N.M. Guard equipment outlook improves

N.M. Guard equipment outlook improves
By Sue Major Holmes - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jan 19, 2009 13:14:11 EST

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico’s National Guard is getting more of the equipment it needs, although the Guard’s commander doubts it will ever receive 100 percent.

Two years ago, the Government Accountability Office found the New Mexico Guard had only about a third of the dual-use equipment it needed — the lowest percentage of any Guard in the nation.

Dual-use equipment is authorized for war missions but also can be used in responding to domestic needs, such as natural disasters.

New Mexico’s equipment needs have since improved, Maj. Gen. Kenny Montoya said last week.

Historically, he said, National Guard units throughout the country haven’t gotten the equipment they need because money flows from Congress through the Department of Defense to the Army and Air Force, which give the Guard what they have left.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_guardequipment_011909/%2e