New Mexico lawmakers demand answers to Guard equipment shortages

[struggle4progress]

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 23, 2007

(AP) - New Mexico's congressional delegation is demanding answers from the Pentagon about a shortage of dual-use equipment that has left the New Mexico National Guard with the lowest level of such equipment of all the nation's national guards.

A report last month by the General Accounting Office said the New Mexico Guard had only 33.8 percent of the dual-use equipment it needs as of last November. Dual use is defined as equipment authorized for war missions, but which also could be used to respond to domestic needs.

Brig. Gen. Kenny Montoya, adjutant general for the nearly 4,000 New Mexico National Guard troops, said earlier this month that the Army has never given the Guard the resources it needs ..

New Mexico Guard troops who are not deployed train with M-16 rifles instead of the more modern M-14s. The Guard flies old UH-60 Hawk helicopters not designed for high-altitude missions their pilots have to perform. One Guard truck company had to leave its equipment in Iraq after a deployment, and it took three years to get replacement trucks, Montoya said ..

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/57485.html

[Erika]

1. Good for New Mexico! You DO support our troops

I think W's house of cards concerning this "war" and who really cares about our troops is ready to collapse.

[burrowowl]

3. Richardson support the troops

he has asked for funds to help them out!

[burrowowl]

2. K&R

As should all the States!