National Guard Recruits Despite Furloughs, Budget Cuts

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Army National Guard is continuing to recruit new members even has its full-time soldiers are required to take furloughs because of federal budget cuts.

Recruiting and Retention Commander Lt. Col. Kory Knight tells the Rapid City Journal that budget cut talk has created a false impression among prospective recruits and the general public that the Guard doesn't need new members.

National Guard officials say they have about 60 positions to fill in the next month. And the 842nd Engineering Company in the northern Black Hills has many as 20 positions open for the part-time soldiers who typically train on weekends.

About 4,300 of the nation's Army and Air National Guard members are in South Dakota.

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