it's a privilege to be here today with my two directors bud wyatt as well as the other reserve chiefs. we have a very close affiliation with each other. and it's a pleasure and an honor, again, to testify before you. i wanted to take this opportunity as i always do to thank you all for your dedication to the soldiers and airmen that we represent. bud and bill will make some brief statements after i do. both of them distinguished former ajutnats. so they have the state of our soldiers in the title 32 status. we find ourselves obviously in the midst of constrained budgets and tough decisions. no doubt we must all curb spending, but should not at the expense of our security. that is why i must tell you that sequestration would hollow the force substantially and devastate our national security. it would result in further severe reductions to the national guard, reserve, and the active component. the national guard is already facing difficult budget cuts as you have alluded to, cuts that impact equipment and personnel. further reductions would significantly limit the guard's ability to fun

i'd like to ask my wingman, bud wyatt to speak followed by bill ingram. >> that i remember inknow which and senator cochran, thank the committee for your support for the men and women of the air national guard guard. i'd like to open with a bre review of the events of 2011 before looking to the future of the air national guard. it your guard airmen continue to make significant contributions to our nation's defense both here at home and around the globe. last year, guard airmen filled approximately 54,000 requests for manpower, 91% of these requests were filled by volunteers. air national guard's responsiveness and adaptability was clearly demonstrated a year ago when on 17 march, 2011, as the united stat united nations passed a no flay zone over libya, air national guard kc-135s from the 134th air refueling wing tennessee and the 167th aerial refueling wing alaska were diverted en route to operating bases. these airmen began flying operational missions in support of operation odd zi dawn clearly demonstrating that the air national guard is accessible and ready 0 serve. last year airmen

i'd like to ask my wingman bud wyatt to speak followed by bill ingraham. >> chairman and senator thank you and the committee very much for your support for the extraordinary men and women of the air national guard. i'd like to open with a brief review of 9/11. your guard airmen continue to make significant contributions to the nation's defense both here and home and around the globe. last year guard airmen filled 54,000 requests for manpower. 91% of these requests were filled by volunteers. international guards responsiveness and daptablity was clearly demonstrated a year ago when on 17, march, 2011, as the united nations security council passed resolution 1973 authorizing a no fly zone over libya, air national guard kc 135 in tennessee and the 168th aerial refuelling wing alaska were diverted en route to florida operating bases. these guard airmen began flying missions 48 hours later. clearly demonstrating that the international guard is accessible and ready to serve. last year national guard airmen spent half a million men days providing support missions. this included ordinance disp

wyatt talk about the numbers, types of equipment that actually deployed -- how quickly they deployed and how effectively they were used by the nato command in the successful prosecution libyan operation. bud? >> general wyatt. >> senator cochran, i mentioned a little bit about the time frame of the response early on. i will tell you especially in the refueling portion of "odyssey dawn," it was a joint effort with the active component, the guard and the reserve. the guard and reserve actually had over 50% of the refueling capability in theater. the expeditionary wing was commanded by an air guardsman out of pennsylvania. the integration of the three components in the air force i think is a model. primarily because we're trained to the staple standards. we use the same equipment. that's the way we fight. that's the way we train and fight. as we go forward in the future, i think the key for the air force to maintain the capacity and capability and continue reliance upon the reserve component guard and reserve is a couple of things. number one is the guard and reserve have to be fielded the new equipment at the same time concurrently with the active component and in representative numbers so

i would like to ask bud wyatt to speak, followed by bill ingram pierre >> i would like to open with a brief review of the events of 2011 before looking to the future of the air national guard. airmen continue to make significant contributions to our nation's defense, both here at home and around the globe. last year, guard aaron filled approximately 54,000 request for manpower, 91% on lee's request for filled by volunteers. air national guard's responsiveness and adaptability was clearly demonstrated a year ago when on march 17, 2011, as the united nations security council passed a resolution 1973 authorizing a no-fly zone over libya, planes were diverted to operating basis. they began flying operational missions 48 hours later, clearly demonstrating that the air national guard is both accessible and ready to serve. last year, national guard air man spent over half million mandates performing domestic civil support missions, one- third of this on state active duty. included assisting local authorities with explosive ordnance disposal, helping with security at special events such as th