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About
The State Defense Force (SDF) -- also known as the State Guard (SG), State Military Reserve (SMR) or State Guard Reserve (SGR) as determined by each state’s legislature] is a Federally authorized volunteer state military organization under United States Code (USC) Title 32, paragraph 109. The unit reports directly to the Governor through the State Adjutant General, typically in the State Military Department.
The SDF is not typically armed and cannot be federalized as the state National Guard (NG), so that SDF soldiers cannot be mobilized for combat, peacekeeping, homeland defense (such as borders, airports, seaports, etc.) or other overseas missions. In the event of a state emergency, either natural or manmade, the Governor can mobilize the SDF within the state to assist the NG and/or the state’s first responders. This has happened recently in some states, such as New York, Texas and Georgia to mention just a few. More often the Adjutant General will ask for volunteers to assist in mitigating the actual or potential damage. Since the SDF is a volunteer organization, the soldier may decide that he or she is not able to volunteer for that mission and may request to be excused from the unit command.
In rare cases, the SDF may be asked to volunteer for a human service support mission outside the borders of the state. One example is the Maryland Defense Force whose 10th Medical Regiment voluntarily deployed to Louisiana following the Katrina Hurricane, to Kosovo with the Maryland Air National Guard to provide medical support to remote mountain villages and to the Sioux Indian nation in South Dakota, again with the Maryland Air National Guard, to provide medical support of the tribal medical system.
Some SDF units are still formed in the Cold War mission image of Military Police and Light Infantry; others are formed in the current homeland security mission image of units organized for specific missions, such as medical, engineering, legal, naval (rivers, lakes and streams), air (support of ground search and rescue), cavalry (mounted ground search and rescue), all in support of the NG and homeland security efforts; while others are formed by adapting some of each of the other two mission structures.
Organizationally, some SDF units are formed as a Division with Brigades located in strategic cities across the state; others are formed as a Brigade with Battalions located in strategic cities; while some others are formed as a headquarters contingent with specific units that provide their service across the state. The design is typically based on the SDF mission structure, the size of the state and its typography.
The day, time and number of monthly “drills” vary from one SDF unit to another; however, most if not all SDF units require that the entire unit meet once a year for a one or two day “muster,” which includes training, awards and special announcements.
As a volunteer military organization, salary and/or expenses are only available when the unit is activated for a specific mission and the Governor has approved the funds. Likewise, all Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers must purchase their uniforms (one dress and one “combat”) and accessories, and some enlisted personnel must do the same.
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Message to Jewish Military
State Defense Force Chaplaincy