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++State Defense Forces++ - ..Information and Discussion..
State Defense Forces
Hello group,
I’d like to introduce myself; I am Sergeant First Class Ron Scott with the Maryland Defense Force. (MDDF)
http://www.mddefenseforce.org/
Now you ask what is the MDDF? We are an authorized State Defense Force (SDF) for the State of Maryland, in Maryland there are four pillars to the Maryland Military Department, - Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Maryland Defense Force.
Unlike the other pillars we are a Volunteer MILITARY organization, we adhere to all the Army rules and regulations, and we support the ARNG.
The MDDF is always looking for Prior Service and Non Prior Service to assist us with our mission to support the Military Department.
Here is some general background, I hope to be able to answer any of your questions.
State Defense Force FAQ ref:
http://www.vajoe.com/board/viewtopic.php?id=97
What is a state defense force?
A state defense force is a military group created under the laws of a state government according to 32 USC Section 109. State Defense Forces are considered state troops and are generally not subject to call up for federal service.
"State Defense Force": is a collective name for those state militia forces belonging solely to a state. Their proper names may include titles such as "State Guard", "State Military Reserve," or "State Defense Force". The terms "state defense force" and "state guard" are often used interchangeably.
Naval Militias created under 32 USC Section 109 are also considered state defense forces, though some Naval Militia have been created under USC 10, and may be called into federal service.
Federal law under 32 USC Section 109 gives a state the right to create a state defense force. The federal government does not create state defense forces. Only a state government can create a state defense force.
Here is a list of State Defense Forces that are currently existing, remember each SDF is different depending on the State and its laws.
Alabama
Alabama State Defense Force (ALSDF)
http://al-sdf.org/Index.html
Alaska
Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF)
http://www.ak-prepared.com/asdf
Alaska Naval Militia
http://www.ak-prepared.com/dmva/stickney.htm
Arizona - None
Arkansas - None
California
California State Military Reserve (CA SMR)
http://www.calguard.ca.gov/casmr
Colorado - None
Connecticut
Governor's Horse & Foot Guards
http://www.ct.gov/mil/cwp/view.asp?a=13 … p;milNav=|
Delaware - None
District of Columbia - None
Florida - None
Georgia
Georgia State Defense Force (GaSDF)
www.gasdf.com
Hawaii - None
Idaho - None
Illinois
Illinois Naval Militia (1)
http://www.illinois.gov/gov/execorder.cfm?eorder=45
Indiana
Indiana Guard Reserve (IGR)
www.mdisdf.org
Iowa - None
Kansas - None
Kentucky - None
Louisiana
Louisiana State Guard
Maine - None
Maryland
Maryland Defense Force (MDDF)
www.mddefenseforce.org
Massachusetts
Massachusetts State Guard
http://mastateguard.com
Michigan
Michigan Volunteer Defense Force
http://www.michigan.gov/dmva/0,1607,7-1 … --,00.html
Minnesota - None
Mississippi
Mississippi State Guard (MSG)
http://www.ngms.state.ms.us/stateguard
Missouri - None
Montana - None
Nebraska - None
Nevada - None
New Hampshire - None
New Jersey
New Jersey Naval Militia (2)
www.state.nj.us/military/naval/index.html
New Mexico
New Mexico State Guard
http://nmsg-military.us
New York
New York Guard
http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/nyg/nyg.html
New York Naval Militia
www.dmna.state.ny.us/nynm/nynavmil.html
North Carolina - None
North Dakota - None
Ohio
Ohio Military Reserve (OHMR)
http://ohmr.ohio.gov
Ohio Naval Militia (ONM)
http://ohionavalmilitia.org
Oklahoma - None
Oregon
Oregon State Defense Force (ORSDF)
www.mil.state.or.us/SDF/index.html
Pennsylvania - None
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico State Guard
Rhode Island - None
South Carolina
South Carolina State Guard (SCSG)
www.scsg.org
South Carolina Naval Militia (1)
South Dakota - None
Tennessee
Tennessee State Guard (TNSG)
www.tnsg.us
Texas
Texas State Guard (TXSG)
www.agd.state.tx.us/stateguard
Utah - None
Vermont
Vermont State Guard
www.vtguard.com/VSG/index.htm
Virginia
Virginia State Defense Force (VaDF)
www.virginiadefenseforce.org
Washington
Washington State Guard (WSG)
http://stateguard.washingtonguard.com
West Virginia - None
Wisconsin - None
Wyoming - None
(1) Status unknown. Legislation passed, but unsure if creating an organization.
(2) Status unknown. May be in the process of being dissolved by the state.+
Thank You and A Question
That's a good first post, SFC Scott. A good initial briefing we might have said back when I was on active duty.
I suspect you'll get hit with a lot of questions, though. In fact, I have a lot, but I'll go through the link you provided for your branch and see which questions remain when I'm finished.
Before that, though, I have a question about your chain of command. I assume that the highest elected official in your state, the governor, is at the top of your chain of command, right?
But what I'm wondering is whether any other elected official at the county or city level is able to call you to duty without going through the governor's office first? Let's say for an emergency -- natural; or human type, like crowd control.
All for now. Thank you.
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EDIT: Okay, I found the following ...
| Quote: : |
Army Institute for Professional Development (AIPD)
Course: MP 1004
Lesson 2 - Legal Aspects of Civil Disturbance - 1994
4. Command.
a. >>>
b. >>>
c. Command of State Troops. State defense forces or state National Guard troops not in federal service may be directed by a United States Army officer with the consent of the governor or other appropriate state official. The Directorate of Military Support is directly responsible for aiding in making policies and procedures for calling the National Guard to active federal service. It also orders other Reserve Components to active duty for use in civil disturbance operations, as well as developing the appropriate measures for employing federal troops. The Personal Liaison Officer, Chief of Staff, Army (PLOCSA), gets state authorities to cooperate with state forces or state National Guard troops not in federal service. They must also cooperate with the military commander in the area. |
But that line "... other appropriate state official." seems fraught with all sorts of interpretations. How well defined is it for you there in Maryland, SFC Scott?
.
No, it has to come from the TAG, it is very well defined, as part of the Maryland Military department we are not used for local events, unless the event has been approved through the chain of command.. i.e. TAG office.
Here is a link to the MD Mil Dept website, you will notice the MDDF is listed there.
http://www.mdmildep.org/index.cfm?content=_homeContent.cfm
Please feel free to ask your questions, and if anyone wants to chat off line please send me an email
I’m not really sure I answered your question in my last post
This is from the TAGs own bio –
https://www.md.ngb.army.mil/tag.htm
“Major General Bruce F. Tuxill is the adjutant general for the state of Maryland. The headquarters is located in Baltimore. As such, he is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting more than nine thousand men and women who make up the state of Maryland Military Department. The military department includes the Maryland Army National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard, Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Maryland Defense Force. In the event of mobilization, should the state receive a presidential call to duty in times of war, national emergency, or operational contingency, the adjutant general exercises command responsibilities and provides a force in readiness. As the adjutant general, he serves as the official channel of communication between the governor and the National Guard Bureau, and serves as a member of the governor’s cabinet.”
I know from first hand experience the TAG is very hands on with the MDDF. My chain of command answers directly to the TAG.
Now lets say hypothetically there is a disaster on the eastern shore and the local area needs such help that they want military help, they would call the State Emergency Operation Center and it would get pushed to the National Guard desk for action, it is very possible the person staffing the SEOC, or the MJOC will be a MDDF member, but they would relay the request for assistance and the TAG and his Military staff, would best decide how to use what resources are available. The MDDF is just one more resource the Military has to use in times of disaster. (Remember we are NOT war fighters, we do NOT train as war fighters,, if we did – they’d probably figure a way to send us to the “Sand Box”) Also, remember we are supporting the state in other ways, not just for disasters.
Okay.... maybe I got it ......is it as clear as mud yet?
Yes, I think that covers that question. Thank you.
And an apology in advance, because I'll ask questions as they come to mind from the links I read and not in any logical order.
While going through those links you provided I found I was looking at the Troop A page. I counted 21 members and I'm wondering if those mounts are owned, fed, and stabled by each of those troop members, or is there some state support at all?
To put it another way, owning a horse is a long-term committment not a hobby, and rather expensive. Do those folks get any help? Maybe free vet services? Seems the least the vets in the state could do to show appreciation would be to offer free vet services for mounts that actively participate in MMD activities.
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I am the wrong person to ask about Troop A, as I am the Engineeer Ops NCO.. But I would doubt the state offers any assistance to them, my bet would be that the horses are owned by the troop members.
Historically we do not recieve that kind of assistance from the state, again... I am not in the Calvary unit.....
We supply our own uniforms, boots, and many other items, currently we are getting ready to change to the new ACUs, all of it will be out of pocket expense to the troops, and if damaged or ruined while on military duty, we bare the cost of replacement, cleaning, and care.
Did you leave active duty as a sergeant first class? How do your people get promoted once they join the state defense force? Do you have promotion boards? Who sits on a promotion board?
Prior military will come in as the rank they left the military with proper paper work to document their status. We have members from all branches of the military
Yes we follow the Army rules and regulations for promotions, time in grade, time in service...
No, I am not prior service, I've worked my way up but have been lucky to have had a good support network to help me along.
The Michigan Volunteer Defense Force has its own site now.. www.mivdf.org if anyone is interested we would love to have you! SDF,s are somewhat unknown to the public, this is the biggest hurdle. When I tell people about the MI VDF the first or second thing that comes out of their mouth is " Michigan Militia" and then the explanation begins.
What is your occupational specialty for the Michigan Volunteer Defense Force? Rank?
Can you tell us more about MI defense force? each state is different, and the missions are all different.
I agree, the public does not know who we are, and that also goes for the current Military, that is why I hope to inform people and maybe get some vets to join.. I'd love to have some good NCOs...
My rank hasn't been established yet. It takes a year from application to first drill. I think they move faster for prior service members. The leadership at the top has been totally changed in the last few months, I assume to address some of the issues. EVERYBODY is a volunteer from the top down, so I'm sure this slows down the process as well. I think my unit is the only one that makes a point to drill every month. We even have a hard time getting patches and small things like that which the MIVDF does provide. You have to remember that the force was just revamped three years ago, so really things are going well.
Your Own Sub-forum
It sounds like some "get out the word" would be helpful to all state defense forces.
Ever thought about a national umbrella group. Could be just for educating the public. -- State Defense Forces, Joint PAO Office --
That might also make it easier to ask the active services to include something about state defense forces in the out-processing done for all personnel leaving the service.
And I could set something up here. I mean a sub-forum just for the subject/topic of state defense forces.
What do you think?
.
A sub group would be a good Idea - anything to help get the word out.
There is a State Guard Assocation, it covers a lot of topics and does work to help move the SDFs forward, Currently they offer the Military Emergency Management Skills badge (MEMS) and it is a very good online and practical course.
http://www.sgaus.org/
