State defense force State defense forces ( SDF ) are military units which fall under the command of the governor of a state government in the United States . They may also be known as State Militias , State Military Reserves or State Guards They mirror the National Guard in that they are part - time , reserve forces who fall under the command of the state government . However , they differ from the National Guard in that while the National Guard can be federalized and placed under the command of the President of the United States , the state defense force cannot , and they cannot be deployed outside of their state . State defense units are proscribed in 32 U . S . C . § 109 , which states that the state defense forces may not be drafted into federal military service . However , this does not protect individual members from being drafted . In the same law , National Guardsmen and federal reservists may not be a member of a state defense force until released from service . State defense forces operate on a volunteer basis , and usually are not paid for the once or twice a month they drill . Some must provide their own uniforms and equipment . However , if activated , they are usually paid by their state . State defense forces can include army , naval , and air units . History . State defense forces began during colonial America . The colonies would draft able - bodied men into the state militia to protect colonists from attacks by Native Americans , and later , the French during the French and Indian War . During the American Revolution , these state militias would augment the Continental Army . Following the establishment of the United States until 1903 , the United States maintained a small full - time military , augmented by volunteers from state militias in times of war . However , the Dick Act of 1903 established the National Guard as a state militia which could also be called into war as an army reserve . Congress added further clarification to this law in 1933 by requiring all National Guard members to take a dual state ( Title 32 ) and federal ( Title 10 ) enlistment or commission . As a result , many states created state defense forces to fill the gaps when National Guard units were deployed . This meant that during World War 1 and World War II , states had to form their own forces to guard the now - empty National Guard bases , protect against sabotage , defend borders and coastlines , and respond to disasters . During World War 1 alone , around 100 , 000 state guard soldiers guarded key infrastructure . In recent years , they have been revitalized as states have had their National Guard units called up to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan . Modern state defense forces generally serve as disaster relief and as medical or legal specialists who may assist the state ' s National Guard members . Activities . State defense forces can serve in many different opportunities . They generally act as a force multiplier for the National Guard , working non - combat services such as State defense forces primarily serve as first responders to natural disasters . In 2012 , New York Guard units responded alongside their National Guard counterparts to assist in recovery from Hurricane Sandy . In 2005 , Tennessee State Guard soldiers assisted in sheltering the flood of refugees fleeing New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina . State defense forces also offer extra manpower during critical moments . Immediately after 9 / 11 , state defense forces were called up to provide extra security for military facilities , and the New York Guard and New York Naval Militia aided in recovery . In 2011 , Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law a bill to create a state militia in order to fill the gaps in security along the U . S . - Mexico border after the federal government proved incapable of protecting it . State defense soldiers have an extra advantage in that since they are not federal military units , they are not barred by Posse Comitatus laws from performing law enforcement duties . Other units may serve in a specialized capacity . The 10th Medical Regiment of the Maryland Defense Force deployed on a voluntary basis to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and served with distinction . As part of their practice , they immunize and otherwise medically prepare the state ' s National Guard units for deployment . The 121st Engineer Regiment of the Maryland Defense force currently conductions all of the state ' s military facilities . The Texas State Guard Medical Brigade and 1st Medical Company of the Georgia Defense Force also train as first responders in the event of a statewide emergency . Judge Advocate General ( JAG ) units can assist National Guard members with legal issues such as home foreclosure during deployments , child custody issues , and can even draft wills for soldiers . Chaplains may also be recruited , not only to serve their state defense force but also to serve the National Guard under temporarily duty assignment ( TDA ) . The Tennessee State Guard maintains a Special Operations branch . Training . Training varies widely from state to state . Some states , such as New York , require members without military experience to go through Initial Entry Training ( IET ) for a week at Camp Smith , and then choose a class in a specific military occupational specialty . Other states , such as the Massachusetts State Defense Force , offer no initial training , and only allow previous military members into their ranks . However , most of these states which require military experience offer exceptions for those with professional skills , such as engineering , medical , or law degrees . Prospective soldiers may also be required to take advantage of certain free online training classes offered to all American citizens by FEMA or other agencies . Drills occur once a month in most cases , generally on a single weekend day , although some units may meet twice a month . During these drills , soldiers practice their skills and learn new techniques . Equipment . State defense forces may not be funded by the federal government , according to federal law . This means that while the state itself may pay for uniforms , vehicles , and training , state defense forces cannot use federal military equipment , or that of the National Guard , as the National Guard is funded in part by the federal government . However , the use of training facilities is not considered using equipment , so most state defense organizations hold their drills on local National Guard bases , and the 1st Regiment of the Tennessee State Guard is headquartered in and drills at the Naval Support Activity Mid - South naval station , a federal naval property . Uniforms are usually paid for by the individual soldier , but may be provided by the state defense force , or ordered in bulk on discount . These uniforms are usually almost identical to the regular military ' s , using either the BDU ( battle dress uniform ) or ACU ( army combat uniform ) depending on the state , often with a patch indicating the state defense force designation . Although most units augment the National Guard by filling non - combat rules and therefore go unarmed , many state laws have provisions to allow the arming of these forces in the event of an emergency , at the governor ' s discression . Advantages and disadvantages . Advantages . A state defense force is an effective force - multiplier for any state ' s National Guard . Aside from filling in the gaps in a National Guard which may have troops deployed , the state defense force is also cost - effective . These soldiers often do not receive pay for their drilling , and perform duties at a low cost , or no cost , that would cost millions of dollars each year through either private contractors or activating National Guardsmen . Also , state defense units may be specially trained to serve as a niche service that the state ' s National Guard does not have . For example , the Georgia State Defense Force is trained in Chemical , Biological , Radiological , Nuclear , and Explosives ( CBRNE ) capabilities . Members may have full - time careers which bring invaluable experience to the organization in a way that a full - time soldier could not . Most importantly , members live within their own homes scattered across the state , so they can often be among the first responders to a disaster zone , whereas federal assets take time to be deployed . Even if not called out for an extended deployment , local members can augment first responders and local National Guard until statewide deployment is finalized . It is also easier and cheaper to set up a state defense force unit in the vicinity of a key infrastructure , such as a power plant or a pipeline , than to have the state or federal government build up an entirely new military base or National Guard facility from scratch . Also , state soldiers can serve as reserve law enforcement , whereas legally , federal military personnel cannot . Disadvantages . Currently , SDF ' s suffer from a lack of funding , manpower , and training . In the United States , state defense forces are often not well - known . When they are , they suffer from unbased stereotyping . Detractors claim that these organizations are filled with right - wing extremists , or former military personnel who only wish to play soldier . Other critics suggest that they are a haven for anti - federal government activists . Due to the fact that most members are former military members who keep their retirement ranks , there is an inflated ranking system within most state defense forces . States who do not yet have formal training for members and only recruit former military often have older , less physically capable members . These states may be missing out on a large and capable pool of younger , ideally situated volunteers , such as stay - at - home moms or college students , two large demographics which have served with distinction in states like New York and California , two states which provide training for members without military backgrounds . A lack of clear - cut missions may also hamper morale and preparedness . Although some of these trends have begun to be reversed since 9 / 11 with the revitalization of state defense forces , there is much to be done before they can become integrated as vital assets .