Participants: Major General Bryony Terrell, Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard
Host: Major Jon LaDue, Public Affairs Officer, Air National Guard
Maj. Jon LaDue: Well, good afternoon. Thanks for being here. I'm Maj. Jon LaDue, and I'll be moderating today. And we're here with the special assistant to the director of the Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell. She assists the director in formulating and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting the citizen Airmen of the Air National Guard. We're here to discuss the Air National Guard's pivotal role, capacity and depth as the nation's indispensable combat-ready reserve of the Air Force. General Terrell will start with a brief opening statement, and we will then open it up for questions. Of course, we are on the record, and as you've heard several times over the past few days, general Terrell will not comment on any operational movements or speculation. Make sure everybody that we have time to get around to everybody, please keep your queries to one question and one follow up and with that, General Terrell.
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: Okay, well, please allow me to make a statement first. You know it's always good to shape the message up front. Good afternoon, and thank you for this opportunity. As mentioned, I'm Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell, the special assistant to the director, and today I really want to talk to you about something simple, something very simple, but often misunderstood, which is the power of the Air National Guard in the Total Force. Because despite defending the homeland and serving in every American conflict, persistent myths continue about the guard, and those are the myths I'd like to address today—myths about our capability, our accessibility and our readiness. Today I want to dispel those myths and tell you the Air National Guard story. First, Capability. The Air National Guard is not a supporting actor in the Total Force. We are a principal player. We exist with more than 106,000 Airmen, 90 Wings across every state and territory, we meet the same standards as the active duty United States Air Force, and often we exceed those standards. On average, our pilots bring more experience and nearly twice the flight hours of their active duty counterparts. That depth matters. Last summer during Operation midnight hammer, our Guard Airmen were involved in every aspect of strikes against Iran's nuclear sites—planning, execution and sustainment. When the mission is complex and the stakes are high, America relies on the Guard. That's capability.
Second—accessibility. There's a lingering misconception that the guard forces are slow to mobilize or difficult to access. That is just legacy thinking. We operate seamlessly in state and federal statuses. We mobilize individually, partially or at scale. We provide immediate homeland defense and global combat power, often on very short notice. We are not a force that ramps up—we are a force that is already integrated.
Third, let's address readiness. Nearly one-third of the Air Force's operational power resides in the guard, 40% of its air refueling capacity, more than a third of its strategic airlift, more than a quarter of its fighter force, and 94% of the homeland’s aerospace control alert mission.
We're not a backup force. We are not a bench. We are an operational combat reserve every single day. But here is the issue that we must confront. Readiness today does not guarantee readiness tomorrow. Modernization is the decisive challenge. Thirteen of our 24 fighter squadrons have no advanced recapitalization plan. Some are programmed to receive legacy aircraft, and some have no identified follow-on platform at all. Our KC-135 fleet averages 64-years-old. Under current projections, some aircraft will be flying still in 2050, approaching 90 years of age.
The Air National Guard must modernize alongside the Air Force, not after it. We cannot buy down risk in the active components by cascading aging platforms into the guard. We cannot afford to get smaller and we cannot expect legacy aircraft to outpace accelerating technological threats.
“Peace through strength” requires modern strength, and the solution is not complicated. We need concurrent modernization across the Total Force, balanced bed-down decisions, accelerated procurement where possible, and a defined recapitalization plan for fighters, mobility, and command and control. The Guard does not lack experience. We do not lack the operational demand, and we do not lack commitment. What we need is alignment between strategy and structure, because the Air National Guard remains what it has always been; accessible, capable and ready, and with the right modernization decisions, we will remain Always Ready, Always There—now and into the future for decades to come. So, I welcome your questions.
Chris Gordon: Hi. Chris Gordon, Air and Space Force Magazine. If I may ask, that recent, recent operational Guard mission that conducted, obviously, you played a very heavy role in the Caribbean with tankers, with the Vermont Air National Guard. Can you just talk a little bit about what the Guard did in Absolute Resolve, and any lessons you learned from that?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: I do know that we had a … we were definitely participants in Absolute Resolve. You mentioned our Vermont Guardsmen, and then, of course, our tanker airlift. Anytime there's a mobilization, especially a heavy lift like that one, you're going to have the total force engaged in that. I do not have lessons learned yet from Absolute Resolve, if that's what you're asking for. We will continue to work with, you know, the Air Force as those lessons come out, and then implement them forward. But I don't have anything at this point in time.
Chris Gordon: Just how big was the scope of the guard’s presence down there?
Maj. Gen. Terrell: I don't have exact numbers for our participation in Absolute Resolve, but I think we can get that data for you.
Brian Everstine: On your thread of modernization. There are a couple pockets of the guard that are in really interesting roles, like KC-135s, you guys are up front on a lot of modernization there. F-16s, you guys are in charge. And recently I spent was able to spend some time with the Red Hawks out in Portland, who have a very interesting mission. They're writing the books right now in a 15-EX while doing their alert mission. Can you talk about how the guard is balancing that? I mean, these guys, the F-15s, are tasked with homeland alert. That's number one, but they're bringing on F-15 EXs with a lot more capability with (indistinguishable) for air ground, which is not typical for them. They have a back seat that's empty right now. Are you going to fill the back seat? Kind of how do you balance meeting your homeland defense role while bringing on some of this modernization?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: Great questions. Thank you, Brian. I guess I'll start with talking about our AATC, if you're familiar with that mission. So, we've got the Air National Guard and Air Reserve Test Center. They utilize our NGREA funds, which is the National Guard Reserve Equipment Account. Thank you. And so, this is a congressionally funded flexible acquisition account that we utilize to set our prioritization to fill kind of the gaps and capabilities for our legacy platforms. And so, as we do that, we utilize AATC to work with industry and utilize that NGREA funding to bring some of these solutions, which you probably saw out with the F-15 EXs. How we balance that is, we have this organization, as I mentioned, the AATC, with a unique set of pilots that have deep skills, and they do that test and evaluation, really the testing of how to integrate these different off-the-shelf capabilities. And then once they're field-able, we start moving them out towards our units, and that's how we basically field them to our different platforms. Balancing that again, it starts with AATC, and they're the ones that do the fielding plan and integration and make sure that it's available and able to be fielded with all of our different units. Hopefully that answers your question.
Brian Everstine: Yeah, maybe follow up on the specifics on 15. Do you see foresee WSOs (Weapons Systems Officers) in the Air National Guard and the Air Force is combining E and EX training, right? Those are very different missions, especially from the guard vector. Do you have any, I guess, concerns on how that's going out?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: I think we're still working through a lot of that with the Air Force, and even the position on where is ACC on whether there will be WSOs incorporated into the F-15 platforms. So, for you know, General Spain is fairly new in the position. I don't know what his viewpoint is. I think from our perspective, we would rather utilize that space for other components, to continue to, modernize the EX we are, as you said, writing the TTPs, because we have the experienced members who are flying every single day.
Vanessa Montalbano: Hi, Vanessa Montalbano with Inside Defense. You had mentioned the need for concurrent modernization across the entire force. Could you talk about how the Air Force can balance financially modernizing the Air National Guard at the same rate that it could potentially modernize its active duty force?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: Sure. We provided a report to the Air Force last summer where we proposed concurrent recapitalization. It was a Total Force plan and it was dependent on really racking up acquisition and procurement of F-15 EXs and F-35s but if we could maximize procurement to 72 airframes a year, we could potentially modernize the Total Force in a more balanced fashion with tweaking the bed down plans and processes and timelines, and so we feel very confident that it is achievable. Of course, it requires additional procurement. It requires the Air Force to get back to the program of record for F-35s and it also requires increasing F-15 EX buys to 24.
Vanessa Montalbano: And have you, what has the reaction been from the Headquarters Air Force about that plan? And sort of like, do you think it's possible they're in agreement on getting that done?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: I think, you know, it will depend on, you know, how the FYDP works out. I can't, you know, prognosticate on that, but I do think they are open to doing just that. I think where the conflict arises is when there's scarcity. And so the Air Force, very much, looks to modernize their platforms initially, and then cascade down to the Guard. However, if procurement catches up, I think there's going to be a more open and balanced approach, and that's what we're hoping for. So, I think more to follow. The key to all of that, though, is to have a plan. And right now, today, we don't have a Total Force recapitalization plan that includes funding, and so that means year-to-year, we're trying to figure out how the Air Force is going to roll out these platforms.
Michael Morrow: Michael Morrow, Breaking Defense. Yesterday we heard from General Healey about the folding of both Reserve and Guard missions for space into the Space Force. I was wondering if you could give us an update on that. How that's unfolded, and what challenges have been there over the last year or so?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: Thanks for the question. So, what I know is that there was an open opportunity for members of the Air National Guard who had space AFSCs to transition over to the Space Force. I don't know in the final count how many have done or how many are still in process of transferring, but that option does remain. However, the Secretary of the Air Force was very supportive of re-missioning those units, those that have the space missions to new missions. Right now, we are working through, hand-in-hand with the chief of staff of the Air Force and the SECAF on what those new missions will be. For us, you know, the requirement would be that they are long-standing mission sets that will serve those units well into the future. And I think there's a lot of opportunity to do just that.
Michael Morrow: And separately, similar to some questions that have already been asked, Secretary Meink has talked about Air Force needing to do readiness and modernization, that this isn't an either-or-proposition. I think your comments have addressed the modernization piece, concurrent recapitalization and things of that nature. But when it comes to readiness, I was wondering where the guard fits in with that kind of prioritization, where, especially, like you said, flying much older aircraft, maybe than active duty, that are really going to be struggling with availability rates as they get older.
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: For us, training lends us to readiness, higher rates of readiness, and so every year, we maximize our flying hour program. The challenge there has been, there's been fluctuations year-over-year on what the flying hour program is and that leads to aircraft availability issues, that leads to long-term capacity issues and for us, because we don't have ready access to JSE, and because there's limited access to some of those bespoke training environments, as well as not all of our units have simulators, we really rely on the flying hour program to continue to ready our forces. And as you know, in the Guard, we have the majority of our force, 66% is part time, and so we really maximize the time that we have with folks to do just that, to train and get ready for the fight.
Todd South: Todd South, Air and Space Forces Magazine. You had said on an earlier panel that what had happened with the Maryland National Guard losing its flying mission and increasing its cyber operations could happen in other states. I'm curious, is this something that's kind of in the planning process, or might we see squadrons switch to other types of missions if they don't have that recap plan? Is there a concern there? Or is that (indistinguishable) of the capability book?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: Yes. Thanks for the question. We have four legacy fighter squadrons right now that are uncovered, meaning they don't have a recapitalization plan at all, and those are Atlantic City, Buckley, Kelly and Tucson. And for those units, we are still trying to work out what would be the recapitalization plan, and so the uncertainty for those units in particular, is what drives concern. If we don't have a strong recapitalization plan, those units may be looked at, to divert into other missions, outside of a flying mission. But right now, we are continuing to fly those aircraft. We are continuing to participate in the total force for operational capacity at all four of those units.
Todd South: Is there any kind of a timeline on whether or not they will receive a recap plan or that may be diverted? I mean, we're looking at this coming fiscal year or three, five years out. Is there a rough timeline for these particular bases?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: It's a shifting timeline. I wish I could snap the chalk line, but we're awaiting a number of basing decisions, both in the active duty Air Force, there's some other reserve component basing decisions that are still to be made and so, and then we're awaiting what future procurèrent plans might be. And I think we are still very hopeful that those units will modernize into flying platforms. But there is always then the opportunity to look across at what does the Air Force need to meet, you know, 21st Century Modern Warfare, and if there's a requirement there that doesn't include manned platforms and and we are the unit to provide that, then we will certainly consider it. But primarily we know that the Air Force needs capacity, and so we are hanging on to those aircraft. We continue to do the best maintenance, you know, in the Total Force, to keep those legacy missions going.
Brian Everstine: Those four bases, those are all pre-block F-16? And, Atlantic City Red Devils. They are (indistinguishable), Homeland Defense. I don't know if the other ones are, but what's going to happen with that mission if they don’t have them?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: I think right now, we have a number of we, I mean, the Air National Guard does 94% of the homeland defense mission, for the aerospace control alert mission. And as we're already seeing this, as our units convert to new platforms, we're having to look at how we're going to cover down on those alert missions. And this is really an enterprise challenge that we have to work through. You know, conversion is a great thing, especially when you're being recapitalized with modern airframes, but there is some friction. And for this mission in particular, we're going to have to look at what is the total-force solution to cover down on our number one homeland defense mission, maybe there's a joint staff, I mean joint-force solution for that as well. But you know, the Air National Guard has been doing that mission for decades, and we've done it very well, because we've been able to leverage our resources at home stations that are arrayed across the US, and, you know, leverage the force that we have and to do an auto convert from Title 32 to Title 10 to achieve those alert missions at a very economical, very efficient model. While we're in conversion, though, that's something we're going to have to proffer forward for the enterprise to find a solution to cover down on some of those missions. And it will be for a temporary time, as you know, as that capacity is not available due to mission conversion.
Vanessa Montalbano: Can you talk a little bit about the gaps that might be created if those four fighter commissions do not get recapitalized with a flying component? And then how that kind of works with the Air Force's 10-year sort of force structured plan to increase capacity, especially as it relates to F-15 EX and F-35?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: That was a number of questions all in one, so let's break that down. First, I can't speak to specific operational gaps that those four units might create. In general, I will tell you that we need more capacity. General Allvin, you probably heard say before we need more Air Force. I think that we agree capacity is important. And certainly, a loss in capacity is a loss to the entire total force. Specific gaps that would create is not something I can speak to at this moment. What was the second and third part?
Vanessa Montalbano: In October, the Air Force submitted to Congress a 10-year fighter force structure plan that would basically increase capacity across the entire force to include National Guard, and a lot of that hinged on F-15 EX and F-35 so I don't know. It just sounds to me like if you lose that those four fighter missions, it doesn't really align with that plan well.
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: For us, we're we continue to remain hopeful. There's a number of different basing decisions, and those platforms are still flying, and they still have a operational demand signal. So, I think the challenge we ran into with the A-10 was that, you know that aircraft was, you know, obviously being taken down from the inventory at large, and we didn't have a recapitalization plan to cover down on that. And so, we don't have that yet for the pre-blocks, that's a driving indicator yet. But we are wary that recapitalization is important, as we've seen.
Brian Everstine: The Air Mobility Command has talked a lot about connectivity for tankers and airlifters. They're starting that nexus. Can you talk about the guard’s role they’re playing in this?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: I can say we're all in on supporting AMC’s efforts for MAF nexus. We, you know, our priority is for connectivity and survivability for our [heavy airlift] aircraft. And you know, to the degree that we can be a part of that modernization solution, that's fantastic if, if there are options that present themselves through commercial, off-the-shelf capabilities, and we can get those through NGREA in a shorter timeline, it may not be an integrated, you know, solution, but it might be something that could provide 80% of the capability at 20% of the cost within the next two years, then that would be something that we would consider.
Brian Everstine: Speaking of AMC priorities, have they asked you to wipe your tail flashes?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: I am not tracking any of that, but I do know that, you know, there's a lot of people that take great pride in that, and as we are instilling that Warrior Ethos and pride in the Air Force and our heritage and what we do, I think that is a something that the Guard would proffer is doing just that. When I was the wing commander at Charlotte, I used to say to the North Carolina members and our neighbors and folks that, you know industry, that that was a flying billboard that would talk about Charlotte and represent their state abroad, and that seemed to really garner a lot of pride at the local level and the state level, and that's the type of support that we need across the, you know, American public. And I think those tail fins, you know, they kind of encourage some of that
Maj. Jon LaDue: Time for one more.
Michael Morrow: I’m wondering if you could give an update on what end strength might look like. There's been some fluctuations recently and recruiting, especially with different economic conditions. So how is the Guard’s end strength looking?
Maj. Gen. Bryony Terrell: Through the NDAA for Fiscal Year ’26 we have been authorized 106,300 we have set our target goals, and we are currently meeting all of our targets. So, I feel very good that we're going to meet and possibly exceed that authorization. Our accession goal for this year is over 11,000. That is also to cover down on our projected losses, which hover around 9,000 annually. So, I think it's, you know, we're very positive that this year we'll be able to meet our end strength. Last year, we had a great positive trajectory, and we're going to continue on that trajectory. And right now, all signs are pointing to an increase. We've done a lot to pour into our recruiting forces. Previously, the Air National Guard did not have a recruiting AFSC. That was a problem. So, we've been able to instill a professional recruiting force. We've been able to leverage an AFSC that the active duty had previously, to allow our recruiters to remain in place for multiple years and continue in that profession and the professionalism of that career field, as well as we've invested in putting resources in the recruiting command structure at every state. This will help alleviate some of the administrative burden that has kind of distracted recruiters from being able to just focus on production and so that, in concert with some of our local marketing efforts, I think will continue to help with our recruiting efforts.
Maj. Jon LaDue: All right. Well, that's all the time we have. Thank you all very much for being here and having this chat with us. Of course, please reach out if you have any follow-on questions. Thank you.