, reliable and relevant," the general said. "This country needs the ANG now, more than ever."
-ends- ANG Director: Guard Needed 'Now, More Than Ever'
