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| The '''State Guard Association of the United States''' (SGAUS) is a ] non-profit organization advocating for the advancement and support of regulated ], as established by state governments under the authority of , and, as recently as 2008, included organizations seeking recognition as state defense forces under 32 USC 109. |
The '''State Guard Association of the United States''' (SGAUS) is a ] non-profit organization advocating for the advancement and support of regulated ], as established by state governments under the authority of , and, as recently as 2008, included organizations seeking recognition as state defense forces under 32 USC 109.{{cn|November 2009}} | ||
| ==History of SDFs and SGAUS== | ==History of SDFs and SGAUS== | ||
Revision as of 05:47, 17 November 2009
 | |
| Abbreviation | SGAUS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1985 |
| Legal status | 501(c)(6) |
| Purpose | "Advocating for the advancement and support of regulated state military forces" |
| Headquarters | P.O. Box 1416 Fayetteville, GA 30214 |
| Location |
|
| Region served | United States of America |
| Membership | 3,000 |
| President | Dr. John D. Taylor (2009~Present) |
| Website | http://www.sgaus.org |
The State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization advocating for the advancement and support of regulated state military forces, as established by state governments under the authority of 32 USC 109, and, as recently as 2008, included organizations seeking recognition as state defense forces under 32 USC 109.
History of SDFs and SGAUS
From its founding until the early 1900s, the United States maintained only a minimal army and relied on state militias to supply the majority of its troops. In 1903, the predecessor to the modern-day National Guard was formed to augment the militia and Regular Army with a federally controlled reserve force. In 1933, Congress finalized the split between the National Guard and the State Defense Forces by mandating that all federally-funded soldiers take a dual enlistment/commission and thus enter both the state National Guard (Title 32) and the National Guard of the United States (Title 10). This division forced states to maintain both a National Guard and a State Defense Force if they desired to have non-federal soldiers. During World War II, much of the National Guard was deployed on federal duty. Many states continued to maintain distinct state militias (some building on ones that never ceased to exist) to defend their own territories and shorelines. In the 1980s, many State Defense Forces began to be reformed and activated. As a result, the SGAUS was formed in 1985 as the State Defense Force Association of the United States. The name was later changed in 1993 to the State Guard Association of the United States, and in 1997 was incorporated in the State of Maryland as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. As of 2008, the SGAUS had grown to members in thirty-three states and territories, with twenty-two respective SGAUS state chapters.
SGAUS Foundation, Inc.
In 2006 the SGAUS Board of Directors created the SGAUS Foundation as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to focus on education, public awareness and outreach programs that support the advancement and support of regulated state defense forces.
Legislative efforts
The organization has supported several legislative efforts related to the establishment or support of state defense forces:
- HR 206 State Defense Force Improvement Act, 2009, 111th Congress
- HR 5658 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act FY09, 2008, 110th Congress
- HR 826 State Defense Force Improvement Act, 2007, 110th Congress
- HR 3401 State Defense Force Improvement Act, 2005, 109th Congress
- HR 2797 State Defense Force Improvement Act, 2003, 108th Congress
Training and certification programs
The SGAUS offers various certification programs for its members.
Military Emergency Management Specialist program
The SGAUS Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) program was created in 1998. The program is structured around the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS). The MEMS program curriculum includes online Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) NIMS and ISC courses offered free of charge through FEMA's Emergency Management Institute's (EMI) Independent Study Program. In addition to online FEMA courses, students are required to complete operational practicums that incorporate the learning objectives of the online FEMA courses.
Certification in the MEMS program consists of three levels: basic, senior, and master, with traditional military style badges awarded to students upon completion of each level. In addition to the badges, those students who participate in operational missions may be awarded a distinctive flash, which is worn behind the badge.
For a short time, there was a MEMS Command and Staff College operated by the SGAUS. Students who successfully completed this program were awarded the MEMS Command and Staff College Unit Citation.
Chaplain’s School and College
The SGAUS Chaplain School and College provides materials of study, discussion forums, and classroom training related to field of military chaplaincy for State Defense Force chaplains and chaplain assistants.
SGAUS Recognized State Associations
The SGAUS encourages the establishment and advancement of regulated state forces through lobbying and affiliation with independent state associations. There were twenty-two independent SGAUS recognized state associations in 2008. State associations are separate entities and not components of SGAUS or state defense forces. State associations are require to have at least 25 members before they can request SGAUS recognition . The following is list of active regulated SDFs and their official websites, which also have SGAUS associations:
Provisional, non-profit, and other volunteer groups
Some groups have sought, but failed to achieve state recognition and have lingered for years as “provisional” or "non-profit" groups. These groups which are not recognized in their states have modeled themselves after regulated state defense forces by assigning ranks, wearing uniforms and conducting training operations. Past SGAUS recognition of these groups has generated dissent with some SGAUS members. Groups that identify themselves as “provisional” or "non-profit" included the District of Columbia Defense Force Association, Inc., North Carolina State Guard Association, Inc., and the Colorado Defense Force (Provisional).
References
- SGAUS mission statement from website
- SGAUS website
- The Founders' Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms, Stephen P. Halbrook, p. 299-309, 2008
- http://www.ngbpdc.ngb.army.mil/pubs/10/ngr10_4.pdf National Guard Bureau Regulation 10-4
- http://www.sgaus.org/State_Chapters.html
- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-206
- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-5658
- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-826
- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-3401
- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h108-2797
- http://www.sgaus.org/MEMS.htm
- http://sgaus.org/pdf/chapters.pdf
- http://www.sgaus.org/State_Chapters.html
- http://www.dcdefenseforce.org/Association.htm
- http://www.ncstateguard.org/
- http://www.cosdf.us/