New Jersey State Guard

New Jersey State Guard
Active	1917–1919 1941–1947
Country	United States
Allegiance	New Jersey
Type	State defense force
Role	Military reserve force
Commanders
Civilian leadership	Governor of New Jersey

The New Jersey State Guard, previously known as the New Jersey State Militia, is the currently inactive state defense force of New Jersey. The State Guard served as the stateside replacement for the New Jersey National Guard during World War I and World War II when the National Guard was deployed abroad.

The New Jersey State Guard, along with the New Jersey National Guard and the New Jersey Naval Militia, is recognized as a component of the organized militia of New Jersey.^[1]

History

World War I

On 22 March 1917, the state of New Jersey authorized a State Militia to respond to emergencies and provide reinforcements to local law enforcement in the event of a riot or disorder. Ultimately, the New Jersey State Militia reached a strength of 36 infantry companies, two machine gun companies, and seven bands, all organized into seven battalions, with a total numerical strength of over 3,250 officers and men. Each county in the state had at least one company and one platoon stationed within its borders. The State Militia was armed by the federal government. In addition to the New Jersey State Militia, the state incorporated local home guard units, which were locally armed and equipped by various individual cities, into the state's military command structure by designating such units as a part of the New Jersey State Militia Reserve. These additional forces were given official legislative recognition in 1918, and by 30 June 1918, consisted of 84 units of Home Guard, with a total strength of 6,420 men.^[2]

World War II

The New Jersey State Guard was reactivated in 1941 by executive order.^[3] By the end of December 1941, the New Jersey State Guard was on continuous duty.^[2] During World War II, the State Guard was charged primarily with the protection of vital installations, such as bridges, reservoirs, and power plants. By 1945, the State Guard had reached aggregate strength of 2,076 officers and enlisted men, with over 10,000 men serving the State Guard from 1941 through 1945.^[3] The turnover rate was extremely high; between 1 January 1942 and 30 April 1943, the State Guard, which had an authorized strength of 2,100, lost 946 members to the draft.^[4] The State Guard's composition also varied due to desegregation. In 1943, Senator William Warren Barbour lobbied for a racially mixed State Guard.^[5] Ultimately, Governor Alfred E. Driscoll eventually ordered racial integration within the New Jersey State Guard.^[6]

Legal status

Each state has the legal authority to maintain its own state defense force, as recognized by the federal government of the United States under Title 32, Section 109 of the United States Code.^[7] Twenty-three states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico currently maintain state defense forces.^[8] Under New Jersey law, the New Jersey State Guard is a part of the organized militia of New Jersey, making reactivation possible through executive order or an act of legislation.^[1]

References

1 2 "NJ Rev Stat § 38A:1-3 (2013)". justia.com. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
1 2 Tulenko, Thomas; Chase, Bradley; Dupuy, Trevor N.; Hayes, Grace P. (March 1981). "US Home Defense Force Study" (PDF). StateDefenseForce.com. Historical Evaluation and Research Organization. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
1 2 "Assembly Resolution No. 21" (PDF). New Jersey Legislature. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
↑ Stentiford, Barry M. (2002). The American Home Guard: The State Militia in the Twentieth Century. Texas A&M University Press. p. 124. ISBN 9781585441815.
↑ Carter, Michael (30 October 1943). "Barbour Really Wants to Help". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
↑ "Covenant Decision Hailed as Biggest Story of 1948". Baltimore Afro-American. 1 January 1949. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
↑ "32 U.S. Code § 109 - Maintenance of other troops". Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
↑ Carafano, James Jay; Brinkerhoff, John R. (October 5, 2005). "Katrina's Forgotten Responders: State Defense Forces Play a Vital Role". www.heritage.org. Retrieved 21 December 2015.

State Defense Forces and Naval Militia

State Defense Forces	Alabama State Defense Force Alaska State Defense Force California State Military Reserve Connecticut Governor's Guard Georgia State Defense Force Indiana Guard Reserve Louisiana State Guard Maryland Defense Force Massachusetts State Defense Force Michigan Volunteer Defense Force Mississippi State Guard Missouri Reserve Force New Mexico State Guard New York Guard Ohio Military Reserve Oregon State Defense Force Puerto Rico State Guard South Carolina State Guard Tennessee State Guard Texas State Guard Vermont State Guard Virginia Defense Force Washington State Guard

Naval Militia	Alaska Naval Militia Connecticut Naval Militia New York Naval Militia Ohio Naval Militia South Carolina Naval Militia Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment

Historical/Defunct	Alaska Territorial Guard Arkansas State Guard Delaware State Guard Florida Naval Militia Florida State Guard Georgia Naval Militia Hawaii Naval Militia Hawaii Territorial Guard Idaho State Guard Illinois Naval Militia Illinois Reserve Militia Indiana Naval Militia Iowa State Guard Kansas State Guard Kentucky Active Militia Louisiana Naval Militia Maine State Guard Maryland Naval Militia Massachusetts Naval Militia Michigan Naval Militia Minnesota Naval Militia Minnesota State Guard Missouri Naval Militia Nebraska State Guard New Hampshire State Guard New Jersey Naval Militia New Jersey State Guard North Carolina Naval Militia North Carolina State Defense Militia Oregon Naval Militia Pennsylvania State Guard Rhode Island Naval Militia Rhode Island State Guard South Dakota State Guard Utah State Defense Force Virginia Defense Force Riverine Detachment Washington Naval Militia Wisconsin Naval Militia Wisconsin State Defense Force

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