New NORTHCOM Nominee Backs Army Aviation Restructure Initiative

摘要

President Obama's nominee to run U.S. Northern Command supports the Army's controversial aviation restructure initiative, particularly the service's plans to transfer all AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the National Guard into the active force. Despite the congressional opposition the Army's plan has received, Adm. William Gortney, the nominee to run NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told the Senate Armed Services Committee in written testimony last week that the Army's aviation strategy was on the right track. "I believe this Army initiative attempts to meet budgetary limits, while maximizing readiness across the total force and improving states' ability to respond to domestic emergencies and provide support to civil authorities," he wrote in July 10 testimony. "From my perspective, airlift capabilities supporting rescue, evacuation, personnel movement, and logistical transport are critical to success when providing defense support of civil authorities."