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Among the intense U.S. debate on homeland security and the creation of a new
department dedicated to that purpose, one force of potential use has escaped
virtually all notice: the State Guards. Known in some states as the State
Defense Forces or State Military Reserves, the State Guards are the official
state military services, unpaid except if called into state active duty, and
without the ability to be called up by the federal government. Often they are
unarmed. In most cases, they are organized to assume the functions of the National
Guard if the latter is federalized and departs the state. Volunteers train
and also provide emergency and community services.
State Guards are active in 19 states, with a total strength across the United
States of approximately 8,000-10,000 troops. Naval counterparts, known as State
Naval Militias, are constituted and running in New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and
Alaska. The New Jersey Naval Militia is the newest, reformed in February 1999
by order of Gov. Christine Whitman.
The State Guards and their naval counterparts originated primarily from home
defense efforts during World War I. By December 1917, eight months after the
outbreak of war, 42 states had units, involving about 100,000 men. During World
War II, 46 states, as well as Puerto Rico, organized units, which reached a
troop strength of around 150,000. After World War II, despite some initial
interest, interim federal authority for state defense forces expired in September
1952, and most forces were disbanded. Little state guard activity occurred
for the next 30 years, until the Department of Defense resurrected the concept
in the 1980s. With most of the National Guard and active army deployed overseas,
war would have brought the need for homeland defense and internal security troops.
However, little activity actually eventuated, partially due to dislike of the
State Guards by the more prominent National Guard.
Sept. 11 caused a massive increase in interest in the State Guards. The New
York Guard, then about 1,000 strong, sorted and transported tons of donated
items that were clogging storage facilities, and provided medical and communications
support. Three hundred personnel were activated, in some cases for up to five
months. All the active State Guards have been growing since: the New York
Guard by about 40 trainees each month, the Virginia Defense Force from 390 to
nearly 700 by the start of June, and the Georgia Defense Force has doubled from
300 to more than 600.
However, this growing force has not been integrated into the national homeland
security strategy. Unique in their state status and being under military discipline,
they represent a valuable asset, yet virtually unknown. Their strengths should
be carefully considered with a view to embedding them within the interlocking
web of security efforts as the new strategy for homeland defense is fleshed
out.
Sources
Byers Coleman, Executive Director, State Guard Association of the United States,
email correspondence, July 6, 2002
John R. Brinkerhoff, “Restore the Militia for Homeland Security”, ANSER
Journal of Homeland Security, November 2001, http://www.homelandsecurity.org/journal/articles/displayArticle.asp?article=24
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., “The Governors’ Own”, National Journal, July
6, 2002
Richard Liebson, “Volunteers Go from Civilians to Soldiers in One Week”, The
Journal News, July 20, 2002, http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/072002/20noncoms.html
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