By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – The Missouri Army National Guard is undergoing its largest force restructuring since World War II. The changes are part of a nationwide effort to make the Army more flexible in wartime.
Some Guard units will increase in size. Others, including field artillery and engineering will shrink.
Spokeswoman Captain Tammy Spicer said the move will affect all 8,000 members of the Missouri Army National Guard.
"Overall, that number will decrease, but it will not decrease to the point where any Missouri National Guard member will lose their job," Spicer said. As a matter of fact, we need more guard members right now to fulfill the missions of the future.
About forty percent of the forces on the ground in Iraq are from state national guards. About 1,500 Missouri Guard soldiers are now mobilized. Many of them are serving in Iraq.