Comments on: Correcting the Record on the Space National Guard https://globalsecurityreview.com/correcting-the-record-on-the-space-national-guard/ A division of the National Institute for Deterrence Studies (NIDS) Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:42:28 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Christopher Stone https://globalsecurityreview.com/correcting-the-record-on-the-space-national-guard/#comment-761 Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:42:28 +0000 https://globalsecurityreview.com/?p=28895#comment-761 In reply to Jeff.

Jeff, we stated comments. You are absolutely correct. Most of the reasons that senior (Federal side) ANG leaders have not had good answers is because tehy have been restrained by policy from commenting. Only when they retire do they (sometimes) have the freedom to state their real “best military advice.”

]]> By: Jeff https://globalsecurityreview.com/correcting-the-record-on-the-space-national-guard/#comment-752 Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:43:44 +0000 https://globalsecurityreview.com/?p=28895#comment-752 Air National Guard (ANG) units perform a significant portion of the U.S. Space Force’s missions. According to multiple sources, the ANG provides approximately 60% or more of the Space Force’s electromagnetic warfare capability and contributes to about 33% of overall U.S. space capabilities, including critical functions like GPS deconfliction and missile tracking​. In terms of EW, Space Force does not have the manpower to man the current equipment operated by the Air National Guard. Let alone the members they do have, do not have the years of experience, training, deployment experience, and continuity of knowledge of the weapon systems the Air National Guard employs. I brought up these questions to a Space Force Command Chief at the National Defense Universities GATEWAY course for senior enlisted leaders and his response was that Space Force would just come and take their assets from the National Guard Units. During the same NDU course I asked the National Guard guest speaker the same questions and he could not answer what would happen to Air National Guard units and their years of experience if Space National Guard does not happen. This is strictly a political game as our Squadron Chief was part of that study mentioned in the article and the politics run deep on this topic with many Space Force top leaders and politicians looking to squash the concept at all cost. The minimal cost as part of our Chiefs inputs would be the cost of changing name tapes on uniforms. We already have the EW assets, the facilities, personnel and more importantly, the experience working and operating in the EW space domain. We have been the continuity for space operations for years. From space lift to now offensive space control, we have been and are continuing to train the EW space warfighters of tomorrow.

The other watercooler talk is that if Air National Guard space operators transfer to the Space Force, they would play second fiddle to the active-duty Space Force. In essence the Air National Guard members would no longer be the primary operators, trainer’s, instructors, and weapon system SME’s that they are today. Why would the National Guard units want to be anything less than the tip of the spear in the EW fight. More importantly is that with tensions continuing to evolve and mount with our adversaries, Space Force does not have the manning or experience capabilities to counter an offensive let alone defensive EW posture in future conflicts without the Guard.

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