Uncertain future: Air Guard girds for sweeping changes and new missions.

• Author: Pappalardo, Joe
• Position: NATIONAL GUARD

Air Force downsizing plans and Pentagon base-closure recommendations that would eliminate several Air National Guard facilities have raised concerns about the future of the service.

Guard officials, particularly, fear that they will not be able to execute their missions with fewer aircraft and bases.

"This could become a real mess," said Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, National Guard Bureau chief, describing an internal Air Force transformation plan called Future Total Force at a recent meeting with reporters. "I'm determined not to let that happen."

The man responsible for keeping the service moving in the right direction is Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, director of the Air National Guard. The former combat pilot, with two Distinguished Flying Crosses to his credit, is responsible for policy regarding 106,000 Guardsmen. He is overseeing the Air National Guard at a time when many worry that the amalgamation of active and Guard wings, the retirement of workhorse aircraft and closure of bases will hurt its effectiveness.

"Some of the states don't see the need to change because they performed so well. It's kind of the 'why me?'" James noted. "What I'm trying to get them to focus on is, 'what now?"' and most importantly, 'what next?'"

The atmosphere surrounding the Air Guard's role in a transformed military is tense. Blum said that the Air Guard had not been consulted during the BRAC process. "I don't know why the Air Force chose to do it the way it did it," Blum said. "We're dealing with BRAC through the rear-view mirror."

The Future Total Force effort, meanwhile, has come under fire in recent months. In a strongly worded letter to Congress and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper, the National Guard Association of the United Stares in April warned the service could be damaged "to the point of irreversible deterioration" if FTF were implemented as it currently stands.

For James, dealing with yet-to-be-finalized plans such as FTF and BRAC is a challenge.

James said he would not oppose decisions by the independent BP, AC commission to overturn Pentagon recommendations to shut down Guard bases. He stressed, however, that he is working under the assumption that the cutbacks will stand, and that those Guard members left without jobs will have new missions to which they can transition their skills.

He added that new tasks must be found so that the Air Guard doesn't lose people, "because they don't feel they haven't got a mission or got a job, or feel that...