ABOUT 106 government of Guam employees who serve in the National Guard and are getting ready for upcoming deployment to Afghanistan may be faced with financial losses if changes made in the military leaves of absence for those in the National Guard or Reserves are passed in Gov. Eddie Calvo’s Omnibus Fiscal Reform Act.

The group is part of about 600 soldiers preparing for the upcoming deployment.

Last night, the committee on government appropriations met for the third day of discussions on Bill 507-31. Testifying on the measure was Mark Calvo, who expressed support for the legislation.

He said the bill would save approximately $460,000 a year in payment of allowances for line agencies using compensatory time accrued for military leave. The provisions of the section would be retroactive to Oct. 1 of this year.

“We’re ensuring that we’re providing a viable and financially stable government, and ultimately, in the long run, our soldiers’ welfare after deployment,” Calvo said.

Sen. Aline Yamashita questioned if all the soldiers and families feel the same as Calvo about the proposed cut.

“Did the different units and commands come together and talk about this?” she asked.

Calvo admits he’s not sure what was exactly exchanged between the Reserve and the Guard, but he believes there was input provided on the matter.

“It’s also the result of a lot of input at the village level,” he said, adding the proposal was offered during the village meetings.

There are about 1,400 soldiers and airmen under the command of Maj. Gen. Benny Paulino, adjutant general of the Guam Guard, out of 2,500 soldiers and airmen from Guam and the CNMI. Of the 1,400, Calvo said 23 percent are working for GovGuam. A majority of the members of the Guam Guard are employed with the Guam Department of Education.

Yamashita then asked if there was a consensus regarding the impact of the cuts and Calvo said there was.

“There’s been more than adequate input on this bill,” he said.

For his part, Sen. Ben Pangelinan asked if an alternative way was considered to reduce costs and to give greater recognition with regard to sending soldiers into harm’s way.

“Maybe if they’re deployed to a war zone, then we may want to consider,” Pangelinan said, pointing out there are other alternatives to help a deployed soldier and his or her families. “We’re sending individuals to be in harm’s way and we’re taking away a dollar that could help them,” Pangelinan said.

Day four of the discussions on the spending cuts bill continue this evening at 5:30 p.m. in the public hearing room of the Legislature.