State defense force
State defense forces generally operate with emergency management and homeland security missions.
[7] The original concept of the unorganized militia being a citizen army which could be raised immediately in times of extreme national emergency.
The law recommended the title "National Guard" for the first section, for federal administration, and "Reserve Militia" for the individual states.
"[12] In 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War and at the urging of the National Guard, Congress reauthorized the separate state military forces for a time period of two years.
[16] By the late 1980s, however, a series of high-profile reports caused several states to shut down or significantly restructure their forces.
"[17] Meanwhile, in 1990, the Virginia General Assembly launched an investigation and subsequent overhaul of its state's force after receiving tips that the volunteers were "saving money to buy a tank.
[20] By 2010 the status of the force had been downgraded even further, with the Adjutant-General of the Alaska National Guard informing volunteers that they would only be called upon as a "reserve of last resort to be used only in the most extreme emergencies.
Another former commander asserted he regularly awarded titles to members of the New York legislature in exchange for their support of budgetary allocations to the force.
The report also noted that a majority of the unit's rare deployments involved providing ceremonial support, such as bands and color guards, to the state government.
The Inspector General's office reported an under-utilization of state defense force capabilities due to a lack of clarity in the US Code regarding the use of SDFs, fueling fear that using funds and assets acquired through the federal government for state defense forces could run afoul of regulations.
This fear of violating regulations also inhibited their use and integration with their National Guard counterparts, preventing them from conducting joint operations alongside one another, and also from volunteering in support of federal missions.
Almost all of the missions reported to the IG's office were non-military in nature, including small-scale search and rescue, disaster management, and other unarmed, homeland security related-tasks.
[24] Due to public fears over the Jade Helm 15 exercises held throughout a number of southwestern states, on 28 April 2015, Gov.
Several bills have been unsuccessfully introduced in Congress since the early 1990s seeking to improve the readiness of state defense forces.
[42] In recent years, state defense forces have focused on retooling their capabilities to be better prepared for future missions by improving their professionalism and interoperability with other agencies.
[47] Further efforts at standardizing training between state defense forces by setting competency requirements have been undertaken by the State Guard Association, which followed its Military Emergency Management Specialist training program with a JAG Academy[48] an Engineer Specialty Qualification Badge,[49] and plans for a Medical Academy in the future.
[50] Individual states have made efforts to increase their capabilities to be prepared to take on future missions.
In March 2017, the California State Military Reserve activated its Maritime Component to lead and assist in future homeland security missions while working in conjunction with other agencies, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, CalTrans, and other civilian departments.
"[52] Florida, in its effort to develop its State Guard, in 2023 it received approval to construct its headquarters and training center in Flagler County.
California, for instance, requires no physical fitness test prior to entry and has weight/height standards significantly more relaxed than the federal service for certain units, but certain jobs — like firefighters, search and rescue, and certain maritime search and rescue/dive personnel within the Cal Guard's Emergency Response Command and Maritime Service — require passing a physical fitness test, pack hikes, and tryouts.
[146] California State Guard wildland firefighters, for example, must complete the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Red Card standards, then complete a Cal Fire interagency training program alongside their National Guard counterparts.
Alabama, California, Indiana, Ohio and others have adopted the MEMS Badge as a basic qualification required of all members desiring promotion.
Training is conducted both online, and through MEMS academies in each state, and includes course material provided by FEMA and other agencies, as well as practical experience in local disaster planning and exercise management.
State defense forces may incorporate Medical Reserve Corps units into their organizational structure.
As a general rule, state defense forces wear standard U.S. military uniforms with insignia closely matching those of their federal counterparts.
The following are examples: The U.S. Constitution, coupled with several statutes and cases, details the relationship of state defense forces to the federal government.
331–333, which distinguish the 'militia' from the 'armed forces,' and which appear to subject all portions of the 'militia' – organized or not – to call if needed for the purposes specified in the Militia Clauses" (Perpich v. Department of Defense, 496 U.S. 334 (1990)).a The Court, however, explicitly noted that it was not deciding this issue.
[181] The following is an extract of the laws which the Court cited as possibly giving the federal government authority to activate the state defense forces: 10 U.S.C.
[182] The same year, Governor Jan Brewer signed a bill which authorized the organization of a state defense force in Arizona.
The Resolution notably includes granting the Arizona State Guard the authority to make arrests and enforce laws.
