Issue Position: National Guard & Reserves

Issue Position

Issue Position: National Guard & Reserves

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have highlighted the importance of our brave citizen-soldiers in the National Guard and Reserves—and the sacrifices they have been called upon to make. At times, as many as 40 percent of American forces fighting in these wars have been Guard and Reserve soldiers. While no one can question their courage on the battlefield, we must question why the National Guard—which is designed to respond to domestic emergencies—is being asked to play the role of a regular army.
visiting members of the MN National Guard in Iraq

Sen. Klobuchar visits with members of the Minnesota National Guard during her visit to Iraq

I am committed to policies that recognize and support the elevated position and importance of the National Guard and Reserves to our national security. As a member of the National Guard Caucus in Congress, I am steadfast in my support of Minnesota's National Guard— and our National Guard and Reserve members continue to serve us all proudly both at home and abroad. As a nation and a state, we have an obligation to wrap our arms around those who serve and sacrifice for us. I believe we can do much better, especially for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserves.

Minnesotans know all too well the burden that is being placed on our men and women in the National Guard and Reserve forces. As recently as June 2007, nearly three thousand members of the Minnesota National Guard were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most had their tours extended as part of the President's new military escalation. In January 2007, only weeks before they expected to return to their homes and families, the 2,600 members of the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division - the proud "Red Bulls" - learned that they would instead be staying until the summer of 2007.

The National Guard and Reserves were not built to serve as an active duty force for prolonged periods of time, yet that is exactly what they are being ordered to do. Guard and Reserve funding and benefits have not gone up correspondingly to match the increased duties. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is stripping Guard units of their equipment in order to make up for shortages in supply. States rely on the presence of a strong and well-equipped Guard in order to respond to domestic emergencies. Today, that response capacity is being threatened by policies that have overstretched and weakened the Guard and Reserves.

On the home front, many of these Guard and Reserve members suffer a substantial drop in their household incomes, because Guard and Reserve salaries are often not comparable to civilian employment. While they are overseas, their families must struggle to make ends meet at home. When the Pentagon decides that Guard members can be mobilized for up to 24 months, the impact extends far beyond the battlefield. We can and should do more to help these citizen-soldiers and their families, while Guard and Reserve members are deployed overseas, and after they return home.

As Minnesota's U.S. Senator, these are my priorities:

* Strengthen the innovative, successful Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. This program provides education and assistance to members of the Minnesota National Guard and their families during periods of mobilization, and helps ease the transition between soldier and civilian life. This program is a model of what our support for the Guard and Reserves can and should be, and it demonstrates how Minnesota is leading the way in recognizing the sacrifices Guard and Reserve members are making today.
* Support S.430, The National Guard Empowerment Act. This legislation reorganizes the elevated role of National Guard members in America's armed forces today, and will grant the Guard a more equitable position in the Defense Department's organizational structure. It will also grant the Guard more responsibility over coordinating federal and local agencies during domestic emergencies.
* Provide incentives for employers to hire Guard and Reserve members, and to keep them on payroll during mobilization periods. Guard and Reserve members and their families should not suffer as a result of their willingness to respond to emergencies, and employers should be rewarded for maintaining their commitment to these brave men and women.
* Grant more equitable pay, health care and post-retirement pension benefits. This is only fair in consideration of the greater participation of the Guard and Reserves within the U.S. Armed Forces.
* Provide greater assistance in pursuing higher education and vocational training following mobilizations. The men and women of the Guard and Reserves who serve in combat situations should be eligible for increased financial aid to attend college and/or receive technical training to expand their employment opportunities.

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