WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Army National Guard is over strength and the Air National Guard has met its end strength for the first time since 2002, the directors told Congress on Tuesday.
"This is a new era for us," said Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, the director of the Army National Guard. "We've never been in this position with this kind of strength. This is the strongest Army Guard we've ever had."
Recruiting and retention success combined with budget cuts mean some programs that have improved recruitment are being cut back. For example, many bonuses are being cut.
"I just hope we don't let the air completely out of the tires on recruiting and retention," Vaughn said. "I would ask that you watch that very closely."
Vaughn and Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt, the director of the Air National Guard, testified before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee at a hearing on recruiting, retention and end strength here at the Rayburn House Office Building.
The Air National Guard currently has 106,700 members; the Army Guard has 366,500.
Personnel - Airmen and their families - need to remain the Air Guard's top focus, Wyatt said.
"We're in a position for the first time to shape our force in a way it hasn't been in years," Vaughn said. "We're all about readiness."
Among goals that Vaughn said could further improve recruiting and retention:
- Reducing cross-leveling, where Soldiers are brought in from outside units to boost the numbers in deploying units.
- Cutting the time it takes from swearing a recruit in to having the recruit fully trained.
- Further improving the predictability of deployments.
"What does the authorized end strength of the Guard really need to be?" Vaughn asked, rhetorically. He said that question will likely be settled in discussions between his successor, the Regular Army and Congress.
"Air National Guard recruiting and retention programs play a critical role in supporting today's fight and how we posture our force for the future," Wyatt said. The Air Guard's 96.9 percent retention rate is the highest of all the services and components, Wyatt said.
Committee members praised Guard leaders for improved family programs and quality of recruits.