Early January is typically a slower period when it comes to State Defense Force news, as many units are transitioning between training cycles and operational planning for the new year. With that in mind, we felt it was fitting to highlight substantive updates recently received from a mid 2025 newsletter published by the Washington State Guard, which provides a detailed look at the Guard’s training activities, community outreach, and operational missions conducted throughout the summer. These updates offer valuable insight into how the Washington State Guard (State Defense Force – WSG) continued to build readiness, expand public engagement, and support state emergency preparedness during the middle of the year, even as national attention tends to focus elsewhere.
The Washington State Guard continues to demonstrate how a modern State Defense Force builds readiness through a balanced focus on community engagement, soldier development, and real-world operational support. As an all-volunteer force under the Washington Military Department, the WSG remains deeply connected to the communities it serves while maintaining a growing set of specialized capabilities that directly support the state during emergencies and contingencies.
Recruiting and public exposure remain central to the Guard’s growth strategy, with soldiers actively engaging the public at community and veteran-focused events across the state. In mid-August, WSG soldiers participated in the American Legion BBQ Competition in Dupont, an outreach opportunity that strengthened ties with the veteran community. Notably, the invitation to attend this event stemmed from earlier engagement at Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Retiree Appreciation Day, illustrating a recurring trend for the WSG: increased visibility leads to increased demand for presence. Earlier in the month, soldiers staffed a recruiting booth at the Unity of Effort event in Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula’s annual celebration honoring military members, first responders, law enforcement, and security professionals. These efforts resulted in multiple recruiting contacts and are expected to yield new enlistments, particularly from regions where the Guard continues to expand its footprint.
Training and professional development remain a defining strength of the Washington State Guard, with detachments emphasizing both foundational soldier skills and advanced mission-relevant competencies. At the Marysville Detachment’s August drill, Major Carl Chatfield briefed assembled soldiers and visitors before leading a training day centered on land navigation and map reading. Instruction was delivered by junior enlisted soldiers and NCOs alike, covering topographic symbols, terrain features, grid coordinates, distance measurement, and azimuth determination. Mandatory training on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Drill and Ceremony rounded out the day, reinforcing the Guard’s emphasis on both operational proficiency and ethical responsibility. The Marysville Detachment also formally inducted new soldiers into its in-unit Initial Entry Training (IET) program, reflecting a deliberate move toward organically training new recruits while providing leadership opportunities across the NCO and officer corps.
Other detachments mirrored this training-focused approach. In Longview, soldiers conducted land navigation training, reviewed prior mission lessons learned, and facilitated mandated training on Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP), which sparked active discussion among participants. The detachment also hosted community engagement by inviting a prospective applicant with extensive engineering experience, underscoring how training environments double as recruiting touchpoints. Spokane and Yakima Detachments trained jointly on leadership fundamentals and emergency communications, with soldiers gaining hands-on experience using digital HF radio systems and VARA FM data transmission. This sustained focus on emergency communications has significantly increased proficiency in Eastern Washington, ensuring the Guard can contribute effectively to emergency management and interagency coordination when activated.
Beyond routine drills, the Washington State Guard played a visible and valuable role in statewide operational readiness during Continuity of Operations Exercise (COOPEX) 2025 at Fairchild Air Force Base. Conducted under State Active Duty status, the exercise simulated a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake requiring the Joint Operations Center to relocate from Camp Murray to eastern Washington. WSG officers and warrant officers served in key staff and liaison roles, supporting intelligence, communications, unmanned aerial system coordination, and mission planning. Despite challenging atmospheric conditions, Guard personnel successfully adapted to communications limitations, establishing HF radio contact with multiple readiness centers and tribal partners. Their performance was widely recognized by National Guard and Air National Guard counterparts, reinforcing the Guard’s credibility as a capable and professional force multiplier.
Complementing these operational and training efforts, the Washington State Guard continues to refine its public-facing identity. Soldiers are authorized to wear the WSG polo shirt during outreach events where uniforms are impractical but affiliation and visibility remain important. This “soft uniform” enables effective recruiting and community engagement while maintaining a professional appearance consistent with the Guard’s mission.
Taken together, these activities highlight a Washington State Guard that is steadily growing, increasingly capable, and deeply integrated into both its communities and the broader emergency response framework of the state. Through sustained recruiting outreach, decentralized and leader-driven training, and meaningful participation in large-scale exercises, the WSG continues to fulfill its role as a ready, reliable, and professional State Defense Force prepared to serve Washington when called.
Special Thank You To Major Dustin J. Colegrove
To read the full newsletter:
Patriot-Vol25-Issue8-AUG-2025Source: Washington State Guard PAO
