Calls on the U.S. Army and Air Force to allocate funding for personal light beacons for service members.

Ensuring the safety of U.S. service members and mitigating training or combat hazards is a top priority. One effective measure is the use of small individual light beacons capable of marking individuals or locations with visible and/or infrared (IR) spectrum lighting. These beacons enable service members and commanders to operate in low-to-no-light conditions and improve personnel recovery efforts.

Historically managed by aviation officers, the need for small, non-intrusive beacons for daily training and combat operations has become critical for safety and survivability. These beacons are essential for preventing service members from becoming lost during training, such as land navigation exercises, or injured in vehicle accidents during black-out operations. The beacons should be small, not exceeding two inches in any dimension, and capable of attaching securely to field gear or a physical fitness uniform. They should also be rechargeable via a standardized connection, such as USB-C, and can operate continuously for 21 days (3 weeks) of night operations. Implementing these beacons will significantly enhance the safety and effectiveness of service members in both training and combat scenarios.

The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States urges the U.S. Army and Air Force to allocate funding to provide small individual light beacons for all service members to utilize during training and combat scenarios.