The Mississippi State Guard (MSSG – State Defense Force) is approaching the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season with a tempo of training that rivals any time in the organization’s modern history. Over the past twelve months soldiers have rotated through a demanding schedule that blends security operations, rugged obstacle-course conditioning for movement in dense flood debris, land-navigation refreshers, and comprehensive medical blocks that cover disaster-site triage, CPR, patient packaging, and litter carries to motor-or helicopter-evacuation points. Teams have also erected expeditionary radio and data nets able to keep State Guard and National Guard headquarters connected when commercial power, cellular towers, or fiber lines go dark—an essential capability in a state that has weathered Camille, Katrina, and countless tornado outbreaks.
Recently The 315th Forward Support Company and its partner, the 317th Military Police Detachment held rigorous training events such as Access Control Point training, land navigation and map reading. During multi-day drills at Camp Shelby the units drilled focused on Access Control Point (ACP) procedures—verifying credentials, directing traffic, and reacting to hostile probes—before moving into night land-navigation lanes that forced small teams to plot routes on map and compass alone. The same cycle integrated classroom work on communications security and force-protection doctrine, then pushed soldiers into the field for hands-on validation. These repetitions ensure every Guardsman can pivot from routine community support to high-stakes disaster response without a pause.
MSSG leaders note that the current syllabus also folds in lift-and-carry drills on improvised litters, swift-water awareness, and chain-saw safety so that teams can clear wind-felled trees, reach stranded residents, and move casualties to National Guard medevac helicopters staged at pre-designated landing zones. Coupled with quarterly communications exercises that practice standing up HF voice nets and portable satellite links, the Guard is demonstrating the agility Mississippi’s Emergency Management Agency will need if a major storm slices across the Gulf Coast this summer.
The unit’s present-day professionalism rests on more than eight decades of heritage. Mississippi first mustered a Home Guard brigade in November 1940; Governor Paul B. Johnson formalized that force by executive order in early 1941 as World War II drained National Guard units from the state. After safeguarding armories and critical infrastructure throughout the war, the Guard was disbanded on 30 June 1947 as federal troops returned. Mississippi resurrected the formation in 1986—renaming it the Mississippi State Guard—under the “Total Force” concept to provide an in-state reserve whenever the National Guard deploys abroad.
Today’s all-volunteer MSSG operates under the Mississippi Military Department beside the Army and Air National Guard, answering to the Governor through the Adjutant General. With more than 300 trained men and women in three security brigades, the Guard stands ready to augment law-enforcement checkpoints, run shelters, secure distribution points, or surge medical and communications teams wherever the next hurricane or tornado touchdown demands.
From its wartime birth in 1941, through its 1947 stand-down, to its 1986 rebirth as a modern State Defense Force, the Mississippi State Guard has adapted to every chapter in Mississippi’s history. The latest cycle of ACP drills, land-nav courses, medical lanes, and expeditionary comms proves one thing unmistakably: when Mississippi calls—especially as the tropics heat up—the State Guard is already on its feet, geared up, and moving toward the mission.
The Mississippi State Guard (MSSG) 315th FSC (Forward Support Company) / 317th MP Det. (Military Police Detachment) continue to sharpen their operational readiness through comprehensive classroom instruction and hands-on training. This essential training ensures that each member of the 315th / 317th is fully prepared to carry out their duties with confidence, skill, and precision.
At the heart of the program is ACP (Access Control Point) training. Soldiers learn how to secure key entry and exit points, monitor traffic, verify credentials, and manage emergency situations—all critical functions during deployments, disaster response, or state emergencies. ACP training reinforces both security protocols and public safety responsibilities.
In addition, members receive thorough instruction in land navigation and map reading. With today’s reliance on digital technology, these fundamental skills remain vital for operating effectively in any environment, especially when electronic systems fail. Soldiers practice reading topographical maps, plotting courses, understanding terrain features, and using a compass to navigate through unfamiliar or rugged areas.
This training cycle reflects the 315th FSC’s dedication to professionalism, preparedness, and mission success. By mastering these core skills, the soldiers stand ready to serve Mississippi with distinction whenever called.
Sources: Mississippi State Guard – Mississippi State Guard
