The National Commission on the Future of the Army (NCFA) has proposed a compromise to resolve the row between the U.S. Army and the National Guard over the number of Apache units the National Guard should retain.
By Sgt. Brian Calhoun (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1659405) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The congressionally appointed commission suggests four Apache battalions should be allocated to the National Guard. The Army, in its earlier proposal, wanted to all 192 AH-64s out from the National Guard. The National Guard countered with its proposal to retain six Apache battalions. The new proposal calls for the Army to have twenty battalions with 24 helicopters each.
The NCFA’s recommendation will limit each National Guard battalion with just 18 Apaches, in event of a deployment, the unit will have to draw six more Apaches from elsewhere.
In exchange for keeping the Apaches, the National Guard should only get two battalions of UH-60s, NCFA recommended.