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Discusses the impact of the delivery of eight C-17 planes to the U.S. Air Guard in Mississippi on their training and mission requirements. Recognition of the strategic ability and efficiency of the plane beyond the guard's 2003 equipment inventory; Maintenance requirements; Mission availability rates; Load Capabilities; Base upgrades to accommodate plane; Effect of the planes on the local businesses.

The article discusses ways by which the U.S. Air National Guard can remain engaged and ready during post-conflict periods. According to the author, upholding the standards is important even during non-combat periods. He states that inspections using the same criteria that other military components use are also important. He adds that continually engaging with all armed forces components on an operational level is a must, even as the frequency of overseas deployments decreases.

In this article the author comments on the plan of the U.S. Air Force to reduce the capability of the Air National Guard in favor of the costly active component. He explains the disadvantages of the service's focus on relying more on the active component despite the fact that the other services are relying less on their active forces. He also calls on the Air Force to preserve the maximum amount of combat capability at the lowest cost.

The article reports that the first U.S. Army Guard helicopter brigade headed for Operation Iraqi Freedom completed final dress rehearsals at Fort Hood, Texas. The 36th Combat Aviation Brigade will provide multispectrum operations in support of Multi-National Corps-Iraq. The Brigade is based in Texas but includes Guardsmen from 44 states. It will be deployed in the summer of 2006, eventually replacing an aviation brigade from the 101st Airborne Division.