FORSCOM chief wants to mobilize four Guard brigades

I hope I'm doing this right -- it may be interesting to those of you follow military affairs closely.

There's an article at the Army Times website, saying the FORSCOM commander is recommending that we consider calling up four more National Guard combat brigades for the war on terrorism.

No one will be surprised about this -- though the Kerry campaign might try to go ape-sh** if they think it will give them a headline for a day or so. They'll claim it's a secret plan, though it's been announced in a public speech.

Appearently it is a secret to our State Military Dept., wqhich has spent the last few years stripping any military training or duties from our State Defence Force.

The MDDF (formerly the Maryland State Guard) was specifically organised to take over the State Militia duties if (and when) the Maryland National Guard was called into Federal Service. Who will take over those duties now, I wonder, when the MDARNG is called up for service overseas?

VietVet

>>>The MDDF (formerly the Maryland State Guard) was specifically organised to take over the State Militia duties if (and when) the Maryland National Guard was called into Federal Service. Who will take over those duties now, I wonder, when the MDARNG is called up for service overseas?

They are taping into us for resources. I got a letter from a new Commander yesterday. They are updating their files on the USAVHSSC and the NDFSC volunteers. My papers say to be ready for mobilization for: FEMA areas, search, rescue, medical and 'law enforcement'. Our Corps are divided into 4 commands plus one Air Command and serve the whole USA.

Yes, be afraid, be very afraid. Seems Calpernia is getting called up.

USAVHSSC mission statement:

Mission Statement

The USAVHSSC is a volunteer military organization composed of trained, experienced, motivated patriotic retired and former members of the ARMED FORCES, RESERVES and NATIONAL GUARD, as well as non-veteran, concerned public- spirited citizens. All volunteers serve as CIVIL AFFAIRS BRANCH PROVISIONAL MILITARY RESERVE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. All volunteer officers will be provided free-of-charge Federal Government training courses (independent and group study) to educate each officer in the technical skills needed to serve as an advisor or in a leadership position. The mission goals of the Command is to provide dedicated men and women to support the ACTIVE MILITARY FORCES, RESERVES and NATIONAL GUARD of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA in the war against terrorism (domestically) in non-combat service and support missions, at the local community levels, in times of crisis, to aid in maintaining continuity of local and county governments, in support of the OFFICE of HOMELAND SECURITY, the JOINT ANTI-TERRORISM TASK FORCE, the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, the STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, as well as other Federal Agencies, AS REQUESTED OR DIRECTED BY PROPER AUTHORITY.

Up until now, all I've done is create informational packets for some area schools and churches. The material I've bond together is written by Red Thomas and is on my website: http://goexcelglobal.com/NJ_DefenseForce/

But I've taken the FEMA classes.

I got the letter to report in to Gen. Ralph Moreno the day before.

The Maryland Defence Force [formerly the Maryland State Guard] is/was part of the Organised Militia of the State of Maryland. As such, our responsibilities originally included all the same responsibilities which the Maryland National Guard had as State Militia: to repel invasion, to suppress insurection, and to enforce the Law in support of the Civil Authorities when the CA are faced by combinations of circumstances too strong and severe for them to deal with. The State Guard was twice set up in the first half of the 20th Century, in WWI and again in WWII when the National Guard was called into Federal Service and sent overseas. In the late 1970's, the DoD policies were adjusted to fit the all-volunteer force, and it became much more likely that NG Units would be called into National Service, so Federal Law was amended to permit the States to raise State Defence Forces (Militia) so they would have a Militia to call out in emergencies should their NG units be away. The State of Maryland organised its Maryland State Guard c. 1983 or 4. The name was changed to Maryland Defence Force sometime in the late 1980's.

The Office of the Maryland Adjudent General was never happy with the MDDF. Duties and training were continually restricted, until at the present the MDDF is limited to legal, medical and clerical support of the Maryland National Guard. I wonder what those doctors, lawyers and clerks are going to do if the Guard is called away, and sent overseas (an extreamly likely scenareo, since our main unit is a light Infantry Brigade), and a hurricane comes up the Chesapeake Bay (5 years ago, when one did, the MDDF got together their own 4-wheel-drive vehicles and reported to the armories, in case the State and/or local police needed them; we wouldn't be allowed to do that today), or a blizzard dumps 3 feet of snow on our heads, or a political protest escalates into a full blown riot?

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