MS guard may lose Apaches

The Army National Guard is taking steps to give up its entire fleet of AH-64 Apache helicopters to the active duty side of the house. The Army wants to save some $12 billion over several years by retiring OH-58 Kiowas and using the Apaches for its armed scout and reconnaissance missions. The Army can't afford to buy more attack “helos” to do both; and plans to transfer the ANG's entire fleet of 192 Apaches to the Army. In return, the ANG gets 111 UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters. The proposal is part of the fiscal 2015 budget request. Mississippi, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Utah Army National Guard will lose Apache units, according to Inside the Army. The shift will create "turbulence" for the Guard, as officials seek to soften the impact to those states by transferring helicopters and personnel from other states with more aviation assets, according to Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck, special assistant to the director of the Army National Guard. In all, the Guard will lose 222 aircraft across the board and get back half that amount. (Source: Military.com 05/06/14) Central Mississippi note: Mississippi Army National Guard’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 151st Attack Aviation unit in Tupelo flies AH-64 Apaches.