Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan National Guard received its first "brand new" non-tactical vehicle purchased with funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A 2009 Ford Ranger replaces a 1996 Dodge Dakota and will be dispatched from the Combined Support Maintenance Facility to the Lapeer-based 464th Quartermaster Company. Michigan is scheduled to receive 16 new vehicles for the non-tactical fleet with ARRA funds. Many of these hybrid vehicles use alternate fuels (E-85).

In February 2009 ARRA allocated $300 million for the replacement of Federal vehicles providing more than 17,000 vehicles for Federal agencies nationwide. The Army submitted 2,197 vehicle replacement requests; 1,903 were approved.

One intent of the program is to modernize the federal fleet with newer, safer and more fuel efficient vehicles. Michigan's 2009 Ford Ranger represents not only the first vehicle under this program for the Michigan National Guard, but the first ever brand new vehicle for the non-tactical fleet. In the Michigan Guard the average non-tactical vehicle age is more than 16 years. Prior to accepting this vehicle the Michigan National Guard had exclusively used recycled vehicles through Defense Reutilization and Marketing Services (DRMS).

Vehicles turned in for new replacements will be sold at auction. The proceeds will go to the ARRA Vehicle Replacement Program to fund additional vehicle replacements.

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