Posted on 02/25/2014 8:30:47 PM PST by matt1234
[In light of obama's threats to the governors, many have asked if the Several States have their own military forces, not subject to federalization. Here's the list with links to each.]
The following is a list of the nation's twenty-three active state defense forces.
Alabama
Alabama State Defense Force
Alaska
Alaska State Defense Force
California State Military Reserve
Connecticut
Connecticut - Governor's Foot and Horse Guard Units
Indiana
Indiana Guard Reserve
Louisiana
Louisiana State Guard (Louisiana State Military Department)
Maryland
Maryland State Defense Force
Massachusetts
Massachusetts State Defense Force
Michigan
Michigan Volunteer Defense Force
Mississippi
Mississippi State Guard
New Jersey
New Jersey Naval Militia
New Mexico
New Mexico State Guard
New York
New York Guard
Oregon
Puerto Rico State Guard
South Carolina
South Carolina State Guard
Tennessee
Tennessee State Guard
Texas
Texas State Guard
Vermont
Vermont State Guard
Virginia
Virginia State Defense Force
Washington
Washington State Guard
There’s a reason North Carolina is not on the list. The Wikipedia version of the story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_State_Defense_Militia
The Texas State Guard are not a real military force.
I would never salute an officer in the State Guard nor take any direction from him.
They are primarily a disaster response force and have little to no combat training.
Colorado also has the Colorado Mounted Rangers. Technically a statutory volunteer law enforcement agency with the same arrest authority as the State Police, they can be called to defend the State as well.
What threats are these?
I get your meaning, but I think you might have overstated your case a little bit. You are correct insofar as State Guards are generally not on the same level of proficiency or preparedness as National Guard or Fed forces. However, they are still military, if only State military. And in my state, if you were a National Guardsman on a joint exercise with the State Guard, and you failed to render proper respect to State Guardsmen who were senior to you, you would be in trouble. Remember: many if not most State Guard members are retired from Fed service or National Guard, and such State Guard members have a LOT of experience.
Rick Perry: “I was troubled today by the tone of the president…”
According to Governor Perry, obama said since they had been asking for debt reduction, the state guards would be cut and he better not hear any pushback or they would be hearing from him. This dude is acting like a punitive dictator. obama also told them all he didn’t trust them to make decisions about their own states.
OMG! Not the State Guard, our special elite troops? Ya gotta be kiddin me? If they have any equipment, its probably something left over from 1865. I shared an Amory with them years ago, we even saw them train with radio shack walkie talkies. It was like a group of guys playing soldier. I do have to say that a couple of them were WW II vets and took their job seriously, but many were just volunteers who would probably be rejected by the services. We referred to them as the Volkssturm unit.
Matt1234 popped me a link explaining that.
Funny thing is that the Governors could totally throw a monkeywrench in the political elite's plans with one simple order. (I sent that [rewritten a bit, and using their States's constitutions] to virtually all the State governors and only got two or three replies… some even asserting that the matter was federal even though the letter clearly showed it within the governor's powers.)
Probably also related to the “14 Governors” story making the rounds ...
http://texas.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2010/06/14-governors-threatened-hoax/
..which I now suspect is not worthy of much credence.
But I agree with you in that most State Guards would need a lot of work and additional equipment to become effective fighting forces. Most of them are not trained much for warfighting because that is not their role. Usually, their role is disaster relief.
Militia, by definition, are civilians with little training.
State militia, not subject to federalization, is an idea whose time has come, I believe.
It seems like one overreaction led to another.
As a former State Guard member, I can attest to a little friction among Fed forces, National Guard and State Guard. Some people seem to always want to assert their superiority, real or imagined. However, in most cases, people were very friendly and accepting. I participated in many joint exercises and didn't encounter much friction. Sometimes, people did push on me a little harder, but I figured they were just testing me. I didn't take it personally.
*”State Guards are generally not on the same level of proficiency or preparedness as National Guard or Fed forces.”*
Are you kidding? They aren’t anything like combat forces, enlist at 70 years old, and you need a valid driver’s license?
Here is Texas for instance.
ENLISTMENT REQUIREMENTS
-Resident of Texas or enrolled student
-Age 17 to 70
-Reasonable Good Health
-Pass criminal background check
-Valid Texas Drivers License
-Prior Military Service NOT required
-If Prior Service - Honorable discharge required
-Helpful skill sets: JAG/Military experienced Attorneys, Rescue, Medical [Doctors, Nurses, Dentist, Dental Asst., Paramedics, EMT], Civil Affairs, Chaplain, Communications, IT, CPA, Education, Historian
-No educational requirement for enlistment
I would have laughed at you for that ten years ago, but now I am looking for a GOOD militia unit in PA.
I trained with one a few years ago. The head guy was earnest and knew his stuff, but everyone else just blew it off.
bkmk
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