Adjutant General seeks $500,000 to reestablish Oklahoma State Guard; highlights recruiting and training programs

Adjutant General Mancino told the General Government Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee the Oklahoma National Guard seeks a $500,000 increase in FY27, primarily to reestablish a State Guard composed of medical, cyber and other specialist retirees who can be rapidly leveraged for domestic missions.

Mancino described the request as a relatively inexpensive way to reestablish a small, focused force of roughly 150–200 people that would mainly be voluntary but require some funding for training, certifications and minimal equipment. "We're asking for...$500,000," he said, framing the proposed unit as a cost‑effective supplement to existing Guard capabilities.

He also reviewed recruiting and training priorities: continued support for the Sooner Job Challenge (a youth job education program that would leverage $1 million in state funds matched by $3 million in federal funds), ongoing counter‑UAS training at Camp Gruber, and routine maintenance and construction funds.

Committee members raised questions about HB 2769 (a separate bill) and how its retirement provisions could affect Guard budgets beginning in FY28; Mancino estimated the bill could cost in the neighborhood of $6 million annually if enacted, but noted the governor had vetoed the measure and the effective date would begin in FY28 if changed by the Legislature.

The subcommittee heard no motions or votes on the Guard request during the hearing.