Did ya know Texas has its own military? Doesn't answer to the President

[BrunoPuntzJones]

People always give me a goofy look when it comes up, which is infrequent as you could imagine.

Most folks aren't aware that there is a separate military force in Texas. Three in total, Army National Guard (under the Army), Air National Guard (under the Air Force), and the Texas State Guard.

It's pretty much used for state issues. Filling in for Army units that have been deployed overseas or to other parts of the country. But has been used outside of the state, like in Katrina.

Has different divisions, air, marine, medical, etc.

Has their own uniforms for each "branch" and ranks.

The state Governor is the commander-in-chief and is over call-ups and deployments.

They pay for training days and deployment, and can get tuition credit.

So, a little heads up for Texans who might be interested.

http://www.txsg.state.tx.us/

And no, I'm not in it. Yet 😛

 

[KLin]

I only know how to find Texas. Go east/west til you smell it, go south til you step in it.

/rimshot

 

[Sedition]

That is very Texasy of them.

 

[bsobel]

This is not uncommon. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard...

 

[Brainonska511]

New York State has it's own force too - The New York State Guard in addition to the NY National Guard.

 

[destrekor]

um....

It's still the US Military, just the State Guard components.
Army National Guard
Air National Guard

Both under support and indirect command of the US Army and US Air Force.

All States have this. National Guard units are state-operated, and the true purpose is State defense and civil cooperation - state/national emergencies, disasters, etc etc.

They answer to the Governor until the top levels of the Army and Air Force say they answer to them. And then they go on missions wherever Top wants them, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc etc.
😉

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: destrekor
um....

It's still the US Military, just the State Guard components.
Army National Guard
Air National Guard

Both under support and indirect command of the US Army and US Air Force.

All States have this. National Guard units are state-operated, and the true purpose is State defense and civil cooperation - state/national emergencies, disasters, etc etc.

They answer to the Governor until the top levels of the Army and Air Force say they answer to them. And then they go on missions wherever Top wants them, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc etc.
😉

glad everyones not pea brained here...haha

 

[dainthomas]

Oregon has their own too.

http://www.orsdf.org/

 

[biggestmuff]

WTF? What a dunce. OP, your state isn't special.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: destrekor
um....

It's still the US Military, just the State Guard components.
Army National Guard
Air National Guard

Both under support and indirect command of the US Army and US Air Force.

All States have this. National Guard units are state-operated, and the true purpose is State defense and civil cooperation - state/national emergencies, disasters, etc etc.

They answer to the Governor until the top levels of the Army and Air Force say they answer to them. And then they go on missions wherever Top wants them, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc etc.
😉

State Guard, 0 to do with the military. There are other programs under the military for sure. The TSG is a separate entity from the other guard units.

 

[OCGuy]

Is this supposed to be a joke?

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: destrekor
um....

It's still the US Military, just the State Guard components.
Army National Guard
Air National Guard

Both under support and indirect command of the US Army and US Air Force.

All States have this. National Guard units are state-operated, and the true purpose is State defense and civil cooperation - state/national emergencies, disasters, etc etc.

They answer to the Governor until the top levels of the Army and Air Force say they answer to them. And then they go on missions wherever Top wants them, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc etc.
😉

You're describing the National Guard - this is a STATE GUARD, and completely Volunteer. There is no pay unless you become active duty, and you'll only serve in Texas except for emergencies.

 

[SunnyD]

Christianity has a military force as well - it's called the Boy Scouts.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
WTF? What a dunce. OP, your state isn't special.

incorrect.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Christianity has a military force as well - it's called the Boy Scouts.

I see what you did there.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage

Originally posted by: destrekor
um....

It's still the US Military, just the State Guard components.
Army National Guard
Air National Guard

Both under support and indirect command of the US Army and US Air Force.

All States have this. National Guard units are state-operated, and the true purpose is State defense and civil cooperation - state/national emergencies, disasters, etc etc.

They answer to the Governor until the top levels of the Army and Air Force say they answer to them. And then they go on missions wherever Top wants them, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc etc.
😉

glad everyones not pea brained here...haha

🙂

I do want to add one thing:
the true origin and purpose of the National Guard components is well... state defense, from other states. These were mainly state organized militias, each state having their own styles and organizational structure, but there for when other states got all pissy over border disputes, etc etc.

I knew this because Ohio and Michigan State Guards once met in the area near my hometown, Toledo, because of a dispute over who owned a specific strip of land. Part of this territory is now Toledo, and part is called the Lost Peninsula, I believe technically Michigan territory.

But then as the US became more Nationalized, the US Army began unifying the organizations across States, and officially adopted them into US Army Command.
Air National Guard has always been this structure. Came out of the Army just like the Air Force did, and unless I'm mistaken, all Air National Guard units were always under Air Force command. Not entirely sure if Army National Guard units ever had the same fighter ability as the US Army with the Army Air Corps. Or if the addition of fighter capability only came to the States with the Air National Guard.

 

[Baked]

Who do the Salvation Army answer to?

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: dougp

Originally posted by: destrekor
um....

It's still the US Military, just the State Guard components.
Army National Guard
Air National Guard

Both under support and indirect command of the US Army and US Air Force.

All States have this. National Guard units are state-operated, and the true purpose is State defense and civil cooperation - state/national emergencies, disasters, etc etc.

They answer to the Governor until the top levels of the Army and Air Force say they answer to them. And then they go on missions wherever Top wants them, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc etc.
😉

You're describing the National Guard - this is a STATE GUARD, and completely Volunteer. There is no pay unless you become active duty, and you'll only serve in Texas except for emergencies.

I'm describing the Army and Air portions of the Texas State Guard, which is NOT active duty (it's Guard duty, aka a State reserve component). And you'll serve wherever the Army or Air Force wants you at any given time. Most of the time its in the State doing what the State wants you too, but whenever Top wants otherwise, you follow.

The Texas State Guard website specifically describes Army and Air Guard as part of the organization.

Edit:

Reading more on the page, it does seem they have a civilian section to the Guard.
Which is basically a State sponsored militia.

Wearing Army uniforms seems strange, if it is not Army-regulated. Army Lite? Weird.

Seems there is still an Army National Guard and Air National Guard component to the Texas State Military, but the State Guard is a non-sponsored civil-sector component?

Texas is all kinds of backwards apparently.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: dougp

Originally posted by: destrekor
um....

It's still the US Military, just the State Guard components.
Army National Guard
Air National Guard

Both under support and indirect command of the US Army and US Air Force.

All States have this. National Guard units are state-operated, and the true purpose is State defense and civil cooperation - state/national emergencies, disasters, etc etc.

They answer to the Governor until the top levels of the Army and Air Force say they answer to them. And then they go on missions wherever Top wants them, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc etc.
😉

You're describing the National Guard - this is a STATE GUARD, and completely Volunteer. There is no pay unless you become active duty, and you'll only serve in Texas except for emergencies.

I'm describing the Army and Air portions of the Texas State Guard, which is NOT active duty (it's Guard duty, aka a State reserve component). And you'll serve wherever the Army or Air Force wants you at any given time. Most of the time its in the State doing what the State wants you too, but whenever Top wants otherwise, you follow.

The Texas State Guard website specifically describes Army and Air Guard as part of the organization.

Reading more on the page, it does seem they have a civilian section to the Guard.
Which is basically a State sponsored militia.

Wearing Army uniforms seems strange, if it is not Army-regulated. Army Lite? Weird.

Army Lite is really a good way to put it. It's separate from the Army and Air National Guard. And a lot of states have them, just bringing it to people's attention.

If you want to serve your community but can't for medical reasons and what not, some of the state units have milder "boot camp" sessions. Shooting skills aren't that important as most of the work done is just like National Guard units. Delivery of food and supplies, water rescue, etc.

When Columbia went down they were used to collect debris. The recent crash of a Blackhawk at the A&M (I think) campus they were used.

So for those who want to contribute, but don't want to have to commit to the military, it's a good organization. And many states have these (separate from the National Guard units).

 

[Mr Pickles]

Pretty stupid. Who would care enough to protect Texas? I've been there about a dozen times and hated it every freaking time. Texas sucks.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
Pretty stupid. Who would care enough to protect Texas? I've been there about a dozen times and hated it every freaking time. Texas sucks.

We don't want you here, our population knows that cucumbers + brine == pickles at birth. As for this, I'd consider it but if I'm "deployed," do I still get the same benefits as a Reservist or NG? I don't want to go away for two weeks to help during a hurricane or something and lose my job ...

 

[TallBill]

Lots of misinformation going on here, and texas isn't the only state with its own separate force.

 

[marincounty]

Is this to protect Texas from all of the gayz?

 

[Crono]

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/nyg/nyg-hist.html
New York Guard history

 

[Bulk Beef]

OP, you sure they're armed? Maryland has a civilian auxiliary as well, the Maryland Defense Force, but they are not authorized weapons. They're there for backfill in the event of some sort of major disaster, civil disturbance, whatever.