The State Guard & Defense Force Council (Also Known As StateDefenseForce.com) is preparing to launch a new State Guard Recruiting Website designed to introduce the public to State Guards / State Defense Forces across the country. For many Americans, State Guards remain one of the least understood components of the state military. Many people are familiar with the National Guard, the U.S. Army, the Air Force, or other federal military branches, but far fewer know that many states maintain their own military forces under the authority of the Governor and State Military Department.
To help build this new resource, we are asking current and former State Guard / State Defense Force service members to complete our State Guard Pay, Benefits, Training, Missions & Service Information Form. This questionnaire is designed to collect community based information from those who have direct experience serving in The State Guard. The goal is to better explain what State Guards are, what missions they perform, what training requirements exist, and what benefits may be available in each state.
This information will be especially valuable for members of the public who may be interested in serving but do not know where to begin. Many potential applicants have basic but important questions before they decide to contact a recruiter. They may want to know whether State Guard members are paid for State Active Duty, whether they receive pay for monthly training, whether educational assistance is available, whether job protections exist, whether uniforms or equipment are issued, or whether the state offers benefits such as tax deductions, travel reimbursement, license plate benefits, or hunting and fishing license benefits. These are practical questions that can influence whether someone takes the next step toward service.
Click Here To Fill Out The Google Form
The recruiting website will help answer those questions in a clear and accessible way. Instead of forcing a potential recruit to search through scattered state websites, outdated documents, social media pages, or word-of-mouth information, this project will provide a simple introduction to State Guard service. It will explain the role of State Guards, their relationship to the Governor and the State Military Department, how they differ from the federal military and the National Guard, and the types of missions they may perform during emergencies, disasters, training operations, and support missions.
This effort has the potential to assist recruiting across all State Guards and State Defense Forces. Many people who would be willing to serve their state never apply because they do not know these forces exist. Others may have heard of them but do not understand whether they are legitimate military organizations, what they do, or whether they are eligible to join. By creating a centralized introductory website, we can help bridge that gap and connect interested individuals with the proper official recruiting channels in their state.
It is important to stress that this new recruiting website will serve only as an informational and referral resource. StateDefenseForce.com will not replace official State Guard recruiting offices, will not process applications, and will not determine eligibility for service. Anyone interested in joining will be referred directly to the official email address, website, phone number, or recruiting contact for their state’s State Guard / State Defense Force.
This distinction is critical. Every State Guard and State Defense Force is different. Pay, benefits, training requirements, missions, and eligibility standards vary by state and may change based on state law, military department policy, funding, and command guidance. Some states may pay for State Active Duty but not monthly drill. Some may provide educational assistance, while others may not. Some may have formal basic training programs, while others may use different entry-level training models. The purpose of this questionnaire is to help us identify those differences and present the information in a way that is useful to the public while still directing applicants to the proper official source.
Click Here To Fill Out The Google Form
Current and former State Guard members are uniquely positioned to help with this effort. Their firsthand knowledge can help ensure the recruiting website reflects the real experience of service members across the country. By completing the form, they can help future applicants better understand what service in a State Guard may involve, what benefits may be available, and what questions they should ask when speaking with an official recruiter.
As a thank you for helping us build this important recruiting resource, those who complete the questionnaire will receive a 15% discount code for SDFOnlineStore.com. This discount is our way of recognizing the time and effort required to complete the form and provide useful information for the broader State Guard community.
The State Guard Recruiting Website will be another step in StateDefenseForce.com’s broader mission to strengthen, support, and expand State Defense Forces nationwide. By increasing public awareness, improving access to basic information, and referring interested citizens to official state recruiting channels, this project can help more Americans discover an opportunity to serve their state, support their communities, and contribute to emergency response and homeland defense missions.
We encourage all current and former State Guard / State Defense Force members to participate in this questionnaire. Your input can help future recruits better understand the path to service and help State Guards across the country reach more citizens who are ready to serve.
