Oversight Hearing – National Guard and Reserves Forces

2025-05-20

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Summary

This hearing of the Subcommittee on Defense convened to receive testimony on the National Guard and Reserve Forces, highlighting their crucial roles in both domestic operations and national security. Witnesses included the Chiefs of the National Guard Bureau, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Air Force Reserve, who shared insights into their forces' readiness, challenges, and modernization needs. The discussion focused on diverse missions, budget uncertainties, equipment requirements, recruitment, and strategic partnerships.

Themes

Importance and Versatility of Guard and Reserve Forces

The Guard and Reserve are recognized as essential components, not mere backup forces, serving in times of war, peace, recovery, and crisis [ 00:30:46-00:30:55 ] . They are citizen soldiers who balance civilian careers with military obligations [ 00:31:29 ] , playing a pivotal role in national safety and security . The National Guard is described as combat-ready, cost-effective, experienced, and dual-role, representing 20% of the joint force at 4% of the budget . Similarly, the Army Reserve delivers combat-ready soldiers and acts as an operational and enabling force . The Navy Reserve provides strategic depth and is globally deployable , while the Marine Corps Reserve is a critical, scalable force provider [ 00:46:42 ]

. The Air Force Reserve embodies warrior ethos, offering operational capability and strategic depth with a 72-hour response time [ 00:52:26 ] .

Budget Challenges and Financial Predictability

The fiscal year 2026 budget process is off to a "rough start" due to delays and uncertainty, making it difficult to discuss programmatic details and priorities . Continuing Resolutions (CRs) significantly impact readiness by forcing delays, curtailment, or cancellation of training events [ 01:02:09-01:02:16 ]

. There is a critical need for smart, sustained investment to ensure the Guard and Reserve receive the same equipment, modernization, and training resources as their active duty counterparts [ 00:31:42-00:31:45 ] . The National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NEGRIA) is highlighted as essential for modernization across all branches . Specific shortfalls include the Air Force Reserve's $26 million hole in the flying hour program and inadequate funding for Army Reserve facilities . Several witnesses advocated for consistent and predictable funding to support their personnel and operations .

Equipment Modernization and Gaps

The committee is interested in innovative approaches and talent retention in emerging fields like AI and cyber [ 00:32:18-00:32:27 ]

, as well as addressing current gaps that prevent integration with active duty forces [ 00:32:45-00:32:47 ] . The Air Force Reserve is concerned about the disproportionate divestment of legacy aircraft without concurrent recapitalization, leading to a projected 44% loss in operational surge capacity by 2030 . The Navy Reserve's aging C-130 Tango fleet, with a low mission-capable rate, urgently requires recapitalization to the KC-130 Juliet for survivability and enhanced logistics capabilities in contested environments . The Army Reserve faces poor equipment readiness, with 80% of its equipment stored at understaffed concentration sites . Discussions also touched on the basing and future of Gray Eagle drones for the National Guard and potential delays in F-15EX deliveries to Fresno .

Recruitment and Retention

Recruitment and retention efforts vary across branches, with some facing significant challenges. The Air Force Reserve met its recruiting goals last year but is struggling with retention, expecting to fall short of end strength . The Army Reserve is currently short about 9,500 privates, equivalent to 60 truck companies, primarily because active Army recruiting has missed its targets for the Reserve [ 01:06:51 ]

. In contrast, the National Guard continues to see historic levels of recruiting and retention [ 01:07:19 ] , and the Navy Reserve met its authorized end strength for the first time since 2020 . The Marine Corps Reserve is also healthy in recruiting and retention, exceeding its NDA strength [ 01:07:53 ] . A significant disparity was noted in tuition benefits, where 33 states offer such benefits for Guardsmen but not for Reservists, impacting recruitment [ 01:45:38-01:46:16 ] . The importance of youth programs like JROTC and other initiatives to cultivate technical skills and interest in military service was also discussed .

Domestic Operations and Border Security

The Guard and Reserve actively respond to domestic crises, including wildfires, hurricanes, and natural disasters [ 00:31:04 ] . The National Guard is on the front lines protecting the border and disrupting the flow of fentanyl [ 00:31:23 ] . The Army Reserve also contributes significantly, with 700 soldiers supporting southern border operations . Discussions included the counter-drug program, which disrupted $13 billion in illegal narcotics last year and trained 67,000 local law enforcement agents . A recent request for 20,000 National Guard forces for immigrant removal at the southern border raised concerns about legal authorities, training, and the impact on readiness for peer-to-peer conflicts [ 01:56:02-01:56:34 ]

State Partnership Program (SPP)

The State Partnership Program is highly valued for building critical capabilities with international allies [ 00:31:16 ] . The National Guard has 115 partner nations, conducting over 1,000 engagements in 2024, which builds trust, partner capacity, and resilience globally . Members of the committee and General Nordhaus highlighted the program's importance, its effectiveness at 1% of the theater security cooperation budget, and the continuous demand for expansion . Consistent funding is crucial for the program's continued growth and success .

Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was largely appreciative and respectful[ 00:30:44 ] , with committee members frequently thanking the witnesses for their service and the dedication of their personnel. There was a pervasive concern about funding and predictability, particularly regarding the negative impact of budget uncertainties and continuing resolutions on readiness, training, and modernization . Despite these concerns, the dialogue was collaborative and proactive, with a clear desire to work together to find solutions for challenges in recruitment, equipment, and future capabilities [ 00:32:15 ]

. The discussions also carried a serious and focused tone when addressing critical national security issues, such as border security, the fentanyl crisis, and preparing for potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region [ 00:31:23 ] .