New Mexico National Guard expands youth programs, seeks health‑care support and disaster staff

Major General Miguel Aguilar, adjutant general of the New Mexico National Guard, told the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee the Guard is expanding youth‑focused programs, seeking state support to help part‑time guardsmen purchase TRICARE insurance and making some temporary disaster‑response positions permanent.

“We’re ready and prepared, to help the state in any way that we need to,” Aguilar said, describing the Guard’s role in disaster response, community programs and training. He outlined a multi‑pronged effort that ranges from recruitment and youth development to operational readiness and incremental staffing for disaster mitigation.

On recruiting and youth programs, Aguilar said the Guard operates a Youth Challenge Academy in Roswell (a 22‑week program for at‑risk youth), is launching a Job Challenge program for apprenticeship pathways and ran a six‑week pilot Governor’s Challenge program for middle‑schoolers in Albuquerque that combined literacy, life skills and physical training. Aguilar said the Guard has used partnerships with New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) to create pathways for graduates and is exploring charter school and credit recovery partnerships to prepare students for NMMI. “I want that same success for New Mexicans,” he said.

Aguilar also described a proposal to help guardsmen buy TRICARE Select Reserve coverage. He said TRICARE rates can be “about half the price” of state employee health care and gave examples of premium costs: “$53 for for a single member, $274 for a family,” Aguilar said. He said discussions with the state Health Care Authority could add a request into the state budget this year, initially covering several hundred guardsmen without insurance at an estimated cost “around $500,000 to $600,000.” Aguilar said he hopes statute language will permit the Health Care Authority to cover these premiums partially or fully for eligible members.

On disaster response, Aguilar described a 2023 statutory change (amendment to chapter 20) that allowed the adjutant general to hire guardsmen on state active duty for mitigation and prevention work. He said the state hired roughly 21 people on state orders during recent fires and trained teams in swift‑water rescue and heavy equipment operations; those teams later rescued residents during heavy rains in Roswell. Aguilar asked the legislature to consider making seasonal prevention positions permanent with state funds and then reimbursing the general fund with federal disaster funds when possible.

He highlighted capacity and readiness issues: the Guard’s authorized strength and current fill rates are below authorizations (he cited roughly 3,000 army authorizations and about 1,000 Air Guard positions), and recruitment pressure remains a concern. Aguilar said the Guard is pursuing incentives, community engagement and scholastic partnerships to grow the force.

Aguilar also listed infrastructure and mission updates: the Air Guard recently received three HC‑130J aircraft at Kirtland Air Force Base, the Guard oversees civil air patrol funding and he is exploring a volunteer State Defense Force with a possible cybersecurity mission modeled after other states.

Committee members asked about program expansion, funding and the Guard’s community role. Aguilar invited legislators to Youth Challenge graduations and emphasized the Guard’s interest in keeping younger New Mexicans in-state through training and education pathways.