SDF Poll 2

Poll – How Do You Feel About the California State Guard Reorganization’s Effect on the State’s Response to the Wildfires?

Yesterday, we reported a disturbing revelation that The California State Guard is no longer part of Task Force Rattlesnake. Task Force Rattlesnake’s mission is to work alongside CAL FIRE to mitigate and prevent wildland fires through fuels mitigation projects and direct fire suppression. When the Task Force was originally established years ago, it combined California National Guard soldiers and State Guard troops. The former Commanding General of The California State Guard, Major General (CA) Jay Coggan, successfully certified approximately 1,000 State Guard soldiers as wildland firefighters under CAL FIRE certification requirements. His plan was to increase that number to 1,600 and beyond. Over the years, these troops fought multiple wildfires successfully, working shoulder to shoulder with National Guard soldiers in this critical mission. They were even provided with multiple fire engines and haulers to enhance their capabilities in the field.

Unfortunately, in 2024, Major General Coggan retired. Around the same time, a new Adjutant General, Major General Matthew P. Beevers, assumed command of all California State Military Forces, and a new California State Guard commander, Colonel (CA) Darrin Bender, was appointed.

Shortly after this leadership transition, The California State Guard underwent a massive reorganization. The entire Emergency Response Command unit was disbanded. This department comprised several specialized teams, including:

  • Team Blaze: A group of approximately 1,000 State Guard wildland firefighters.
  • Team Shield: A team composed of police officers, retired police officers, and soldiers certified as law enforcement officers, whose mission was to augment local and state police forces during evacuations.
  • Search & Rescue Team: A unit dedicated solely to saving lives during emergencies.

The decision to disband these teams has drawn sharp criticism, particularly as the current wildfire emergency highlights the critical need for such resources. The Search & Rescue Team, for instance, could have been deployed to save lives amid the ferocious wildfires that have tragically claimed dozens of lives.

Discussions with multiple sources—both retired and active members of The California State Guard—revealed serious concerns about the reorganization. Many believe that the absence of over 1,000 additional firefighters and specialized Search & Rescue teams significantly worsened the impact of the wildfires, contributing to increased loss of life and property.

How Do You Feel About the California State Guard Reorganization’s Effect on the State’s Response to the Wildfires?

  • Deeply concerned—it put lives and property at greater risk.
  • Optimistic—I believe the reorganization was in the best interests of The State Guard.

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