South Carolina National Guard
Encyclopedia
The South Carolina
National Guard consists of the South Carolina Army National Guard
and the South Carolina Air National Guard
http://www.scang.ang.af.mil/. American law specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States
military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement when called upon with the suspension of the Posse Comitatus Act, normally reserved for extreme situations when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control.
The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President
or Congress
.
When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief
. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, National emergency or as otherwise needed."
The Governor
may call individuals or units of the South Carolina National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is:
"To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."
The South Carolina State Guard
is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of South Carolina and executive order. The South Carolina State Guard
(SCSG) is the state’s authorized militia and assumes the state mission of the South Carolina Army National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. The SCSG comprises retired active and reserve military personnel, non-prior state soldiers and selected professional persons who serve a state military contract and volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state and assistance to the SCARNG.
Many states also maintain their own military forces, of which the South Carolina State Guard
is one. These forces are federally recognized, but are separate from the National Guard and are not meant to be federalized, but rather service the state exclusively, especially when the National Guard is deployed and unavailable. The Military Department of South Carolina oversees the National Guard (Army and Air), state civil defense agencies and the South Carolina State Guard
. In South Carolina the State Guard is made up of three brigades of volunteer military personnel who drill without pay - a true militia. All equipment is supplied through the Military Department.
South Carolina has the nation's only elected Adjutant General
. Currently, Maj. Gen. Robert Livingston , elected in 2010.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
National Guard consists of the South Carolina Army National Guard
South Carolina Army National Guard
The South Carolina Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
and the South Carolina Air National Guard
South Carolina Air National Guard
The South Carolina Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is, along with the South Carolina Army National Guard, an element of the South Carolina National Guard...
http://www.scang.ang.af.mil/. American law specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement when called upon with the suspension of the Posse Comitatus Act, normally reserved for extreme situations when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control.
The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
or Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, National emergency or as otherwise needed."
The Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
may call individuals or units of the South Carolina National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is:
"To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."
The South Carolina State Guard
South Carolina State Guard
The South Carolina State Guard is the State Defense Force of the U.S. state of South Carolina.The State Guard maintains its headquarters in Columbia, which is the state capitol, and brigade level commands are located in the cities of Columbia , Charleston , and Fountain Inn .-Status:The...
is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of South Carolina and executive order. The South Carolina State Guard
South Carolina State Guard
The South Carolina State Guard is the State Defense Force of the U.S. state of South Carolina.The State Guard maintains its headquarters in Columbia, which is the state capitol, and brigade level commands are located in the cities of Columbia , Charleston , and Fountain Inn .-Status:The...
(SCSG) is the state’s authorized militia and assumes the state mission of the South Carolina Army National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. The SCSG comprises retired active and reserve military personnel, non-prior state soldiers and selected professional persons who serve a state military contract and volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state and assistance to the SCARNG.
Many states also maintain their own military forces, of which the South Carolina State Guard
South Carolina State Guard
The South Carolina State Guard is the State Defense Force of the U.S. state of South Carolina.The State Guard maintains its headquarters in Columbia, which is the state capitol, and brigade level commands are located in the cities of Columbia , Charleston , and Fountain Inn .-Status:The...
is one. These forces are federally recognized, but are separate from the National Guard and are not meant to be federalized, but rather service the state exclusively, especially when the National Guard is deployed and unavailable. The Military Department of South Carolina oversees the National Guard (Army and Air), state civil defense agencies and the South Carolina State Guard
South Carolina State Guard
The South Carolina State Guard is the State Defense Force of the U.S. state of South Carolina.The State Guard maintains its headquarters in Columbia, which is the state capitol, and brigade level commands are located in the cities of Columbia , Charleston , and Fountain Inn .-Status:The...
. In South Carolina the State Guard is made up of three brigades of volunteer military personnel who drill without pay - a true militia. All equipment is supplied through the Military Department.
South Carolina has the nation's only elected Adjutant General
South Carolina Adjutant General
The Adjutant General of South Carolina is head of the Military Department for that state, overseeing the South Carolina Army National Guard, the South Carolina Air National Guard, and the South Carolina State Guard. The office is the only adjutant general in the nation that is an elected position...
. Currently, Maj. Gen. Robert Livingston , elected in 2010.
External links
- Bibliography of South Carolina Army National Guard History compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History