WASHINGTON, D.C. – Feb. 2, 2016 – The National Commission on the Future of the total Army, chaired by retired Gen. Carter Ham, released its recommendations Thursday on how the Army should best organize and employ the Total Force at a time of declining resources-and proceed with the transfer of all Apache attack helicopters (AH-64s) from the Army National Guard to the Regular Army, as one part of the Army’s broader Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI).
The commission’s findings will be reviewed closely by the Army and Army National Guard.
“I appreciate the Commission’s hard work and recommendations to shape the 21st Century Army,” said Gen. Frank J. Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. “As the combat reserve of the Army, everything the Army National Guard does must be focused toward strengthening the Total Army and building readiness to fight and win America’s wars.”
The NCFA was established by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 to complete a comprehensive assessment of the roles and structure of the Army, policy assumptions related to the size and force mixture of the Army.
A comprehensive review of the report is just the beginning, Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, director of the Army National Guard, noted.
“I look forward to reviewing the report in consultation with my staff, Army senior leaders, and the state adjutants general,” he said. “We truly believe we are one Total Army team, and we look forward to strengthening the bonds between the Army, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve.”