by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard Major General Benny Paulino testified in support of legislation that changes the qualifications for selection and tenure for his position. Paulino testifying that current law doesn't authorize the adjutant general to serve past the date of his loss of federal recognition.

He said, "The implication of this loss is that the adjutant general loses the capability of serving concurrently with the term of the governor, commander in chief who appoints him a further implication arises in that in a time of numerous deployments and war the Guam National Guard loses its most senior leader."

According to federal law an adjutant general loses federal recognition on the last day of the month in which he turns 66 -years old. The bill before lawmakers requires that the adjutant general be, at one time, federally recognized. By changing the law it would also increase the number of potential candidates locally for the adjutant general position.