Recommendation:
The National Guard Counter Drug Program has achieved recent success in manning and funding their program by setting minimum requirements in US Code. We recommend duplicating the language used by the Counter Drug program in 32 USC § 112 to establish an enduring HRF/CERFP mission and set a minimum funding requirement. Counter Drug Personnel can currently be used for training or operational missions which should be replicated in the HRF/CERFPs. We recommend payment of 20% pay and allowances into RPA (Retired Pay Accrual) to allow CRE members to enter the active federal retirement at 20 years of service (Replicate Counter Drug). 32 USC § 112 grants direct funding under FTNGD-CD. We recommend creation of FTNGD-CRE to accomplish the same purpose in the CRE (CBRN Response Enterprise). The USNORTHCOM CONPLAN 3500-14 assumes that the National Guard is maintaining 25% of its manning as Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) on ADOS. That number is currently closer to 10% FTE manning, and is expected to be cut further in FY22. As the Counter Drug program has shown, statutory requirements lead to consistent manning and funding in line with mission requirements.