New Mexico National Guard Eye Bonuses In ‘Routine’ Move

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico National Guard is working to see if soldiers received improper enlistment bonuses like those reportedly paid to some soldiers in California. But New Mexico National Guard spokesman Joseph Vigil said Wednesday the examination into bonuses is "routine" and has nothing to do with the California probe. He says officials are doing "due diligence" to determine if any of New Mexico members were affected. Vigil did not say if the New Mexico National Guard so far has found any soldiers who received improper enlistment bonuses. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday ordered the Pentagon to suspend its effort to seek repayments of enlistment bonuses given to thousands of California National Guard members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The announcement does not end the reimbursement process but postpones collection efforts amid a long-term solution.