State Guards in T2K (Includes User-made Unit)

[Raellus]

I'm sure that it's been mentioned here before but I can't find a dedicated thread. Anyway, State Guard units seem like an interesting patron, ally, or adversary for CONUS-based campaigns. State Guard units answer to the state governor and can't be federalized.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_defense_force

The New Mexico State Guard, for example, was, up until very recently, a small (about 50 personnel), part-time, unpaid, unarmed force, called on, from time to time, to perform several support roles, mainly disaster-relief. Obviously, WWIII would change that, and I envision their size and role expanding, especially after the TDM.

[Raellus]

New Mexico State Guard (aka 'The Depends Brigade')

BACKGROUND

Originally a small, unarmed civil defense force consisting of around 50 part-time, unpaid members, the state defense force of New Mexico served pre-war in a diverse range of capacities, including radio communications, medical, honor guard, chaplaincy, heavy vehicle driving/maintenance, and public affairs. The NMSG also maintained a separate medical unit, the 47th Medical Company, which was trained to respond to assorted man-made and natural disasters.

With the outbreak of WWIII, the NMSG was expanded but continued to serve in the same support roles. Now incorporating large numbers of personnel over the draft ceiling age, the NMSG was derisively nicknamed the 'Depends Brigade'*. The bulk of the reinforced NMSG was deployed to the El Paso area in late 1997 to assist in disaster relief operations following the Soviet .25 megaton nuclear strike on the city's oil refinery.

The United States government, at both federal and state levels, was unprepared and ill-equipped to meet the surprise Mexican invasion of the southwest. By 1998, most Air Force combat wings, and regular army and national guard units, had been deployed overseas, leaving CONUS defenses badly overstretched. The defense of New Mexico fell to the Fort Bliss School Brigade, assorted USAF base security personnel from Holloman and Kirtland AFB's, and the State Guard.

In 1998, armed with obsolete weaponry from dusty New Mexico National Guard (NMNG) stockpiles, elements of the NMSG were rushed to the Las Cruces area to assist the School Brigade in defending the city from Mexican invaders. Badly mauled by well-armed Mexican regulars, most of the survivors fell back on Albuquerque to form the cadre of a rebuilt state guard. Acting on their own, without orders, a few doughty NMSG personnel stayed behind to organize small partisan bands behind Mexican lines.

On new year's day, 1999, citing the civilian government's failure to defend the state, Kirtland AFB commander, Colonel Cliff Reynolds, with the collusion of Santa Fe County Sheriff, Michael Villa, took over as governor of New Mexico, declaring martial law, dissolving the state legislature, and relocating the capitol to Albuquerque. In order to consolidate his control of the state, Governor Reynolds authorized the rebuilding and reorganization of the SDSG, rechristening it the New Mexico State Defense Force and transforming what had been a lightly armed civil defense force into a paramilitary army capable of offensive operations and answering directly to the state governor. The revamped NMSDF was formed around a core of loyal USAF personnel, surviving members of the State Guard, and local law enforcement personnel. Reynolds's authorization order also attempted to subsume every other armed resistance/partisan group still operating in the state, with mixed results. Several groups rallied to the flag, others paid only lip service while using their new official designation to give their marauding activities a thin veneer of legitimacy. Some groups ignored the authorization order altogether, continuing to operate independently.

In an effort to make himself indispensable to MilGov, Governor Reynolds announced his intention to liberate southern New Mexico, with a planned early summer 2001 offensive spearheaded by his refurbished NMSG.

TOE

[I still haven't decided how large or organized the post-Mexican invasion NMSG would be.]

UNIFORM

The pre-war New Mexico State Guard was issued woodland pattern BDUs, then in widespread use by all major branches of the U.S. military. This remained the standard combat uniform of the NMSG/NMSDF throughout the course of the war. Government-issue fatigues were supplemented by army surplus and private stock (some state law enforcement SWAT teams also used woodland pattern BDU). A large stockpile of Desert ("Chocolate Chip" pattern) BDUs was discovered in storage and issued as well. Regardless of attempts to create a standard NMSDF uniform, various non-standard field uniform configurations have been documented. Given the climate of New Mexico in the summer months, army surplus O.D. jungle fatigues were a popular, fairly common alternative. Many items of civilian clothing (especially footwear) were used as well.

In order to aid in recognition and avoid friendly-fire incidents, NMSDF were instructed to wear a yellow arm and/or helmet band while operating in the field (yellow being the predominant color of the New Mexico state flag).

NMSG/NMSDF load bearing equipment is mostly the ALICE pattern. Modern body armor has never been widely available to the force. M1 "Steel Pot" helmets continue to much more common in the ranks than the newer PAGST Kevlar "K-Pot" (aka "Fritz) helmet. Similarly, there are more Vietnam-era M-69 nylon flak vests than modern PAGST Kevlar vests currently in NMSDF service, but body armor in general is scarce.

WEAPONS

Just prior to its combat debut, the New Mexico State Guard was equipped with obsolescent military weaponry and equipment drawn from reserve NMNG storage. M14 battle rifles, M3 submachineguns, M1911A1 pistols, and M1918 BARs are still standard issue, supplemented by civilian and law enforcement M16 and Mini-14 assault rifles, and sundry department issue and personal sidearms. Various pieces of military weaponry captured from Mexican forces have also been put into use.

NMSG heavy weapons consist of a handful of M40 105mm and M67 90mm recoilless rifles, early versions of the M72 LAW, M2HB heavy machineguns, M1919 medium machineguns, and M79 40mm grenade-launchers. NMSG artillery was limited to a few 60mm and 81mm mortars.

VEHICLES

The New Mexico State Guard's motor pool consists primarily of retired New Mexico National Guard trucks, most commonly M151 jeeps, M35 2.5-ton 6x6 trucks (assorted variants), M54 5-ton 6x6 trucks (assorted variants), and M1009 3/4-ton utility rigs. Several of the 2.5 and 5-ton trucks were converted into lightly-armored and heavily-armed gun trucks.

This military vehicle fleet has been supplemented by various makes and models of lightly modified civilian pickup trucks and SUVs, most painted in custom camouflage suited to the geography of the region.

The State Guard motor pool also boasts a handful purpose-built armored vehicles, including a three Cadillac Ranger armored cars (2 USAF 'Peacemaker' versions and one local law-enforcement SWAT vehicle) and one former USAF Cadillac Gage Commando (V100).

Aircraft

Most of the aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary, left at Kirtland are inoperable due to a lack of aviation fuel and spare parts. Those that can still fly are used only sparingly. However, the NMSG employs several ultralight aircraft in the scouting and light attack roles. Two helicopters, originally belonging to state law enforcement agencies, are also on the NMSDF's aviation rolls, but have not flown in some time due to a lack of spare parts.


*'Depends' is a brand of adult undergarments (often uncharitably referred to as adult diapers).

[Jason Weiser]

I'm sure that it's been mentioned here before but I can't find a dedicated thread. Anyway, State Guard units seem like an interesting patron, ally, or adversary for CONUS-based campaigns. State Guard units answer to the state governor and can't be federalized.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_defense_force

The New Mexico State Guard, for example, was, up until very recently, a small (about 50 personnel), part-time, unpaid, unarmed force, called on, from time to time, to perform several support roles, mainly disaster-relief. Obviously, WWIII would change that, and I envision their size and role expanding, especially after the TDM.

Rae,

Found the thread you are looking for!

http://forum.juhlin.com/showthread.phpt=356

About halfway down.

[Raellus]

Thanks, Jason!

[CDAT]

Just some little info on at least some state guards. Some states use them for odds and ends jobs. I talked with some from WA and all most all of them are retired military who in the state guard retain their old rank (lots of MSG and above, on the enlisted side, and from my understanding LTC and above on the officer side with few of the lower ranks) and their main mission is to take care of national guard armories when the national guard is deployed.

On the other hand the CA state guard did a lot when the CA national guard unit I got attached to deployed, they did all the screening and all the admin stuff needed to make sure that the troop was deployable and again most of them were former military but with the ones I talked with they were not mostly retired and almost entirely officers with captain and major most common that I saw. Neither type would be very usable in a combat role the WA type they are too old and to far removed even when they were still in to know what to do in combat if it hit them in the face, and the CA model were all medical and admin staff. Not saying that there is not a third (or more) types out there but all the different state guards that I have seen fell into one of those types.

[rcaf_777]

Some states use them for odds and ends jobs.

I would guessing that would still be the case in Twilight, you see them doing maybe physical security at point were sabotage could committed by Soviet Agents, Nuclear Power Plants, Locks, Dockyards, War Material Productions Plants, Airports to name a few.

I could also see them doing POW duties such as escorting POW's within their state or watching them on work details. These duties would not mandatory but duties voluntary done as service to federal government thru the State government. (IE Hey Governor X, can your troops help out POW Camp 123 with work detail escort, we give you that federal money for project Y)

[RN7]

There was some discussion about State Guards midway down on the first page of this thread...

http://forum.juhlin.com/showthread.phpt=4800

[The Dark]

Just some little info on at least some state guards. Some states use them for odds and ends jobs. I talked with some from WA and all most all of them are retired military who in the state guard retain their old rank (lots of MSG and above, on the enlisted side, and from my understanding LTC and above on the officer side with few of the lower ranks) and their main mission is to take care of national guard armories when the national guard is deployed.

On the other hand the CA state guard did a lot when the CA national guard unit I got attached to deployed, they did all the screening and all the admin stuff needed to make sure that the troop was deployable and again most of them were former military but with the ones I talked with they were not mostly retired and almost entirely officers with captain and major most common that I saw. Neither type would be very usable in a combat role the WA type they are too old and to far removed even when they were still in to know what to do in combat if it hit them in the face, and the CA model were all medical and admin staff. Not saying that there is not a third (or more) types out there but all the different state guards that I have seen fell into one of those types.

VA has around 1000 members in the Virginia Defense Force (the goal is to have 1200 members). They follow both systems in a way - the VDF secures NG facilities when those units are deployed, assists in NG mobilization, and is used for disaster relief. They're also technically liable to be called up in case of invasion or insurrection, to support law enforcement, or "[w]hen any combination of persons becomes so powerful as to obstruct the execution of laws in any part of this Commonwealth". I haven't heard of any VDF working with law enforcement, but I've only been here for around a year, so it may have happened in the past. Any unorganized militia ordered into service by the Governor becomes part of the VDF (per Title 44-88) and anyone failing to do so when ordered is subject to court-martial (Title 44-90). The VDF is unarmed unless ordered otherwise by the Governor.

In a T2K scenario, I figure they'd get the leftovers of the VNG equipment and serve pretty much the same role - guarding bases and possibly civilian government facilities as well. Since they're not draft-exempt, I expect the VDF would fairly soon end up with the too-old and the too-young (they can accept volunteers as young as 16 under current law), and they'd probably have ended up with a lot of 16 and 17 year olds who saw it as a way to get some training before being sent to the war.

[chico20854]

I worked up a piece on the State Guards a few years back. I've posted it at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1i...iewusp=sharing Please let me know if the link is dead!

I've written up a couple State Guard unit histories. I'll try to get some posted this week!

Enjoy!

[unkated]

Search on "State Guard" there are several threads.

Including this one: http://forum.juhlin.com/showthread.p...=massachusetts

Uncle Ted

[Raellus]

@Chico: Great piece. Thanks for linking to it from this thread. I look forward to reading your SG histories.

RN7 posted that link two messages ago, but thanks, unkated.

[chico20854]

41ST OREGON REGIMENT - This unit, with headquarters in Tigard (a southwestern suburb of Portland), was called into state service in November 1996 and assumed responsibility for maintaining security for the port and shipyards in the city. It gradually absorbed new recruits flowing into the system, rejecting many due to histories of criminal or drug-related activity. This standard, unusual among state guard units, allowed the regiment to operate on a more professional basis than most of its peers across the nation. As the war spread across the world in 1997, the regiment, in cooperation with the other two Oregon regiments, began planning for evacuation of the civilian population of Portland. The 41st's role was to run the assembly/transportation sites and assist law enforcement in traffic control (as all major routes would be set up to run traffic outbound in all but one lane). The first panicked evacuation occurred in July following the first Soviet nuclear attack on NATO troops; several other false alarms occurred over the following months. During each of these, the regiments troops operated the sites (at local high schools) that loaded city transit and school busses with local residents that did not have cars and dispatched them to suburban and rural high schools that were considered safely out of danger from strikes on likely nuclear targets. Following the earlier evacuations the planning was modified to make greater use of the rail system (both commuter and freight) as well as barges on the Columbia River as well as providing for an armed militiaman as an escort for every vehicle (after a bus of elderly evacuees was stopped and robbed at gunpoint by bikers). After the nuclear strikes on Washington, DC and refineries around the nation the regiment once again evacuated the city; the evacuation was not flawless but was one of the most successful in the nation, moving nearly 1.7 million people over five days. The regiments troops dispersed during the evacuation, providing security at the evacuation sites. In spring 1998 the Governor of Oregon declared that the Portland area would be reoccupied and the regiments troops were tasked to encourage this movement. This was a considerably more difficult effort, as fuel stocks had dwindled and the units elements had limited communications, having relied on the civilian telephone network or use of the state polices radio network. Nonetheless the regiment was able to rally many of its troops back to Portland, where it, combined with the remnants of the 82nd Regiment, provided law enforcement for the city as well as protecting the state capitol and government alongside the 47th ID.

Current Location: Portland, OR
Manpower: 300

[chico20854]

MINNESOTA REGIMENT - The Minnesota State Guard was reactivated in December 1996, following decades of existence on paper only. Organized as a two-battalion regiment, it was staffed by retirees of the Minnesota National Guard who were medically unfit for overseas service, retired law enforcement officers, carefully screened veterans and students and recent graduates of the National Guards program for troubled teens. A third battalion was also raised as a paper formation, composed of state law enforcement officers (state police, game wardens, prison guards and park rangers), so that they could be granted military status under the law. Each battalion was formed with seven small companies, each of which served one day a week; the units admission standards led the regiment to be one of the most professional militia units in the nation, on par with many National Guard units. First Battalion protected various industrial sites in the Twin Cities area, while 2nd Battalion guarded the port facilities in Duluth as well as establishing evacuation sites in rural areas, using Minnesotas state park system as well as hundreds of campgrounds and resorts. Units were equipped with M-1 Garand rifles and M-1911 pistols; no heavier weapons were issued. Like other state defense force units around the nation it was involved with the repeated false alarms throughout the summer and fall of 1997 as the nuclear exchange escalated worldwide. Both regular battalions were called into full-time service following the Thanksgiving Day Massacre, with 1st Battalion responsible for assisting in the evacuation of the Twin Cities and 2nd Battalion in their reception in smaller towns and cities. First Battalion was called away from evacuation duties to respond to the SLBM strikes on the Rosemount and St. Paul Park refineries on December 18. By the time relief duties had been completed (firefighting and support of survey and salvage efforts) order had broken down in large areas of the state and the state government had relocated to the military-controlled enclave at Camp Ripley. First Battalion relocated to the military base, while 2nd Battalion, dispersed across hundreds of sites, was officially disbanded and 3rd Battalion called into active service (absorbing additional recruits from the 70th ID on base to fill the battalion out). A detachment seized the M-16s and M-203s awaiting delivery from a small arms plant in Becker and ammunition from plants in the suburbs of Minneapolis, allowing 3rd Battalion to be fully equipped with automatic weapons. During this time the regiment took its first casualties from radiation, both from service near the refinery blasts and from fallout from the ground bursts on the ICBM fields and SAC bases in the Dakotas to the west. In the summer of 1998 the two-battalion regiment played a major role in maintaining order in the central part of the state, conducting joint patrols with Task Force Trailblazer of the 70th ID and protecting the state government as well as overseeing distribution of the limited amounts of food, fertilizer and fuel available to the state. The state government effectively avoided choosing allegiance to either Milgov or Civgov, officially recognizing the authority of both but taking its own decisions in the absence of support of any kind from either entity. Local opposition consisted of biker gangs, wandering groups of desperate, armed refugees and, on occasion, recalcitrant local farmers who balked at the quantity of crops seized by the unit to support the civilian population.

Subordination: Minnesota State Government
Current Location: Camp Ripley, MN
Manpower: 500

[chico20854]

5TH CALIFORNIA BRIGADE - A California State Guard unit, with headquarters in Fresno and battalions at Camp San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, Porterville and Fresno. Assigned to the Northern Area Command this brigade began a rapid expansion in the summer of 1996 from a cadre to a fully staffed organization by absorbing hundreds of draftees that had been passed over for federal service, often for health reasons or because of minor criminal records. A smattering of retired California National Guard NCOs were assigned to supervise the unit and do most of the training of the new draftees; the retirees were greeted with general hostility from the peacetime membership, who resented the oeintrusion into what had been more of a social club. Nonetheless, it was the first State Guard unit to be called into service, in October 1996 to support the mobilization of the 40th Infantry Division and the 49th MP Brigade. Members of the unit assumed responsibility for providing security for National Guard armories as well as providing logistic and administrative support for the mobilizing National Guard troops. Most notably, personnel of the unit ran the rifle qualification range at Camp Roberts, allowing the mobilizing troops to all certify their marksmanship proficiency without having to provide range safety officers, ammunition handlers and emergency medical personnel. Following departure of the National Guard for overseas service the unit was armed with M-1 Garand rifles from federal stockpiles and began patrolling central California and protecting critical petroleum and power infrastructure in the region. As an investigation by the Army would later reveal, the unit also ran a clandestine oehit squad that engaged in a series of nighttime raids against suspected oeenemy sympathizers, a category that quickly grew to include Mexicans, leftists, union officials, peace activists and outspoken college professors. Bodies of these innocents were dumped, tortured and mutilated, in various remote spots within the units area of responsibility. The 221st MP Brigade, an Army Reserve unit, was brought back to California from Hawaii in December 1997 in part to investigate and hunt down the death squad and purge the state guard unit of dangerous elements. Upon arrival the state guard unit was brought under federal control and the brigades officers were replaced by Army Reservists from the 221st. Resistance to the change was fierce and the Army brought in local law enforcement to embed with the units patrols; desertion soared and by the end of January 1998 the unit was incapable of concerted action. At that point the Army officially stood down and disbanded the unit, assigning certain individuals to local police forces and the militias that the areas sheriffs were standing up and disarming the rest.


10TH CALIFORNIA CADET BRIGADE - This unit started the war as a nominal brigade in the California Cadet Corps, a paramilitary youth training program for children from elementary school to college ages, based in schools. The 10th Brigade was a state-level formation that conducted leadership training for units assigned to other brigades, with no student units directly assigned. In the summer of 1997, with the war spreading and increased preparedness for nuclear conflict the governor requested that the Cadet Corps stand up two disaster response units composed of 16-18-year old boys. The 10th Brigade used its existing command structure and recruited suitable boys from school units in the Los Angeles area. July was spent conducting first aid, traffic control and disaster relief training at the El Toro Marine Corps airbase in Orange County. When nuclear war broke out in Europe the unit remained on the base on high alert but with the start of the school year the unit was demobilized and its members sent back to school, liable for immediate recall if needed. That call came several times during the fall as nuclear war scares gripped the city. The final callout was in early December, when Soviet nuclear strikes on refineries in Wilmington, Carson and El Segundo ignited a firestorm and set off a panicked mass exodus out of the city. The following days were chaos, but eventually a group of 250 boys rallied at the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. Many had armed themselves during the preceding days; the rest were armed by the mixed force of civilian security guards and recovering Marines and sailors guarding the facility. A Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant, healing from wounds received in Bandar Abbas, Iran, assumed command and integrated the guard force into the unit in leadership positions. The formation remained in the enclave throughout the winter and spring, fortifying the perimeter and turning away all outsiders, considered lost by the Governor and the military chain of command, fed by a false report that the base had been overrun. The Mexican invasion ended this period of inactivity; a salvage expedition sent by XVI Corps discovered the force, which handed over the facility and accepted deployment to the front to the south. The Governor, upon hearing that the unit had been found intact, demanded that it be spared front-line duty due to the youth of many of its soldiers and its haphazard and light armament. That request was accepted and the brigade was assigned for responsibility for security in the Corps rear area, guarding convoys, warehouses and the Corps rear headquarters. The brigade saw a lot of action in this role, battling Mexican Army infiltrators and their allied street and biker gangs. It retreated through the ruins of LA and once out of the urban area was assigned to dig field fortifications in the Tejon Pass, which were later used by the 221st MP Brigade. Following the disbandment of the 5th Brigade the 10th was moved north to central California, establishing its headquarters in Bakersfield and being released from federal duty. Once there the severely depleted unit absorbed additional troops, both carefully screened former members of the 5th Brigade as well as a detachment of lower-quality recruits from the Armys 91st Training Division that had remained in Bakersfield to protect the refinery complex and nearby oilfields.
Subordination: State of California
Current Location: Bakersfield, CA
Manpower: 600

[chico20854]

49TH ALASKA BRIGADE - This unit was originally a MP brigade composed of law enforcement officers and military veterans. With its headquarters in Wasilla and battalions in Fairbanks and Anchorage, the 500-odd members of this unit were called into state active duty with the Soviet invasion of Norway in November 1996. Following a brief period mobilizing, the unit was tasked to protect the Alaska Pipeline from Soviet Spetsnaz raids as well as guarding the Alaska Railroad, maintaining checkpoints on the Alaska and Dalton Highways, and guarding port facilities in Anchorage, Juneau and Valdez. Unlike most state defense forces, the 49th was armed with M-14 rifles, M-79 grenade launchers and M-60 machineguns from federal stocks, reflecting the greater conventional threat faced by the Alaska unit compared to most other states. By the summer of 1997 militiamen of the brigade were engaged in nearly weekly small-scale firefights with Soviet infiltrators that had slipped into the massive state past the defending Army units. When the Red Army crossed into the state in force the unit was brought under federal control and placed under command of X Corps, ordered to concentrate in the Mat-Su Valley if possible (otherwise, militiamen were to attach themselves to the nearest military unit). At that time the unit absorbed 150 additional recruits, students at a oeboot-camp style program for troubled teens, who were assigned to squads as privates. The brigade, lacking weapons heavier than M-60 machineguns, was assigned rear area security roles only. Its most significant achievement was in evacuating most of the population of Fairbanks in advance of the Soviets, passing the civilians through Fort Wainwright without serious incident and onward to the Canadian border, in addition to patrolling the cantonment areas of Fort Wainwright and Eilelson Air Force Base throughout the long winter of 1997-1998. When X Corps launched its counterattack in the spring of 1998, the brigade advanced behind X Corps screen and assumed responsibility for the city of Fairbanks as well as restoring services along the Mat-Su Valley. In these duties the unit was hampered by the depopulation of the areas as well as the general lack of resources in the year after the nuclear exchange. It remained in that area for the remainder of the war.
Subordination: X Corps
Current Location: Fairbanks, AK
Manpower: 200