Support Our Troops, Supply Our Troops

By DGA Chair Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius


Imagine trying to do a job without the necessary tools – like a carpenter without a hammer or a doctor without a stethoscope. National Guard units across the country don’t have to imagine; they’re living it, and, as a result, all of us are less secure.

In Kansas, we have 58 percent of our most critical equipment. The rest is either in Iraq or Afghanistan – and some of our levels were diminished even before the war began.

As the commanders-in-chief of our National Guard units, governors are tremendously proud of the service provided by the men and women of our states.

But our states have also felt the impact of that service, both in terms of Guard members being away from homes and businesses for long periods of time, and the shortage of National Guard equipment our states are facing.

The Kansas National Guard is called on to respond to all kinds of disasters, and they’re stretched thin. The aftermath of the horrific tornado in Greensburg and the recent severe flooding we experienced remind us that this is not a hypothetical discussion.

Every time we experience a disaster – natural or otherwise – we become like a gardener without a hose. We can usually get the job done but not as quickly and effectively as our people deserve.

We have a real shortage when it comes to large trucks and Humvees. Only 14 percent of our medium/light tactical vehicles are available, and stocks of other trucks are at or below 50 percent. Low levels affect our ability to train soldiers and consequently can impact their readiness to perform missions here and overseas.

We have the ability to call on other states for help, but unfortunately this is a problem nationwide. Congressional testimony by Gen. Steven Blum of the National Guard Bureau confirms this. In April, he told the U.S. Senate, “the lack of equipment makes it take longer to do that job, and the lost time translates into lost lives and those lost lives are American lives,” Blum said.

USA Today published a report on nationwide Guard readiness. It wasn’t pretty. Thirty-one states have 60 percent or less of their allocated equipment; eighteen states have 50 percent or less.

This isn’t a political issue – it’s a matter of national security.

Our hope is that Congress and the President will address this situation sooner rather than later, because the shortage puts people at risk here at home. We also hope that there will be recognition of the critical roles our citizen soldiers play in our communities.

We must support our National Guard troops and give them the tools they need to fulfill their critical responsibilities abroad and at home.

Editor’s Note: Gov. Sebelius recently accepted the Pro Patria Award for Kansas’ extraordinary support for members of the National Guard and Reserve. It is the highest state-level award given to a civilian employer by the U.S. Department of Defense.

By DGA Chair Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius

Imagine trying to do a job without the necessary tools – like a carpenter without a hammer or a doctor without a stethoscope. National Guard units across the country don’t have to imagine; they’re living it, and, as a result, all of us are less secure.

In Kansas, we have 58 percent of our most critical equipment. The rest is either in Iraq or Afghanistan – and some of our levels were diminished even before the war began.

As the commanders-in-chief of our National Guard units, governors are tremendously proud of the service provided by the men and women of our states.