Guard units postpone drills due to shutdown

The Hawaii National Guard is postponing this weekend’s regularly scheduled monthly training for nearly 5,000 soldiers and airmen due to the federal government shutdown.

Most Hawaii Army National Guard units are now tentatively scheduled to perform drills Oct. 19-20, Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Chuck Anthony said in a news release.

Army Guard soldiers should check with their respective commands for exceptions to the general rule, Anthony said.

Most Hawaii Air National Guard units will perform makeup drills in preparation for an Operational Readiness Inspection scheduled for Nov. 4-8.

Makeup dates for airmen are still to be determined and will be set at the discretion of the Air Guard command, Anthony said.

Uncertainty about federal funding for the monthly drills and the furlough of many federal technicians who help coordinate the training led to the postponement.

The rescheduling will disrupt the usual predictability of drill weekends and the need in some cases for citizen soldiers and airmen to be off work on those weekends.