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The President’s Budget Request for the Department of Defense, released in May 2009, cut the number of JCA (C-27J Spartan) from 78 to 38, and transferred the management responsibilities from being a joint effort, to an Air Force managed program.  Both Army and Air National Guard requirements for the JCA were thoroughly validated for both their combat and homeland security roles, and publicly supported by the Secretary of Defense in the January 2009 Quadrennial Roles and Missions Review.  No new analysis has been made to contradict the studies undertaken since 2004, nor the conclusions they contained.

The JCA program would provide a critical capability to state emergency management and homeland security. The original program was a positive solution to a critical problem, and was welcome news for the Army National Guard looking to replace the aging C-23 Sherpa, to conduct time-sensitive mission critical supply for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.  It was also a way ahead for Air National Guard units seeking new missions as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

On June 11, 2009, 53 adjutants general urged the leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to reject the DoD eleventh-hour decision to slash the JCA program and to terminate it as a joint program.

NGAUS JCA Fact Sheet (June 15, 2009)

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Original MOA Timetable

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Reduced JCA Buy Calls For Higher Crew Ratio (July 30, 2009)

SASC Report 111-35, to accompany S. 1390, FY10 NDAA Joint Cargo Aircraft Language
(June 25, 2009)

Joint Cargo Aircraft Force Structure Requirements and Basing Plan; HASC Committee Report to Accompany H.R. 2647 NDAA (June 25, 2009)

NGAUS Urges HASC Air Land Subcommittee to Reject SECDEF Budget Proposal on C27J
(June 12, 2009)

National Guard: Gates Weakening Security (The Hill, June 12, 2009)

Adjutants General Unanimously Urge SASC and HASC Leadership to Oppose SECDEF C27J Decision (June 11, 2009)

Co-Chairs of House Guard and Reserve Caucus Urge HASC Leaders to Support 78 Aircraft Buy (June 8, 2009)
 
Casey Supports Aircraft Transfer (The Hill, May 12, 2009)

Lawmakers Press Gates to Keep Cargo Plane (The Hill, May 4, 2009)

Letter from Congress Urges SECDEF to Reconsider Reported JCA Changes (May 1, 2009)

Report: JCAs Cut from Army Budget (Army Times, April 29, 2009)  

Supporters Rally Around Army Cargo Aircraft (The Hill, April 25, 2009)

U.S. Army Reiterates Need for Cargo Aircraft (Reuters, April 24, 2009)

Air and Land Forces Subcommittee Hearing on Army Aviation and the JCA (April 23, 2009) Video

Adjutants General Protest JCA Decision to Service Secretaries (April 22, 2009)

Gates Could Shortchange Army on Cargo Aircraft (The Hill, April 21, 2009)