Alaska National Guard Hit "Crisis Level"
09/04/2008
Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Logistics Readiness Squadron maneuver an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter onto the loading ramp of a C-17 strategic airlift jet at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Sept. 1, 2008.
The Alaska National Guard, which Republicans are pointing to as an important national-security credential for vice presidential choice Sarah Palin, has personnel shortages that make its aviation units the most poorly staffed in the nation.
Just six months ago, Air Force Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the Alaska Guard's top officer, warned in an internal memo that "missions are at risk." The lack of qualified airmen, Campbell said, "has reached a crisis level."
The situation has improved since the March 1 memo was written, Campbell said Wednesday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press - but not enough to eliminate his concern that shortages will result in the "burnout" of troops the Guard already has. That could result in missions and equipment being moved out of Alaska.
Campbell installed a new policy that could stop officers from advancing unless they show success at bringing in new members and retaining existing troops.
Campbell is due to receive a third star on Sunday - a promotion approved by Palin, who has authority over the Alaska National Guard. He described Palin as very supportive of the Guard, but said she gives him latitude to manage the force. Governors typically do not have a direct role in day-to-day operations.
Campbell's March 1 memo, sent to Brig. Gen. Deborah McManus, his deputy in charge of Alaska's Air Guard, was posted on a Web site run by Andrew Halcro, a Republican who ran against Palin as an independent in the 2006 Alaska governor's race.
The memo called the low Air Guard personnel levels a "leadership issue" and spelled out a more aggressive recruiting and retention program. As part of that program, Campbell said he would personally approve promotions for colonels, lieutenant colonels and chief master sergeants.
After the no advancement for officers directive was issued and the promotion for Campbell announced, an anonymous Guardsman wrote to Halcro, criticizing the "hypocrisy" of the move."The intent [of the no advancement policy] is to 'motivate' these senior leaders to recruit more new people into the ANG. This policy has frozen the advancement of some very deserving individuals who have already earned the right to be promoted. As the Adjutant General, he has the right to institute any plan he wishes. This edict was tolerated by our loyal Guardsmen until the hypocrisy became overwhelming.
"General Campbell's promotion will be a 'state' promotion. He will be a three-star general only while on State business. In a very rank-conscious environment, this distinction will not be lost on the other Flag Officers. He will look the part of a three-star general but will not be regarded as one by the very people he needs to work with and influence."In a response also posted on Halcro's site, Campbell said that several officers have been promoted, due to what he called "not only high professional competence in their technical career field, but also an ability and understanding of the responsibilities necessary to hold the higher rank."
On the recruiting program, Campbell said he was focusing on these ranks so they would understand "their significant responsibility for improving the current manpower problem."
He also said the Alaska Air Guard has only 84 percent of its assigned positions filled, the lowest rating in the country. There are only eight other states below 90 percent. Campbell said the 84 percent rating is higher than the 81 percent he reported in the March memo.
He also noted that recruiting and retention within the Alaska Air National Guard was only part of the larger responsibilities of the Adjutant General.
Campbell pointed out that his promotion is a states' rights issue. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Campbell said, governors around the country became concerned the president could call Guard members to federal service for a state emergency without the governor's consent. That raised the possibility the troops would not be controlled by the governor.
"The National Guard works for the Governor and in Alaska that is a very essential point in our relationships with the federal government," Campbell wrote.
Referring to getting his third star, Campbell told the AP his promotion comes with no extra pay or benefits and reflects his broader stewardship of Alaska's Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, of which the National Guard is one part. Campbell earns about $127,000 annually.
The Air Guard's problems, while important in Alaska, aren't a major national defense issue. The Alaska Air Guard's 176th Wing is about 300 members short of the 1,598 airmen it is authorized to have, according to Campbell's office. Its other primary wing, the 168th, has 641 airmen, about 70 fewer than it needs.
Overall, the Alaska National Guard has about 3,800 troops in its air and ground units.
Yet the relatively small numbers are also reminders that Republicans may be stretching their claims that Palin is qualified to be a heartbeat away from running the world's most powerful military.
In a Wednesday interview with ABC News, Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Palin "has been in charge and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities."
Palin's lack of stature in national and international circles is sure to be a recurring theme for Democrats as the presidential campaigns move forward.
The National Guard is a reserve military force made up of state units that serve as part of the first-line defense for the United States.
It can be called up for active duty by the state governors or the U.S. military. It often helps respond to domestic emergencies and disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
Members of the Alaska Army and Air Guard have been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and other overseas locations before and since Palin was sworn in as governor in December 2006. They've handled duties ranging from training the Afghan National Army to communications support. When on these federal missions, National Guard troops are under the command of the Defense Department and not their governors.
In July 2007, Palin visited Alaska Guard members serving in Kuwait.
Nationwide, the Army National Guard has 361,151 soldiers, 10,000 more than its planned level, according to the National Guard Bureau in Washington. The Air National Guard has 106,643 airmen, just under its approved strength of 106,700.
Discuss This Article
Add your comment below! BW 2008-11-05 10:58:02 Report Offensive Post I am the proud parent of an Alaskan Guardsman but I am not proud at all of its leadership by the rogue Generals. They retaliate against Guardsmen who speak out truthfully and reward their cronies who are scumbags. There isn't leadership but two assholes being politicians and taking care of their good old boys. I demand an investigation and I won't stop telling everyone about this travesty until it is investigated. From a Guardsman 2008-11-05 11:02:25 Report Offensive Post Everything stated in the above comment is the truth. I am that Guardsman and I have been retaliated against by General Kacus. Campbell and Kacus are both self serving typical lying politicians. The first casualty of this investigation is the TRUTH. The Phantom 2008-11-17 08:44:20 Report Offensive Post Hopefully, Guardsmen, you are going to see my "eloquent" comments about the Alaska National Guard everywhere on the web. I can't talk trash like I would like to about our rogue Generals. I am a sneaky little devil and I know what is going on. The problem is "Do we have leaders who know what's going on in the world?" They have been so sheltered from war that they don't understand what it's like to be in battle. Therefore they reward their cronies and not the real leaders in battle. I understand their cronies were hiding under a desk instead of being on the battlefield and then turned in the Colonel who led our forces to victory because he cursed and didn't bow down to them. I am giving those so called Generals a book for Christmas called WE WERE SOLDIERS and maybe they will get the point. My Grandfather fought in Viet Nam and said he had never seen such leadership as these Generals. They would have been booted out. The Phantom will strike again tommorrow. They will choke if they find out who I am!!!!! Betty 2008-11-20 09:39:32 Report Offensive Post The Alaska Guardsmen perform their jobs in a superior manner. It's their Commander, General Kacus that is such a pathetic, unethical leader. He caters to his cronies and good boys and allows really good leaders to get passed over at promotion time. He is so afraid they will outshine him. It wouldn't take much because he is so inept. He and General Campbell have ruined this Guard unit and I guess Sarah Palin must have some idea. The Lt. Gov. is corrupt so where does that put our great State. We have incompetent losers running our state. Boy, am I proud!!! I am relatd to the Phantom Rambo 2008-11-24 02:56:38 Report Offensive Post What a sad state of affairs in Alaska--corrupt state government and national guard. The Guardsmen have no say, of course, or they would be faced with retribution. You have some Guardsmen disguised as The Phantom giving the facts but to no avail as nothing will be investigated. These rogue Generals are despicable, no doubt, but it's obvious everyone is having to live with it. Our National Government is also a mess. How can you tell the genuine leaders from the phonies? Life goes on. Sandy 2008-11-24 03:02:28 Report Offensive Post I will be sending my son off to Afghanistan soon for another tour. I'd just like to know why these Generals Campbell and Kacas have NEVER been in battle yet they can espouse all this BS to their soldiers. Where is justice? Not in ALaska Guard nor the statehouse. Sarah Palin is too busy being a star and the LT. Gov. is in witih Campbell. How sad for our State. The Commanders have never been in battle yet get fancy promotions and are corrupt. The Phantom 2008-11-29 11:01:35 Report Offensive Post Nothing new. Life goes on in the Alaska Guard with thanks to the Guardsmen who sacrifice and are ethical. There are exceptions--Kacasses cronies. It is as Rambo put it a sad state of affairs--corrupt state government and national guard due to unethical leaders. The pentagon won't investigate for fear that they will find more than they bargained for and they will. Heck of a way to run a country. Maybe Texas will secede from the Union and I will move there. Just kidding!!!!God Bless AMerica The Phantom 2008-11-29 11:01:35 Report Offensive Post Nothing new. Life goes on in the Alaska Guard with thanks to the Guardsmen who sacrifice and are ethical. There are exceptions--Kacasses cronies. It is as Rambo put it a sad state of affairs--corrupt state government and national guard due to unethical leaders. The pentagon won't investigate for fear that they will find more than they bargained for and they will. Heck of a way to run a country. Maybe Texas will secede from the Union and I will move there. Just kidding!!!!God Bless AMerica
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