On the Brink: How the Connecticut Governor’s Guard Nearly Became a Memory

In Episode 10 of Scuttlebutt we examine warning signs behind the disbandment of four State Defense Forces in just a decade, using the near-disbandment of the Connecticut Governor’s Guard in 2025 as a critical case study. In this clip, the discussion details how Connecticut’s Adjutant General (Senior Military Officer), Francis J. Evon, Jr., advanced legislation that would have removed the Governor’s Guard from the state’s military forces and restructured it as a private military entity, an unprecedented move that sent shockwaves through the State Defense Force community. Retired Texas State Guard Commanding General, Major General (Retired) Anthony Woods, offers his insight into how quickly a State Defense Force can lose relevance when it is not clearly valued, understood, or effectively utilized by its Adjutant General. The clip closes with a forward-looking discussion on what State Defense Forces must do to avoid similar outcomes, such as aligning missions with state priorities, demonstrating tangible value to their TAGs, and ensuring they are seen as indispensable assets rather than inactive organizations.

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