Publications

The Nitch of State Defense ForcesBelow is a series of articles and official government publications concerning State Defense Forces.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

  • National Guard Bureau – Chief National Guard Bureau Instruction in reference to 10-4 National Guard Interaction with State Defense Forces – Click Here to Read (Revised 2017)
  • Department of Defense Inspector General – Evaluation of Department of Defense Interaction with State Defense Forces – Click Here to Read – 2014
  • National Guard Bureau – National Guard Interaction with State Defense Forces – Click Here To Read – Revised 2024
    • Deprecated – National Guard Bureau – National Guard Interaction with State Defense Forces – Click Here to Read – (Revised 2017)
  • Department of Defense House Armed Services Committee Report – Click Here to Read – 2005
  • National Guard Bureau – National Guard Bureau and State Defense Forces Interaction – Click Here to Read – 1987
  • United States of America – Title 32 § 109. Maintenance of other troops (State Defense Forces) – Click Here to Read – 1956

US MILITARY

  • United States Army – New York Guard was born in World War I as the National Guard went to war – Click Here to Read – Source: US Army

STATE GOVERNMENT

  • Maine State Guard History – Click Here To Download
  • California State Military Reserve 203rd Infantry Battalion A Military History – Allen Bristow – Click Here to Read – 1991
  • World War 2: A Report to the Secretary of War On the Activities of the State Guards – Click Here to Read – 1941
  • The Provisional Brigade, the New York Guard on State Active Duty in WWI – Click Here To Read

GOVERNMENT ARCHIVE DOCUMENTS

  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower 1955 letter to Congress concerning State Defense Forces – Click Here to Read

STATEDEFENSEFORCE.COM ARTICLES (Patreon Member Exclusive):

  • The Maryland Defense Force Deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina –Click Here To Read – 2023
    • Author: Collin Mayfield

    • The New York Guards Response to the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks – Click Here To Read – 2023
        • Author: Collin Mayfield

    • State Defense Forces During The Cold War & 9/11 – Click Here To Read – 2024
        • Author: Berkay Aksoy

    • Exclusive Preview of ‘Without Grit’ – Click Here To Read – 2023
        • Author: Walter Rosado

    • The Legacy of State Defense Forces: An Extensive Analysis of Their Contribution to Homeland Security and World War II – Click Here – 2024
        • Author: Michelle Seeds

    • The Problem of Militia – Click Here To Read – 2024
        • Author: Professor Barry M. Stentiford

    • The Nitch of State Defense Forces – Click Here To Read – 2024
      • Author: Professor Barry M. Stentiford

    • The Evolution of the State Militia: From the 1903 Militia Act to the Modern National Guard and State Defense Force – Click Here To Read – 2024
      • Author: Michelle Seeds
    • Activation and Response of the New York Guard during Hurricane Sandy: A Case Study in Disaster Response – Click Here to Read – 2024 – Author: Steven Haggerty
    • Strengthening Cyber Defense – How the Virginia Defense Force Augments the National Guard – Click Here To Read
      – Authors: Michelle Seeds & SDF Staff
      – Interview with Virginia Defense Force – Click Here to Read

    COMMANDERS BRIEFING (Interviews with SDF Commanding Officers)

    WRITTEN INTERVIEWS WITH STATE DEFENSE FORCE COMMANDING GENERALS & OFFICERS (Patreon Sergeant Tier Only)

      • Interview with Puerto Rico State Guard Commanding General, Brigadier General Edrick Ramirez González – Click Here – 2022

      • Interview with Alaska State Defense Force Commanding General, Brigadier General (AK) Simon Brown II – Click Here – 2022

      • Interview with Washington State Guard Commanding Genera Colonel Joseph P. Maassen – Click Here – 2022

      • Interview with The Commanding Officer of The Michigan Defense Force, Lieutenant Colonel (MI) Michael E. Ewing – Click Here – 2023

      • Interview With The New York National Guard About Recent Changes To The New York Guard – Click Here – 2023

    State Defense Forces of The Year

    • 2022-2023 State Defense Force of The Year – Texas State Guard – Link
    • 2023-2024 State Defense Force of The Year – Texas State Guard – Link

    Books

      • The Minutemen of ’17 – Click Here to Read Book
          • Summary: An inside look at the missions, training & history of the New York Guard (State Defense Force), the 9th Coast Artillery Corps, & the Veteran Corps of Artillery during World War 1

    INDEPENDENT PUBLICATIONS

      • State Defense Forces and their role in American Homeland Security – Jonathan R. Pohnel, Naval Postgraduate School – Click Here to Read – 2015

      • State defense forces: Challenges and opportunities of recruiting and retention – Deano L. McNeil – Click Here to Read – 2015

      • Tapping State Defense Forces to Decrease Defense Spending – WO1 Seth G. Stuck – Click Here to Read – 2012

      • Why More States Should Establish State Defense Forces – Jessica Zuckerman, Colonel Martin Hershkowitz, Brigadier General Frederic N. Smalkin, and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D. – Click Here to Read – 2012

      • The 21st Century Militia: State Defense Forces and Homeland Security – James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Jessica Zuckerman – Click Here to Read – 2010

      • The Challenges of an Operationalized National Guard and a Militia Alternative – Lieutenant Colonel D. E. Gelinas (USAF) – Click Here to Read – 2008

      • On the Need for a State Defense Force Noncommissioned Officer Council – Click Here To Read – 2008
          • Ronald Scott, First Sergeant (MD)

          • Martin Hershkowitz, Colonel (MD)

      • Maryland Defense Force Joins National Guard for Major Homeland Security / Terrorist Response Exercise – Click Here to Read – 2007
          • Lieutenant Colonel (MD) Robert Hastings

          • Major Kristine Henry, MDARNG

      • Maryland Defense Force 10th Medical Regiment: Past, Present & Future – Click Here To Read
          • Colonel (MD) Martin Hershkowitz

          • Colonel (MD) H. Wayne Nelson, Ph.D.

      • Expanding Support Roles for 10th Medical Regiment: Pre & Post Health Screenings of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen – Click Here To Read
          • Colonel (MD) H. Wayne Nelson, Ph.D.

      • Operation Lifeline: Health Care Professionals From Maryland Respond to Hurricane Katrina – Click Here To Read – 2006
          • Lieutenant Colonel Richard Colgan, M.D., MDDF Major Kisha Davis, M.D., MDDF and Colonel Robert A. Barish, M.D., MDDF

      • The Texas Medical Rangers in the Military Response of The Uniformed Medical Reserve Corps To Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita 2005: The New and Tested Role of The Medical Reserve Corps in the United States – Click Here to Read – 2006
          • Colonel James L. Greenstone, Ed.D., J.D., DABECI, TXS

      • The Texas Medical Rangers and Thousands of Patients – Sergeant First Class Brenda Benner, TXARNG – Click Here To Read – 2006

      • Summary of Available State Defense Force After Action Reports From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Deployments – Colonel Martin Hershkowitz (MDDF-Ret) – Click Here to Read – 2006

      • Developing Vibrant State Defense Forces: A Successful Medical and Health Service Model – Click Here to Read – 2006
          • Colonel (MD) H. Wayne Nelson, Ph.D.

          • Colonel (MD) Robert Barish, M.D.

          • Brigadier General (MD) Frederic Smalkin, J.D.

          • Lieutenant Colonel (MD) James Doyle, M.D.

          • Colonel (MD) Martin Hershkowitz

      • The Impact of the Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Academy on State Defense Forces – Click Here to Read – 2006
          • Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey A. Slotnick, WASG

      •  A Guide For Establishing a State Defense Force with a Homeland Security Mission – Click Here to Read – 2005
          • Colonel Martin Hershkowitz, OCP, (MDDF-Ret)

          • Brigadier General Herbert O. Wardell, Jr., (DNG-Ret)

      • The Role of State Defense Forces in Homeland Security – Col. John R. Brinkerhoff – Click Here to Read – 2005
      • The State Guard Experience and Homeland Defense – Colonel Andre N. Coulombe (USAR) – Click Here To Read – 2005

      • America’s State Defense Forces: An Historical Component of National Defense – Dr. Kent G. Sieg – Click Here to Read – 2005

      • Homeland Defense: The Pennsylvania State Guard 1941-1953 – Lieutenant Colonel Brent C. Bankus (USA) – Click Here To Read – 2005

      • Expanding the Use of State Defense Forces in Homeland Defense Missions – Lieutenant Colonel Brent C. Bankus (USA) – Click Here To Read – 2004

      • State Defense Forces and Homeland Security – Arthur N. Tulak, Robert W. Kraft, and Don Silbaugh –  Click Here To Read – 2003

      • The Georgia State Defense Corps and The Georgia State Guard, 1940—1947 – Captain (GA) Rich Elwell – Click Here To Read – 2003

      • State Defense Forces: The Missing Link in National Security – George J. Stien – Click Here to Read – 1984

      • State Defense Forces: Past, Present and Future – Ronald Ray Armstrong, Alexander Philip Gisoldi – Click Here to Read – 1974

    STATE DEFENSE FORCE JOURNAL

    INDEPENDENT PUBLICATIONS – INDIVIDUAL STATES

      • A Condensed History of California’s State Defense Forces – SSGT. D. Carl Ehlig – Click Here to Read – 2013

      • Maryland Defense Force 10th Medical Regiment: Past, Present and Future – Colonel (MD) Martin Hershkowitz, Colonel (MD) H. Wayne Nelson, Ph.D. – Click Here to Read – 2008

      • Homeland Defense: The Pennsylvania State Guard 1941-1953 – Lieutenant Colonel Brent C. Bankus, U.S. Army – Click Here to Read