It served as a dual federal and state military reserve force, essentially a naval and marine equivalent of the Maryland Army National Guard and the Maryland Air National Guard.
[2] Members of Maryland's naval militia served in the Spanish–American War; some members were assigned to the Fifth District of the United States Auxiliary Naval Force, while others were deployed aboard USS Dixie.
[4] In 1907, USS Sylvia was transferred to the Maryland Naval Militia where it served the next seven years.
[5] USS Somers was loaned to the Maryland Naval Militia in 1909 until its return to federal service in 1914.
[7] During World War I, the members of the Maryland Naval Militia were federalized and deployed aboard USS Missouri.