ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The National Guard has earned decision-making power commensurate with Citizen-Soldiers' and Airmens' contributions to the nation since the Sept. 11 attacks, the governor of New Mexico said here Sept. 18.
Saying he was speaking for all of the nation's governors, Gov. Bill Richardson also said they should retain control of the National Guard during domestic crises.
He called a congressional effort to allow the president to call out the Guard without notifying governors or consulting with state adjutants general "a power grab." "That provision should be defeated and killed – buried," Richardson said
While addressing the 128th General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) and in comments afterwards, Richardson said Minutemen and Minutewomen have earned increased benefits.
"To put it bluntly, … our Citizen-Soldiers deserve a square deal in Washington," Richardson said. "As many as one out of five at-home Guardsmen have no health coverage at all. That is wrong. That is not right, and I will stand with you. We must change that."
In a speech peppered with humor and interrupted by sustained applause and cries of "Hooah!" the governor outlined his agenda for improvements for the National Guard as an institution and for its commissioned and enlisted members:
- Give National Guard leaders increased decision-making power in the Department of Defense and at the Pentagon. "Since 9/11 our National Guard is no longer the strategic reserve," he said. "It is now part and parcel of the operational force. … The Air and Army National Guard must have a bigger seat at the decision-making table at the Pentagon. Congress should pass the National Defense and National Guard Empowerment Act. The Guard – which is so important to our present military strategy – must have a say in its own future. As the Guard is leading missions around the world so effectively, the clout of the Guard should be stronger."
- Retain gubernatorial control over the Guard during domestic crises. "This is not partisan," he said. "This is 50 governors. … We will all fight this together. … You want decisions made on emergencies in the states, not in Washington. Washington doesn't know anything about droughts or floods in New Mexico."
- Boost the Guard's equipment. "We rob Peter to pay Paul in terms of equipping our troops," he said, explaining that domestic equipment is loaned for overseas deployments, then worn out or left in theater after units return home. "Yet in our states our National Guard still has an important job to do," he said. "To complete the mission tomorrow, they must have proper equipment for training today." Richardson said states should do their part in contributing, for example, with buildings and benefits.
- Make health insurance available to every Guard member.
- Preserve the strength of the Air National Guard. "As the Pentagon right-sizes and considers future missions for our military, I hope they remember the vital role the Air National Guard has played in our history," he said.
- Listen to the generals. "Let me be clear," Richardson said. "Never should we second-guess our generals. Our generals know the game, and they know how to win. … Our generals should have the major say."
- Keep America's military strong. "If America's military power was to diminish, our ability to solve problems diplomatically would evaporate," he said. "But if our military remains the best in the world and we combine that strength with smart diplomacy, we can accomplish almost anything."
"The Guard has – in the eyes of the American people – gained enormous respect and good will," he said. "The Guard are the stars of America's planet today because of the work they've done on the war on terror, in Iraq and with Katrina. They're viewed as saviors, and they should be treated as valued members of our military and not treated as second-class citizens."
Richardson described his own experience with the Guard as a governor who in 2005 declared a border emergency.
"The turning point was when the National Guard came in," he said, claiming increased drug arrests, decreased illegal immigration and decreased borderland crime since Guard members arrived for Operation Jump Start, the Guard's assistance to the U. S. Border Patrol.
"You're everywhere," Richardson said, mentioning counterdrug efforts in addition to other Guard activities.
More than 90 percent of New Mexico's Guard members have been deployed or are currently deployed, and a grateful state has acted unilaterally to help its Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, Richardson said. With 190,000 veterans, New Mexico has one of the highest proportions of veterans among all of the states, he said.
State initiatives have included boosting death benefits, creating a tax check-off that allows citizens to donate money to support military families, extending tax filing deadlines for service members, offering free hunting licenses, extending expired driver licenses for serving troops and paying for the children of those killed in action to attend college.
"We've got to do better than words," the governor said. "Thank you for the service you provide to our country but also the service you provide to our states."