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 U.S. Sen. Kit Bond tours the motor pool with Capt. Scot Ratcliff at the Missouri National Guard Armory Friday in Cape Girardeau. Bond announced he secured $500 million in additional federal funds for National Guard equipment. (Fred Lynch) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
Capt. Scot Ratcliff, of the 1140th Engineer Battalion administrative office, led Bond on a tour of the battalion's motor pool before Bond made his announcement.
"As a National Guard, we definitely struggle with equipment issues," Ratcliff said.
 U.S. Sen. Kit Bond speaks to members of the 1140th Engineer Battalion at the Missouri National Guard Armory Friday in Cape Girardeau. He announced he secured $500 million in additional federal funds for National Guard equipment. (Fred Lynch) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
"Despite its efforts, the Guard is often on the short end of the stick at the Pentagon," Bond said.
Ratcliff said additional funding is necessary to purchase modern equipment that meets the needs of the National Guard as its responsibilities and strategies evolve. He said this includes wheeled, high-water vehicles and updated weapons to enable troops to become proficient with their use during training. According to a news release from Bond, the funds will be used to purchase items such as high-water trucks, military Humvees, communications equipment and night-vision
goggles.
Ratcliff, whose battalion was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2005, said he is unsure of how much of the funds will make their way to Southeast Missouri. He said it depends on the way the money is distributed from the federal government down to the state and local levels. He said he is unsure when that will
occur.
Bond and Leahy have presented the National Guard Empowerment Act as an amendment to the 2010 defense authorization bill, currently on the Senate floor. The amendment calls for the chief of the National Guard to be given a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to ensure that the vice chief has the rank of at least lieutenant
general.
Bond said the chief of the National Guard deserves "a seat at the table."
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Cape Girardeau, MO
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Good, the Guard needs the same quality of equipment as the "Regular Army".
Of course they are on the short end of the stick. They are not federal troops, they are state troops (or they are supposed to be)
The federal govt has too much control over our state soldiers.
They are the Missouri State Guard until the feds mobilize them, which they should not be able to do unless the governor authorizes it.
It's called states rights.
Of course they are on the short end of the stick. They are not federal troops, they are state troops (or they are supposed to be)
The federal govt has too much control over our state soldiers.
They are the Missouri State Guard until the feds mobilize them, which they should not be able to do unless the governor authorizes it.
It's called states rights.
more money to national guard troops. and did it say for night vision equipment? would that make it easier to see the beings who are responsible for the orange lights in the sky. coincidence... i think not! and if you go to cape and look in the motor pool there are NO vehicles to use against the hordes readying for the big attack on earth. wake up people! the government is using us AND our tax dollars in a giant chess game. dont let the man keep us and our money down!