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The Montana National Guard will be welcoming eight C-130 "Hercules" cargo planes to the Treasure State as early as 2014.

These tactical airlift planes blend well with the various missions the Montana Air National Guard may be called upon for assistance.

Major Tim Crowe with the Montana National Guard says the C-130 cargo planes are a great fit for Montana missions; he says they have short run way capabilities on asphalt or gravel.

This will make delivering personnel or supplies during natural or man-made disasters not only possible, but efficient across the state.

Crowe says the planes could transport equipment to assist with fire suppression or deliver necessary supplies during floods.

Other states have even used them to drop feed for livestock stuck with out food in harsh winters.

Whatever mission the unit is called on for, Crowe says he knows they'll be ready: "Thats why we train every day," said Crowe. "Thats why we make it so important that our drill status Guardsmen or traditional Guardsmen come every month for the weekend drills. That they have effective and relevant training when they're there and that they are as prepared as those few airmen and soldiers who work full time for the organization."

The C-130's are projected to retain the same number of jobs as the current F-15 mission, but specifics wont be available until the manning specifications are released at the end of the month.