Posted on 07/16/2005 5:00:04 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
DES MOINES, Iowa - The nation's governors voiced sharp worries Saturday for the National Guard troops they share with the federal government, with concerns about recruitment targets, benefits and job prospects.
Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee, incoming chairman of the National Governors Association, said more attention must be paid to the needs of guardsmen returning from overseas deployments, especially younger Guard members who need to find work.
More than 30 governors gathered here for their summer meeting.
Both Democrats and Republicans said changes caused by the huge demands placed on the Guard and Reserves for the war in Iraq need more examination.
"It is working today," said South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, a Republican.
However, troops returning from the war zone may be affected by objections raised by their spouses and parent, Rounds said. "The second time around, will they be allowed to re-enlist? That's the question," he said.
"Most governors would say we're putting more strain on our Guard and Reserves than many people are fully comfortable with," said Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican.
The governors are scheduled to meet privately Monday with top officials of the Guard, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Homeland Security Department.
There has been an easing of worries among governors that the overseas demands would leave states without the National Guard members needed to respond to state emergencies, said Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat. Guard officials have offered assurances they would limit call-ups, he said.
Bigger questions remain, he said. "I don't feel we've had the full deliberations about what the role of the Guard will be," said Warner, who has been exploring a possible presidential bid.
Leaders need to consider ways to accommodate older members of the Guard and Reserves who want to do their part but can't be expected to commit to long-term, overseas deployment when they've got careers and families, he said.
States often rely on their Air and Army Guard units to help in emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes or riots. The part-time soldiers are not often brought under federal control for missions such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"You haven't seen these kinds of participation from the states since the Civil War," Idaho's GOP Gov. Dirk Kempthorne said.
More than 250,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen have been mobilized for active duty since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, the Army general in charge of National Guard forces, said last week.
National Guard soldiers represent about 40 percent of the U.S. ground force in Iraq. That is scheduled to drop significantly next year when the Army deploys two newly expanded active-duty divisions - the 101st Airborne and the 4th Infantry.
Listen, if these governors have complaints, no prob, we will firnd governors that don't!!!
It would be nice if the military had something to say to its people besides "gimmee!"
What does that mean????????????????????????????????/
I must respectfully say that I don't follow you on this.
Maybe he meant, "Gimmeee 20!"
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