30+ states have such militias on the books, but the next step is to get them actually funded. We did that in Missouri about 10 years ago after the Joplin Tornado happened and most of the MONG were deployed overseas. The "State Reserve Military Force" had existed on paper since the 80's, it was renamed the "State Defense Force" and given actual funding. However they currently act as an auxiliary to the NG to help maintain equipment. Next step is to separate it from the NG and completely divorce its chain of command from the NG.
I spent most of 2019 discussing getting this done between 2020 - 2024 but lots of debate whether to go this route or to adopt something closer to Virginia with counties responsible for creating a muster under Sherriff that can be deputized quickly. A lot of counties already do this. Or whether something else is needed i.e sanctioning militias at the county level with an appointed county "lieutenant" responsible for mustering similar to the old colonial model.
30+ states have such militias on the books, but the next step is to get them actually funded. We did that in Missouri about 10 years ago after the Joplin Tornado happened and most of the MONG were deployed overseas. The "State Reserve Military Force" had existed on paper since the 80's, it was renamed the "State Defense Force" and given actual funding. However they currently act as an auxiliary to the NG to help maintain equipment. Next step is to separate it from the NG and completely divorce its chain of command from the NG.
I spent most of 2019 discussing getting this done between 2020 - 2024 but lots of debate whether to go this route or to adopt something closer to Virginia with counties responsible for creating a muster under Sherriff that can be deputized quickly. A lot of counties already do this. Or whether something else is needed i.e sanctioning militias at the county level with an appointed county "lieutenant" responsible for mustering similar to the old colonial model.