It was created to assume the stateside duties of the Kentucky National Guard while the National Guard was in federal service during World War II.

[1] During World War I, the state of Kentucky passed legislation allowing for the state to maintain troops other than the National Guard; four companies of State Guard were raised to replace the Kentucky National Guard while it was deployed.

[2] During World War II, the Kentucky Active Militia was created by the Kentucky Active Militia Law, signed by Governor Keen Johnson.

Kentucky Active Militia members were armed with two foot long strips of rubber hose and given crowd control responsibilities.

[3] By 1944, the Kentucky Active Militia had a strength of 1,674 men.