New Mexico State Guard The New Mexico State Guard ( NMSG ) the state defense force of the state of New Mexico . The New Mexico State Guard is an all - volunteer , reserve military force which works parallel to the state ' s National Guard It is authorized by Title 32 , Section 109 , United States Code , NGB Reg . 10 - 4 , Chapter 20 , NMSA , 1978 Comp . , U . S . Constitution , and , New Mexico State Constitution . It is one of three military divisions of the Department of Military Affairs of the State of New Mexico ( " DMA " ) . The other two military divisions are the New Mexico Army National Guard and the New Mexico Air National Guard . The Department is headed by the Adjutant General of the State of New Mexico who holds the rank of major general , a deputy adjutant general and three assistant adjutants general . The NMSG falls under the direct supervision of the assistant adjutant general of New Mexico for state guard affairs . The Governor of the State of New Mexico is the Commander - In - Chief of the NMSG . Training . Procedures and training for the New Mexico State Guard follow U . S . Army regulations and field manuals . While most of the soldiers in the NMSG are former members of the Armed Forces of the United States , state guardsmen are not required to have prior federal military experience . The NMSG now offers its own training in basic military discipline and demeanor , officer knowledge and skills , NCO knowledge and skills , and various operational aspects of assisting the Army National Guard and emergency management agencies with their state duties . The State Guard provides numerous opportunities for limited military training and service for prior - military enlisted and officers who want to continue military service on a voluntary basis , college students who want stateside military service only , and professionals such as physicians , professors , attorneys , and dentists who would like to add military service to their professional portfolio . Duties . The New Mexico State Guard presently has the mission areas of radio communications , medical , honor guard , chaplaincy , heavy vehicle driving and maintenance , and public affairs . In all of these areas , the State Guard has the support of the New Mexico National Guard . While the State Guard functions as an reserve unit to the National Guard , it also has its own missions to help community groups and law enforcement agencies in local communities . Despite some degree of autonomy , all present NMSG missions are approved by the Adjutant General before being put into action . State guardsmen are required to attend mandatory military drill at least one week - end per month , and , can be activated and / or deployed by orders of the Adjutant General of the State of New Mexico , acting on behalf of and in the name of the Commander - In - Chief ( the governor of New Mexico ) . Many members of the NMSG are prior - military , and many are mid - career professionals like attorneys , business people , engineers , professors , medical technicians , truck drivers , and graphic artists . The New Mexico State Guard maintains a medical unit , the 47th Medical Company . The 47th contains both medical and non - medical personnel , who are trained to aid in recovery from natural or man - made disasters by providing medical aid . The 47th has completed both Strategic National Stockpile RSS Training and American Red Cross Shelter Management Training . Pay . Members of the NMSG do not receive pay for weekend drills . However , the Code of New Mexico authorizes state guardsmen to be paid when activated and / or deployed by the governor in his or her capacity as commander in chief .