The Air Force is so short of security troops (their security forces were not designed to stop a global terrorist threat) that the Pentagon is considering the use of Army units to protect Air Force bases around the world. The Army has objected strongly, insisting that it doesn't have enough troops to fulfill its current missions. One alternative is to call up entire brigades of National Guard infantry and deploy them to protect the bases. The big problem is that any such mission, regardless of who does it, is likely to last for years. That would require keeping the National Guard units on duty for a year while entirely new security units (under the Army or Air Force) are created. Air Force bases in the US are so short of security guards that they have been relying on Air National Guard (and in some cases even state militia) air police for security.--Stephen V Cole