U.S. National Guard chief says funds lagging risks

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

U.S. National Guard chief says funds lagging risks
By Kristin Roberts

MUSCATATUCK, Ind., May 13 (Reuters) - The National Guard is likely to see an unprecedented level of new funds to fix or replace equipment worn out in Iraq and Afghanistan, but that's still not enough to make the force ready for homeland missions, its chief said.

"The president's budget is unprecedented in the history of the Guard in providing money to the Army National Guard to reequip," said Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

But still, it leaves equipment gaps, especially in the area of Humvees, trucks and other transport gear, that do not match the level of risk Blum said he sees.

"There's a serious commitment to do this, but that still only takes us to a level I'd rather not talk about."

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