Because the U.S. Air Force can no longer do the job alone, the Kentucky Air National Guard will take over some of the military's "airbase in a box" operation, building airports from scratch for both domestic emergencies and to support the U.S. military anywhere in the world. The 123rd Contingency Response Group will begin initial operating capability before hurricane season next year.

It's a big job and a way for the military to use available personnel after the KY National Guard lost four of its twelve C-130's to other bases last year.

What fascinated me, however, was my conversation with Maj. General Ickes who flew in to Louisville for the event. He said the Kentucky Adjutant General Donald Storm lobbied hard for the unit to land in Louisville.

Ickes also told me that this new mission of the KY Air National Guard represents a shift in how Guard units are being used across the military. While in years' past, you might of thought of the National Guard and Reserve as troops who mainly respond to state emergencies and as reenforcements in wartime, Ickes told me that guardsmen will increasingly be used in the first wave of troops to go in to conflicts.

One key reason is a Kentucky Guard strength: recruiting. Kentucky's Guard continues to meet recruiting goals year after year (top 5 in the country). The regular military is having trouble recruiting, so the consistent manpower offered by the citizen soldier is something the military heavily considers.

"Where the Air Force has shortfalls," Ickes said, "we plan to put mission capability there to help them out."

Another reason Ickes says that the Guard will be used more is experience. I was surprised by his candor when he told me that active duty recruits (while fine young Americans) are inexperienced in real world military situations. Most Guard members, however, have been to war and usually have more seasoning and on-the-job experience.

The "airbase in a box" will use all eight of the Kentucky Air Guard's C-130 "Hercules" transport aircraft, and a few more. When I asked Ickes if that meant that Kentucky would get some of its old planes back, he doubted it. But Maj. General Storm says that he is working to do just that. And, Storm wants the Guard to authorize more positions in the KY Air Guard.

The CRG will utilize 144 current personnel and add 22 full time jobs to the KY Air National Guard. It will be the first responder to national emergencies within 400 miles of Louisville.