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Stop the Active Duty Plan to Take All Apache Helicopters from the National Guard; Save Billions Annually!

Protect the Guard ? Protect the Nation: Save Billions Annually by Relying More on the Guard While Maintaining Force Structure

A strong militia has always been the foundation of our Nation's freedom. Under the Army Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI), Active Component (AC) Army plans to take ALL Apache helicopters from the Reserve Component (RC - this includes Guard & Reserves), claiming they can operate more effectively and for less cost. Please lend your support to House Resolution 3930, which calls for a halt to this plan for 2 years and a freeze on reducing the current force structure of the Guard, allowing time for an independent study so that all facts can be considered and an informed decision made. But the ARI is only part of the problem... under proposed plans, EVERY State is at risk of losing a significant number of soldiers - lost jobs, revenue, & assets that provide a ready and viable resource to your State.

Compared to AC, the Reserve Component is:



1) 1/3rd the cost with the same operational performance.

2) On average older, more experienced aviators & mechanics.

3) Have a significantly better accident record & don't rely on costly civilian contract aircraft maintenance support.



It?s not just AH-64 Apaches that are up for grabs, but all OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters. The RC is home to many AC aviators & mechanics who eventually leave Active Duty. If the Guard loses these units, your State is at risk. As you know, these units come with more than just helicopters, but with hundreds of soldiers & ground equipment that can be used in response to any number of local emergencies.



In the last 5 years, AC has crashed 15 Apaches due to pilot error - known as "Class A" accidents. One Apache helicopter costs about $30 million ? this is a sum loss of ~ $450 million by Active Duty. In contrast, the Reserve Component has lost 0 Apaches due to pilot error in this time. There is a direct correlation between lower accident rates and the more experienced aviators & aircraft maintainers found in the RC. The RC has more continuity in personnel and have very solid training programs that AC should strongly consider borrowing from.



Is the nation willing to dismantle all Guard Apache units and throw away over a third of the Apache aviators & maintainers who are the most experienced (and least costly) in the Army? The Army would actually INCREASE its vulnerability by doing so. It will take a generation to train a replacement force for this loss of this experience. What?s not tangible here is the cost accrued over years of flight training to mature a new pilot into a seasoned combat pilot. It takes time to develop aviators, mechanics, & leaders... and this time is money already spent. Protect the Guard: Protect the Nation.

Act now! Learn the facts ? visit: http://www.savetheguard.weebly.com/