National Guard adjutant general visit

  • Published
  • By By Marie Vanover
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Maj. Gen Kenny Montoya, the New Mexico National Guard Adjutant General, visited Kirtland Air Force Base Tuesday. As part of his visit, he received a briefing from Brig. Gen. Everett Thomas, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander, and also toured the 898th Munitions Squadron. During the briefing, General Thomas commented on the talents and expertise the Guard members have brought to the Center saying, "The Guard is critical to all areas of the Nuclear Weapons Center--surety, sustainment, readiness, and support."

Twenty-seven Air National Guardsmen work at the AFNWC and another 13 have become civil service employees.

"I appreciate having our Guard members here being a part of something relevant," said General Montoya.

The general has been the state adjutant general since 2003. During his tour, he spoke about the make-up of the Guard. "The New Mexico Guard is a deployable force that comes out of the surrounding communities. About 65 percent of our people have served on active duty, and that makes us better."

Guardsmen are known as 'Citizen Soldiers' or 'Citizen Airmen' and are about 4,000 strong in New Mexico with Army and Air National Guardsmen.

"We are a very diverse organization -- from infantry to military police, engineers and medevac-- our folks represent a little bit of everything," said the General.

The New Mexico National Guard has more deployed Soldiers and Airmen in combat now than it did during World War II. Along with their combat mission, Guardsman also support about 500 funerals a year throughout the region.

"It's important that Guardsman understand the legacy, our Bataan veterans, who went before us. Because of the spirit of our Citizen Soldiers and Airmen, we perform our mission and we do so proudly."

General Montoya commented on the relationship he has established with Gen. Thomas in the last few months and spoke of Gen. Thomas's professionalism, intellect, and gentlemanly manner.

"I am extremely proud of our association with the Center and General Thomas ... I would be proud to recruit him to be in the Guard anytime because of his leadership - this is the highest compliment I can give."