State Defense Forces.

This is coolbert:

This was very startling. So much so that it just amazes. I thought I had a good handle on this stuff, but this just goes to prove we are only dealing with a small part of the whole, whatever level of expertise and knowledge we are at.

State Defense Forces [SDF] .

A military organization, existing solely at the state level within the federal structure of the United States, a military force unique to each individual sovereign state of the Union [United States], strictly under the control and beholden to the executive branch [Governor] of each state, exempt from federal control in all circumstances, as specified by law!!

NOT:

* Active duty forces of the U.S. [federal service]
* National Guard. [state service - - peace time], federal service - - war time]
* "Militia". [as understood under U.S. Code Ten.]

"State Defense Forces (SDF) (also known as State Guards, State Military Reserves, or State Militias) in the United States are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government; they are not regulated by the National Guard Bureau nor are they part of the Army National Guard of the United States. State Defense Forces are authorized by state and federal law and are under the command of the governor of each state."

State Defense Forces NOT existing in all states, but existing in MOST states.

[my home state of Illinois, for instance, does not have a State Defense Force. ]

NOT necessarily of significant size or being combat arms in nature, but still an organized body of troops having a potential for military duty of some sort. Soldiers constituting the various units of the SDF having to buy their own uniforms and provide their own weaponry in many cases?

More importantly, it is a surprise that such units exist outside of the federal structure, totally independent?

Anyone else ever heard of the SDF before and are familiar with them?

coolbert.