National Guard Soldiers, Airmen to be Furloughed

KAPOLEI, Hawaii - More than 1,100 National Guard soldiers and airmen in Hawaii - and thousands in other states - will be living with 20 percent less pay over the next three months as the Defense Department carries out automatic federal budget cuts. Guard members will be furloughed for one day a week starting Monday, so helicopter pilots and mechanics, pay and finance clerks and others who keep the guard operating will have eight hours less each week to do their jobs. It's not clear precisely what effects the unprecedented cuts will have. They could, however, make it more difficult for the guard to fly helicopters to help put out wildfires or rush to the scene of natural disasters in trucks.

SOURCE

I don't like the sounds of this, as we continue marching on with the war machine abroad we have to cut budgets for our safety and resources here at home. Of all the places that need on call troops they furlough this is a great way to support the guardsmen that will be their in the event of a hurricane, or a wild fire, and the likes. As Americans we are going to have to stand up at some point and not demand change, we need to work together and create a change. It is a shame our forces at home go without leaving us at a disadvantage while other departments beat their chests about homeland security and all that.

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What 'war machine' abroad?

The Iraq war is 'over' Afghanistan is winding down and I was under the impression that the National Guard is primarily funded by the state, except when it is called overseas which put's it on the government dime.

If they weren't buildings to nowhere this might not be an issue.

And we are talking about Hawaii here where 'other things are more important'.

I blame the state any number of things they can do to keep them working.

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