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The State Guard & Defense Force Council’s Office of Government & Legislative Affairs has made significant progress in its ongoing investigations into the National Guard Bureau and Maryland Military Department’s controversial uniform policies. Thanks to Mr. Wilson of The Heritage Foundation, we were recently introduced to Mr. Neal Cornett, Director of State Litigation at the Oversight Project (ItsYourGov.org), an organization dedicated to exposing government corruption and ensuring transparency and accountability. Following our introduction, we held an extensive phone discussion concerning the growing number of roadblocks and obstacles being thrown at State Guards / State Defense Forces nationwide.
During our conversation, we discussed the historical importance of State Guards, their critical role in protecting Americans during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, and why these military organizations are needed now more than ever. With escalating global tensions, the growing threat of drone warfare, cyber attacks on critical American infrastructure, and the increasing likeliness of a large-scale National Guard deployments overseas, we believe every state should maintain a well-trained and properly equipped State Guard / State Defense Force. At the conclusion of our discussion, Mr. Cornett offered the Oversight Project’s assistance should we encounter additional obstacles in obtaining the government records we have requested.
Meanwhile, our investigations into the National Guard Bureau’s CNGBI 5500.01A uniform policy and the Maryland Defense Force’s transition away from traditional military uniforms continue. Despite submitting follow-up inquiries to both agencies, we have yet to receive responses regarding the status of our requests. On October 8, we sent additional correspondence to both agencies, this time including Mr. Cornett of the Oversight Project. Our Maryland Public Information Act request is now approaching two months since its original submission.
Our Maryland investigation has also taken an important turn. We recently received a firsthand account from a Maryland Military Department officer who attended a meeting in which Maryland’s Adjutant General, Major General Janeen L. Birckhead, reportedly explained the reasoning behind the decision to prohibit Maryland Defense Force personnel from wearing their traditional Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) military uniforms. The explanation has raised serious concerns regarding the military necessity, justification, and potential consequences of this policy. We have numerous questions, and we intend to pursue the records necessary to determine precisely how and why this decision was made.
We are continuing to coordinate with the Oversight Project and The Heritage Foundation to determine what additional actions may become necessary, including the possibility of congressional involvement. We are not going to abandon these investigations simply because obtaining government records has become difficult. The men and women serving in America’s State Guards / State Defense Forces deserve answers, and we intend to pursue them.
Read Our Full Legislative Investigation Update
For readers who want to learn more about these investigations, including the details of our discussions with the Oversight Project, our correspondence with government agencies, the firsthand account we received concerning Maryland’s uniform policy, and the potential legislative actions we are considering, we have published a comprehensive investigative update exclusively for our supporters.
Our Corporal Tier Patreon members, starting at just $5 per month, receive full access to this in-depth article and our detailed legislative advocacy updates.
Alternatively, anyone who makes a donation of any amount to the State Guard & Defense Force Council’s Office of Government & Legislative Affairs will also receive access to all our detailed legislative advocacy efforts.
Your financial support makes these investigations possible. Freedom of Information Act requests, legal research, document reviews, and legislative advocacy require substantial time and resources. By supporting our Office of Government & Legislative Affairs, you are directly helping us fight for the preservation, recognition, and expansion of State Guards / State Defense Forces nationwide.
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