ARLINGTON, Va. — As budget cuts hit all levels of the U.S. military, leaders in the Army National Guard Bureau are fighting back against fiscal hawks in Congress by highlighting the service's long history of defending the constitution and conducting vehicle maintenance at least one weekend per month, sources confirmed.

"These soldiers meet one weekend a month for drill and two weeks in the summer for Annual Training to prepare for deployment along active-duty counterparts," said Gen. Steven Perchman, a top Guard officer. "While many active soldiers look down upon their Guard counterparts, their sacrifice and bravery is integral to the defense of this nation."

He added: "If we didn't have these guys out here once a month driving Humvees to the gas station for a road test, America would fall apart."

On a press tour of a local National Guard armory, soldiers wowed reporters with their contributions to the fighting spirit of the U.S. Army.