From NGAUS:
Governors are concerned that the Army is pushing ahead with its plan to transfer AH-64 Apache helicopters from the Army National Guard and want lawmakers to tell the service to knock it off.
In a letter signed by four state executives, the National Governors Association has asked leadership on both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to take steps to maintain the integrity of the Army Guard helicopter fleet until a commission has completed its review. The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2015, now being negotiated by House and Senate members, would create a commission to study the force structure of the Army.
The idea took hold after the Army said it wanted to move all Apache helicopters in the service into the active component. Governors fear the Army is already preparing for the transfer. “Despite continuing Congressional deliberations, as well as ongoing discussions through the Council of Governors with Department of Defense senior leaders, the Army is moving forward with its Aviation Restructure Initiative,” the governors write in a letter sent Friday.
“If left unchecked, this unilateral preemptive action would undermine Congressional efforts to ensure an independent Commission can review the ARI’s effect on national security and the security of our states.” The letter continues, “We encourage you to request that the Army suspend implementation of the ARI until a Commission completes its review and ensure compliance by prohibiting the transfer of Apaches in the NDAA for FY 2015.”
The letter was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, R-Mich., the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety, Gov. Terry McCauliffe, D-Va., the vice chairman of the committee, Gov. Terry E. Branstad, R-Iowa, a co-chairman of the Council of Governors, and Gov. Martin O’Malley, D-Md., also a co-chairman of the Council of Governors.
NGAUS supports a commission to study the Army force structure and prefers no Apaches be removed from the Guard prior to the commission’s report. A Senate version of the NDAA would allow the transfer of 48 helicopters while the commission is gathering its information.