President Transmits Budget Request To Congress
On 1 February, the President transmitted the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request to Congress. The request includes increases in funding above Fiscal Year 2010 levels for many of the Army and Air National Guard accounts. The request also includes increases in full-time support for both the Army and Air National Guard. As well as increase in funding for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program.
An analysis of the request can be found here. The full Fiscal Year 2011 Military Construction request and the Fiscal Year 2012 through 2015 Future Years Defense Program of Military Construction can be found here.
Quadrennial Defense Review Released
The Quadrennial Defense Review Report was simultaneously delivered to Congress with the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request. The report outlines the future objectives of the Department of Defense. One of those objectives is stengthening support to civil authorities. The report recognizes the importance of the National Guard in this field. "Complementing the evolution of the first CCMRF, the Department (of Defense) also will draw on the existing National Guard forces to build a Homeland Response Force (HRF) in each of the ten Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regions."
The report also emphasizes rebalancing the force. According to the report "As the operational environment allows, the Department will seek ways to rebalance its reliance on the Reserve Component to ensure the long-term viability of a force that has both strategic and operational capabilities." The report goes on to say that effective use of the Reserve Components "will lower overall personnel and operating costs, better ensure the right mix and availability of equipment, provide more efficient and effective use of the defense assets, and contribute to the sustainability of both the Active and Reserve Components." Accordingly, the report states that the Department will conduct a comprehensive reivew of the role of the Reserve Componets over the upcoming year.