The Issue: Support Legislative Proposal to the NDAA during Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Mark-up to HALT Retirement, Transfer and Divestment of Air National Guard Aircraft.

Immediate Action Required: Contact your senators to ask them to support efforts to include language in the NDAA during SASC mark-up on Tuesday, May 22.

NGAUS needs you to contact your senators to urge them to support language in the National Defense Authorization Act during SASC mark-up to halt the disproportional cuts to the Air National Guard in the Air Force’s FY13 budget.

The House Armed Services Committee, during full committee mark-up, included an amendment co-sponsored by Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Representative Dave Loebsack (D-IA) along with 15 other members of the Committee that prohibits the Air Force from divesting, retiring, or transferring any aircraft in its inventory as of May 31, 2012. These prohibitions stop the Air Force and Army from moving forward with proposed retirement of Active Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Army National Guard aircraft in fiscal year 2013, including all C-27, A-10, C-130, F-16, KC-135, E-8, MC-12, C-23, or other aircraft slated for retirement/transfer in the President’s budget request.

The Senate Armed Services Committee will be holding their closed session mark-up on Tuesday, May 22. It is critical that they also include this language to halt the cuts to the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard’s C-23s until further analysis is provided to justify the drastic reductions to the most cost effective force in the nation’s military.

Please contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to stand up for the brave men and women who volunteered to serve our country and halt the disproportional cuts to our Air National Guard.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION: 
By using the “Write to Congress” feature, you can IMMEDIATELY e-mail your elected representatives.  A sample letter is included. You can e-mail the pre-written message or edit the sample letter as you desire.

Please direct any questions concerning this issue to to Emily Sass, NGAUS Senior Legislative Affairs Manager for Air Programs, at 202-408-5893 or via email at emily.sass@ngaus.org.

The Air Force effort to cut aircraft and people from the Air National Guard hit a stumbling block last week when the House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that prohibits the service from using authorized funds to divest, retire or transfer any aircraft in its inventory as of May 31. Continued…

Standing Up For Those Who Serve Our Country

Join us for Military Appreciation Days in Myrtle Beach during the entire month of May!  We’re celebrating military men and women of active duty, reserves and National Guard and veterans from every service branch.  Look for military discounts from hotels and restaurants, along with concerts, special events, the big Saturday parade and family activities in downtown Myrtle Beach.
Click here for more information.

Dear Operation North State’s Friends and Supporters:

It’s a pleasure to announce Operation North State’s (ONS) Second Annual NCCARES Charity Auction. Mark your calendar, tell your friends and share on Facebook.  Operation North State (ONS) welcomes your support in providing a little extra “Christmas Joy” to North Carolina’s deployed troops this coming December.

This fun-filled family event will be held Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 12 – until at the Sports Page Food & Spirits in Mooresville (Lake Norman).  The NCCARES Charity Auction will feature both silent and live auctions with over 240+ North Carolina-related products, services, events and gifts. Additionally, music, entertainment, special guest appearances, kids’ activities, great food and beverages, exhibits, etc. will round out the festivities.  All proceeds from the auction will be used to fund ONS’ Christmas Gift Box Project whereby we are shipping 1500 gift boxes filled with North Carolina products, goodies and messages of thanks and support to North Carolina’s deployed troops this coming December.

The Sports Page at Lake Norman has graciously offered their facility and to host the event. The goal of the auction is to secure 240+ of North Carolina’s best, most unique and enjoyable products and services to be auctioned with all proceeds from the event going to fund the 2012 Christmas Gift Box Project. Our financial goal for the NCCARES Charity Auction is to raise $20,000.

For more information, click here.

Thanks for your help!

FREE Admission to ALL Active and Retired Military!!!

A Tribute To Our Heroes

Kings Dominion Military Days                   Carowinds Military Days Flyer

Mecklenburg County, coordinated through Community Area Resource Team for Troops (CARTT), presents the First Annual Military Awareness Week from May 13-19. Events will be held throughout the week, culminating in a large celebration on May 19th at Marshall Park.

For additional information, email CARTT at militaryawarenessweek@gmail.com or visit www.cartnc.org

On May 5^th Soldiers from 694^th Maintenance Company in Snow Hill participated in Greene County’s 14^th annual Relay for Life Event. This event raises money for cancer cure and promotes awareness within communities. Detachment Soldiers have been participating in this event for the past 5 years by escorting the Torch of Hope from the Greene County Courthouse to Greene County High School for a total distance of 1.5 mile.

This year’s torch run was particularly important for the Soldiers of Det 1 694^th Maintenance Company, because one of their own has been fighting cancer for the past year. SPC Kyle Boyer, 22 from Asheville NC, who is a member of the 694^th Maintenance Company, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. SPC Boyer has been undergoing treatments for the past year and has recently been told by physicians that the cancer is now in remission.

With Soldiers from the 694^th Maintenance Company and Veterans marching behind him, SPC Boyer carried the Torch of Hope on its ceremonial lap around Greene Central’s High School track with the song God Bless the USA in the background. SPC Boyer stated “The Torch symbolizes the hope to keep going. It (cancer) wasn’t going to beat me. All it takes is hope and we can find a cure.”

Below is the April Membership Summary Report. If you have any questions, or would like the complete report, call our office at 1-800-821-6159.

]]> http://ncnga.org/2012/05/10/april-2012-membership-summary-report/feed/ 0 http://ncnga.org/2012/05/09/letter-shows-lawmakers-support-of-guard/ http://ncnga.org/2012/05/09/letter-shows-lawmakers-support-of-guard/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 19:06:07 +0000 Kathy Ford http://ncnga.org/?p=5566

 Sixty members of the House of Representatives have asked the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee to find an alternative to the Air Force’s plan to cut aircraft and airmen from the Air National Guard.

The letter addressed to Rep. Howard P. McKeon, R-Calif., was sent Friday and was signed by a bi-partisan group of House members. Read the letter here.

The lawmakers tell McKeon that they understand the difficult challenge facing the Pentagon during tough economic times, but that the current plan “places the ANG’s lethal fighting capability back on the shelf.”

They want McKeon to consider their concerns when his committee addresses the budget this week.

“With the ANG taking on 59 percent of the total aircraft reduction and 5,100 in personnel cuts, it should be no surprise that 49 of our nation’s governors sent [Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta] a letter opposing the budgetary decision of the Air Force.”

They later write, “Given that the ANG provides 35 percent of the U.S. Air Force’s capabilities for only 6 percent of its budget, we believe that a cost-effective and strategic FY13 Air Force Budget should more fully employ the proven capabilities of the ANG. We therefore ask that you find an alternative for the Air Force FY13 budget in our mark that best reflects the integrity of each ANG base and their proven success.”