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Warner: National Guard needs re-structuring

Washington's Voz

Patricio Carrera
Special for Washington's Voz
07/08/2005

As an immediate need called Virginia Governor Mark Warner the return of troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, during a luncheon with more than 150 attendees at the National Press Club, on Wednesday, June 6, for his annual State of Virginia speech.

“We have to guarantee the immediate and safe return of our men,” said Warner, “besides getting involved in the future of the institution, which must be re-structured so that the Armed Forces can be better used.”

According to the Governor, the National Guard rotation must consider three important aspects: the returning home of the men who intervene in a armed conflict, the recruiting and effective retention of the most experimented soldiers; and how to integrate them in a broader project on defense.

This calls for “sustancial changes” so that our men “feel safe;” he also acknowledged the need of helping in the reconstruction of destroyed cities during war, done in a safe environment . He put emphasis in the need of maintaining peace as one of the priorities.

Therefore, “we need to provide each of our men with the proper weaponry,” said Warner who considers that the nation has the technology to equip the same way all his male members.

The Governos also highlighted the need to pay our National Guard members a fair salary that allow them to support their family with dignity while the soldier is deployed. In order to comply with that the states must “guarantee that the jobs left by the soldiers are left intact awaiting for the soldier to return from his or her mission.”

Each state assigns different amounts for salaries, health insurance, or benefits. Some amounts are paid in Virginia, some in Louisiana, and some in Wyoming, The solution to this problem is “ shared responsibility between the government and the states.

Another aspect that must be revised is the one that has to do with re-training or the one that permits that citizens re-enlist, “a 55 year old engineer can re-enlist and help with his experience in devastated zones,”said Warner.

Warner did not mention his possible presidential bid in 2008, even though some of his supporters see him as a strong candidate in his party for the next primaries. “There are still four more years to go,”said with a smile and mentioned that for now he is concentrated on his Job as Governor.