Murray questions readiness of Guard units

WASHINGTON — Washington Sen. Patty Murray questioned a top general Wednesday on whether National Guard units are adequately prepared to fight the war in Iraq.

Murray, a Democrat and senior member of the Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee, visited a National Guard base near Tacoma on Monday. She said the "stress and anger" among Guard and Army Reserve members "was at an all-time high."

Guard members are concerned about a lack of equipment and frustrated at the short notice they receive before being called to active duty, Murray said.

In many cases they are not prepared — mentally or physically — to return to Iraq, she told the head of the Pentagon's National Guard Bureau during a Defense Appropriations subcommittee hearing.

The lack of preparation time — in some cases four weeks — poses significant problems for Guard and Reserve members in obtaining health care, preparing families for their departure and informing employers, Murray said.

Murray and other senators cited a study by the General Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, that found 90 percent of Guard units are not ready for deployment to Iraq due to a lack of training, equipment or rest.

Overall, Guard units in Washington state have a 45 percent shortfall in equipment, said Guard spokesman Lt. Keith Kosik. Washington state has about 8,500 troops in the Air and Army national guards.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Dierickx, of Klamath Falls, Ore., said he has completed three tours in Iraq with the National Guard. At home, his equipment dates as far back as 1953, he said.

"If we left with what we have, we wouldn't be adequately prepared," he said.

Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum said that although Guard units in the states face equipment shortages, they would not see such shortages in Iraq.

"Make no mistake about this, no soldier, no unit for the National Guard, will go to war unready. It won't happen," he said.

Blum said it would take $38 billion over six years to bring equipment levels to 100 percent in Guard units in all the states and U.S. territories.

"The National Guard, today, I am sorry to say, is not a fully ready force," he said.

But he said those problems can be solved if Congress made needed appropriations to buy new trucks, helicopters and night-vision devices.

Medill News Service reporter Laura Onstot contributed to this story.