The announcement of the Re-Activation of the Florida State Guard has been reported in various media outlets. Here are some of the articles that has reported on this news:
THEHILL.COM
DeSantis proposes civilian Florida State Guard military force he would control
BY RACHEL SCULLY – 12/03/21 07:51 AM ESTFlorida Gov.Ron DeSantis (R) on Thursday proposed reestablishing a World War II-era civilian-military force that he would control.
DeSantis pitched the idea of creating the Florida State Guard, which would be independent of federal control, while speaking about his military budget proposal.
The Guard would consist of 200 volunteer civilians “trained in the best emergency response techniques” that would aid in the event of natural disasters or other state emergencies, according to a press release.
The Florida State Guard was initially created in 1941 to fill in for National Guard members deployed during World War II. It was later disbanded in 1947.
DeSantis said the proposed unit would “not be encumbered by the federal government,” adding that this force would give him “the flexibility and the ability needed to respond to events in our state in the most effective way possible.”
DeSantis is asking for $3.5 million from the state legislature to establish the unit.
If established, Florida will become the 23rd active state guard in the country.
The idea was part of DeSantis’s larger military budget proposal, which included establishing three new armories, a new National Guard Headquarters and supporting service members getting degrees.
DeSantis’s proposal comes after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austinurged National Guard members to get vaccinated or face losing their pay.
DeSantis proposes reinstating Florida State Guard
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Governor DeSantis has proposed allocating $3.5 million from the state’s budget to reestablishing the Florida State Guard, a civilian volunteer force designed to assist the National Guard in “state-specific emergencies.”
During a press conference on Thursday in Pensacola, the governor said the Florida State Guard would be composed of 200 volunteer civilians who would be able to be mobilized quickly if there was ever some sort of disaster.
The Florida State Guard was originally established in the 1940s to assume the duties of deployed National Guardsman during WWII, according to the Museum of Florida History.
Florida law gives the governor the authority to maintain a Florida State Defense Force reserve should he see fit.
The governor also proposed allocating $8.9 million towards the maintenance of existing armories, $2.2 for a new headquarters for the National Guard Counter Drug Program, $5.1 million to support Florida National Guardsmen seeking higher education, and $87.5 million to expand the existing readiness center in Miramar and establish three new armories.
The new armories would be located in Homestead, Gainesville and Malabar.
Source: ABC7
