Predictable Budgets, Readiness, Recapitalization Top Priorities for Reserve Components

Washington, DC

Appearing before the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, along with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Reserve, discussed service successes over the last year and budgeting challenges they face. Air Force Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, thanked Congress for the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution, which included funding for the guard's State Partnership Program, full-time manning and the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account. He said continued support is essential for mission readiness.  "Every dollar you put in that [allows us to] put a mechanic out on the flight line to be able to get helicopters or the machines that we operate [ready] is critical," he said. "Weapon system sustainment as well, on parts. Those dollars matter. So, whatever [you] can do to increase that capability along those lines [will help.]"  

The NGREA helps bridge equipment capability gaps between the active and reserve components. It supports operational growth, unfunded requirements and shortfalls in equipment. Nordhaus also emphasized the importance of modernization to maintain interoperability across the joint force.  

"We must recapitalize concurrently with our services into advanced platforms of helicopters, infantry squad, vehicles, fighters, tankers and cyber," he said. "These modernization efforts will help advance our warfighting capabilities, deter adversaries and maximize the return on investment for our joint force and our taxpayers." 

Lt. Gen. Robert D. Harter, chief of the Army Reserve, said NGREA is vital to equipment procurement.  "We only receive about 1% of the Army's procurement budget, so NGREA has an outsized impact on our ability to procure modernized equipment," Harter said. "Over the past three years, we've purchased 2,300 mission command systems, significantly improving our formations' ability to communicate effectively on the battlefield." Harter also called for stable funding. "Army Reserve soldiers balance civilian careers with military commitments and continuing resolutions force us to delay, curtail or cancel training events," he said. "Predictability is essential for our soldiers, their family members and their civilian employers." 

Vice Adm. Nancy S. Lacore, chief of the Navy Reserve, told lawmakers about the need to recapitalize its KC-130 Hercules fleet of refuellers to the KC-130J Super Hercules model. "Our C-130 fleet is aging and lacks the survivability necessary to operate in a contested environment," Lacore said. "Recapitalizing with the KC-130J is critical to ensuring that we can effectively and safely carry out the critical intra-theater logistics missions for the fleet." Lacore also stressed the importance of timely personnel funding. "I think the biggest issue for us, related to people, is the predictability and being able to get reservists on orders," she said. "It impacts not just morale, but it impacts readiness ... when they can't commit to their civilian employer, and they take time off from their civilian employer and then we can't come through with the orders. So, that is a big one." 

Lt. Gen. Leonard F. Anderson IV, commander of the Marine Corps Reserve, said NGREA funding allows reserve Marines to maintain equipment and maintain interoperability with the joint force. "I thank the subcommittee for its continued support, especially through the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account," he said "For the Marine Corps Reserve, NGREA is not just a funding line, it's a warfighting requirement. These funds allow us to field and sustain the platforms, communication systems and equipment that Marines need to train as they fight. NGREA enables reserve forces to integrate with active forces by equipping them with modern capabilities at pace, and with a 99% execution rate across recent fiscal years, the Marine Corps Reserve has proven its ability to execute with discipline and speed while maintaining our service's clean audit." 

Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve, cited budget predictability as a challenge.  "The predictability and stability of being able to pay our participants is one of the biggest factors," he said. "With the [operations and maintenance] accounts, we're going to be $26 million short of flying out our flying hours this year. So, we're working trying to figure that out. In addition, quarterly authority during a CR doesn't work well with weapon systems sustainment [such as] when you've got large ticket items like $62 million to put a B-52 [Stratofortress] into periodic depot maintenance. Those continue to be challenges as we go forward."