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Cites the efforts of the U.S. National Guard to equip their forces for military action in global conflicts. Recognition of the impact of providing troops with updated equipment on their ability to face enemies in combat; Dependence of the equipment situation on demand of supplies; Pros and cons of unconceptualized military plans; Transformation of the Army Guard using mobile light brigades; Military hardware used.

In this article the author applauds the transformation of the U.S. National Guard from a strategic reserve to a fully qualified operational force. Such a transformation, which took place for 20 years or more, has raised the Guard to a new level of value, eliminating the stigma that it is an imitation of the active army. Among the Pentagon officials who believe in the enhanced operational capability of the Guard is General George W. Casey Jr.

Reports on the deployment of eight F-15 Eagles and 70 Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron to Thailand in January 2005 for exercise Cope Tiger 2005. Practice of flying-training skills with Thai and Singaporean airmen and U.S. Navy and Air Force air and ground support crews; Participation of the aircrews in dissimilar base fighter maneuver training, dissimilar air combat tactics training, close-air support training and large force employment training.