The Idaho Army National Guard announced Wednesday that drills will resume this month after there was a question at the federal level whether they could be funded.

"The September problem appears to have been a one-time issue, the result of an unforeseen and highly unusual accounting problem at the national level," said Col. Tim Marsano, Idaho National Guard public affairs officer.

Drills, originally slated for Sept. 6-7 before being postponed, will now be Sept. 27-28 at armories in 26 cities statewide. About 2,500 soldiers were affected by the postponement.

"Many of them rely on their monthly drill pay and they were under the impression that drill was not going to happen this month," Marsano wrote in an email.

Oct. 1 is the start of the new fiscal year.

"In the new fiscal year, we have every reason to expect we won't encounter any problems like the one we saw in September," Marsano said.

The National Guard Bureau issued a statement referring to the funding question at the end of the fiscal year:

"Each year as the fiscal year comes to a close, we take careful and deliberate steps to ensure every dollar is well spent within the limits of our budget and not go over budget. This year some unusual and unforeseen circumstances contributed to higher-than-normal expenditure rates across the Guard. Among them, fewer mobilizations, higher-than-planned training attendance and historical high pass rates at schools contributed to slightly higher expenditures, and the resulting year-end shortfall."

Soldiers were not assured that drills would take place this month at all, a National Guard press release states.

"I am pleased the National Guard Bureau was able to come up with the funds needed to pay for September's drill," Idaho Army National Guard commander Brig. Gen. John Goodale said.

"We are now able to move forward with our annual training plan, ensuring our men and women are ready to respond to either Idaho emergencies or to integrate with the U.S. Army when called upon to do so by the President."

Soldiers should contact full-time personnel at their local armories for additional details regarding the Sept. 27-28 training.