Among other responsibilities, the Ohio State Guard staffed a mobile gas warfare demonstration school which instructed more than 25,000 civil defense workers in addition to its own units.

The Ohio Defense Corps was established in May 1949; a minimum cadre for five regiments was recruited within a month.

[8] On 25 October 2019, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law a bill which created a volunteer Ohio Cyber Reserve (OhCR) made up of trained civilians and organized as a part of the Ohio Military Reserve.

The stated purpose of the unit is to be available for the governor to assist eligible municipalities with cybersecurity vulnerabilities and provide recommendations to reduce cyber threats.

[10] In Columbus, the National Guard and Military Reserve packed boxes and served meals to men staying at the Downtown YMCA, including those who have been relocated from homeless shelters.

Although they are covered by the State's insurance and workers’ compensation program, soldiers are not paid for their training time or AT period.

In 2010, as part of its shift to an emergency management mission, the OHMR sponsored training on National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) for all soldiers in the OHMR.

[8] In addition, the OHMR Academy offers a series of Army Institute for Professional Development (AIPD) correspondence courses.

[14] Under Ohio law, members of the Ohio Military Reserve are guaranteed the same employment rights and protections as federal reservists enjoy under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

[15] Members of the OHMR, being a part of the Ohio Organized Militia[16] are treated as law enforcement officers and are immune from arrest during state active duty deployment except in case of treason or felony[17] when aiding the civil authorities after being called upon by the Governor with executing the laws of the state, suppressing insurrection, repelling invasion, or promoting the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this state.