Acting Air Guard Director: 'We Have to Get After It'

The acting director of the Air National Guard discussed the service's future and its role as a wartime force during the 146th NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition in Detroit Monday.

"We have to get after it," Lt. Gen. Duke A. Pirak said about wartime readiness during his remarks at the association's Air Separate Session. "You can’t cram for finals in this business."

Pirak referenced a potential future conflict with China.

In the event of a global strife, Pirak said the Air Guard will likely be a part of the "fight tonight" force alongside the active component.

"If I have the opportunity of being the director [of the Air Guard], it’s very, very likely that I will be a wartime director," he said.

Pirak said one of the things the Air Guard must improve is the service's recruiting and retention. The Air Guard’s effective strength is currently around 80%, he added.

"I’m going to war with one hand tied behind my back if I’m fighting at 80% strength," Pirak asserted.

Pirak said the Air Guard’s recruiting and retention infrastructure is designed for attrition rather than keeping Guardsmen.

"The most cost-effective recruit is the one we already have and we need to keep as many as possible," he suggested.

Pirak said the Air Guard is currently seeking more full-time resources for recruiting commands and taking a more "regional approach" to recruiting.

He said he has found that one of the best recruiting tools is the Air Guard's unit-level commanders.

"They are apart of it," he noted. "They’re out in the streets and out in the local high schools and churches [helping recruit]."

Pirak also discussed recapitalization.

He said that unless the Air Guard is capitalized at the same level as its active-duty counterpart, the component will have a tough time in any future conflict.

"It may have worked during the Cold War when the Air National Guard was that 'just break glass' force," Pirak said. "It’s not going to work now."

Pirak's nomination awaits Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Pirak would replace Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, who retired in June.

— By Donald Lambert