Army Declares War On National Guard, Seizes Apache Helicopters
Known in some circles as the face of death, there is nothing more devastating in the more advanced helicopters then the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Also known as the Apache Gunship, they have been used for years and are extremely effective. Now the Army declares war on the National Guard and seizes their Apache Helicopters.
It is a direct order to the National Guard and they are not happy. They are complying with the order that ALL of their AH-64 Apache gunships are to reactivate, becoming property of the US Army. There is nothing they can do to stop the order.
“None of us like what we’re having to do,” National Guard Chief Gen. Frank Grass told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, the military website Defense One reported. “My big concern right now is figuring out how I’m going to move, and how many states I’m going to have an impact on, and what’s the cost of facilities and to retrain pilots. I’ve got to tackle that because the decision’s been made.”
Air Force Maj. Shannon Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Guard, reiterated the general’s position, the Army Times reported.
“These are very difficult decisions and there will be more difficult ones yet to come,” she said. “His focus now is to determine the impacts and how best to implement the decision.”
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told members of Congress on Tuesday that the move will save $12 billion through fiscal year 2017, Defense One reported.
When the logistics are worked out, the Army’s fleet of OH-58 Kiowa helicopters will be divested, its newly acquired Apaches will fill its reconnaissance and scouting needs, and the National Guard will be given UH-60 Black Hawks.
Advocates of the Army’s decision say that the Black Hawks actually benefit the Guard because they are an incredible asset for disaster relief efforts.The National Guard has filled rolls in Afghanistan and during the Iraq War as troops on the ground. Apparently, the US Army feels that the National Guard, controlled by the States and not the Federal Government, is not trustworthy of such weapons, even though they have protected US forces overseas.
This feeds even more suspicions of what is the federal government planning if they are actively taking advanced weapons from State control.
