Okla. governor criticizes use of Guard troops - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Okla. governor criticizes use of Guard troops

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry said Thursday he is concerned that the Defense Department is relying too much on National Guard troops for military operations such as the war in Iraq.

Henry commented at The Associated Press’ legislative preview luncheon for reporters, editors and broadcasters a day after it was announced that the 3,500-member 45th Infantry Brigade of the Oklahoma Army National Guard had been picked for possible deployment to Iraq next year.

Oklahoma was one of four states notified to get troops ready for a one-year security mission in Iraq.

“I’m not going to second-guess the president when he says a surge is needed in order to appropriately prosecute the war in Iraq,” the Democratic governor said. “Oklahoma stands willing and ready to do our part. We have done our part in the war on terrorism” in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“I support our troops 200 percent,” he continued. “I certainly pray every day for their safe return to Oklahoma, to their families and to their jobs.”

Having said that, he added he and other governors do have concerns that “the Defense Department is, in effect, reinstating the draft on the backs of National Guard units throughout the country.”

He said National Guard members are citizen-soldiers who signed up, primarily, to respond to emergencies and not for extended tours in war zones. “These are citizen-soldiers. They have families. They have full-time jobs.

“For the Defense Department to continue to rely so heavily on National Guards throughout the country really puts a strain and a stress on the families of the guardsmen, on their employers, who have to keep those positions open and available for them.”

He said he hopes the federal government will reassess its policies on the use of Guard troops in future wars.

In the meantime, he said, Oklahoma will “do whatever we have to do to assist this country in its war on terrorism. And our men and women have great morale; they’re ready to go. I’m just saying I hope that the federal government will realize that we need our Guard troops here in Oklahoma. They need them in Texas. They need them in other states.”