Peace Garden News

North Dakota continues to play a significant role in remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operations, with the 119th Air Wing “Happy Hooligans” in Fargo operating MQ-9 Reapers and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing in Grand Forks flying RQ-4 Global Hawks. These units are at the forefront of advancing technology for U.S. military missions.

Currently, members of RPA crews do not have a formal combat identifier in their service records because they operate remotely. This lack of official recognition can present challenges for crew members as they transition to other military careers or leave the service, especially when seeking timely and quality mental health care services.

U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), both serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee, have introduced bipartisan legislation called the Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act. The proposed bill would establish an official status identifier for RPA crews involved in combat operations, aiming to improve recognition and access to necessary services.

“Now more than ever, military missions use airborne ISR platforms to meet our national security objectives,” said Senator Cramer. “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crews, including Fargo’s Happy Hooligans and the airmen from the 319th at Grand Forks, often play an integral role in achieving high-stakes, mission-critical objectives. The CARE for RPA Crews Act recognizes the accomplishments of RPA crews and identifies the appropriate resources to keep our airmen fit for duty.”

Senator Rosen also commented: “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crew like those at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada perform combat operations but have no status identifier in their records for having done so, making it challenging to receive the support and care they deserve once they transition,” she said. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to establish a status identifier for these crews in order to help improve the recognition they’ve earned and to ensure their future care. I’ll always fight to support Nevada’s servicemembers.”

The full text of the bill is available online.