Gov. Ted Strickland has gotten responses from the White House to his concerns about the preparedness of Ohio National Guard troops, but they weren't the ones he was looking for.

Strickland has sent two letters to President Bush since April asking for assurances that all Ohio soldiers will have the most up-to-date equipment and training before they are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, including instruction on the equipment they would use in combat.

The governor got a response last month from Maggie Grant, a deputy assistant to Bush, who assured Strickland that "every effort is bring made" to ensure soldiers have "the best available training" before deployment.

Grant also noted that Bush has nearly doubled funding for the National Guard since taking office, and that the acting secretary of the Army spoke to Strickland about his concerns in May.

Donna Warren, the National Guard Bureau's chief of congressional inquiries, also wrote back to Strickland last month with similar assurances and noted, "The president cannot reply personally to every communication he receives."

The governor's office, which released the letters today, wasn't satisfied.

"The governor does not believe these letters constitute a direct response," Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said.

Strickland and Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, the state's adjutant general, have complained that Ohio National Guard troops are being asked to train on different rifles, night-vision goggles and other equipment than they would use in combat.

The Pentagon has noted that the soldiers do get training on the updated equipment at mobilization stations before they are deployed overseas. But Strickland says the soldiers should have as much training with the proper equipment as possible.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has told Congress that a pending budget request includes $22 billion for Army National Guard equipment over five years.

The 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Columbus has been told it could be mobilized as early as December, while the 838th Military Police Company in Youngstown was told last month that it will mobilize in the fall.

mniquette@dispatch.com