Idaho State Guard

The Idaho State Guard, formerly known as the Idaho Home Guard, is the inactive state defense force of Idaho. The Idaho State Guard was created to replace the Idaho National Guard as a stateside homeland security force while the National Guard was in federal service. A recent attempt at reactivation is being led by the Idaho State Guard Association 2016

World War I

During World War I, the governor ordered formation of four companies of Home Guard, with 100 men per company, paid for by the state.^[1]

World War II

In 1940, the Idaho State Guard was organized, with the bulk of its recruits being veterans of World War I.^[2] The State Guard of World War II was armed with Enfield rifles.^[3] In September 1942, the Idaho State Guard became the first state military organization in the United States to induct women into its command structure when Governor Chase A. Clark administered the oath of enlistment to a group of women from the Idaho volunteer auxiliary reserves.^[4] By 30 June 1944, the Idaho State Guard had reached a strength of 1,378 guardsmen.^[1] As of August 1946, after the war's conclusion, the Idaho State Guard remained in active service and was subject to call-up.^[5]

Legal status

The legal authority of each state to maintain its own state defense force is recognized by the federal government of the United States under Title 32, Section 109 of the United States Code.^[6] Some twenty-three states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico actively maintain state defense forces.^[7] Under Idaho law, the Governor of Idaho has the legal authority to activate the state defense force.^[8]

Reactivation effort

In 2016, the Idaho State Guard Association was created for the purpose of advocating for the reactivation of the Idaho State Guard.

See also

• Idaho Wing Civil Air Patrol

References

State Defense Forces and Naval Militia
State Defense Forces	Alabama State Defense Force Alaska State Defense Force California State Military Reserve Connecticut Governor's Guard Georgia State Defense Force Indiana Guard Reserve Louisiana State Guard Maryland Defense Force Massachusetts State Defense Force Michigan Volunteer Defense Force Mississippi State Guard Missouri Reserve Force New Mexico State Guard New York Guard Ohio Military Reserve Oregon State Defense Force Puerto Rico State Guard South Carolina State Guard Tennessee State Guard Texas State Guard Vermont State Guard Virginia Defense Force Washington State Guard
Naval Militia	Alaska Naval Militia Connecticut Naval Militia New York Naval Militia Ohio Naval Militia South Carolina Naval Militia Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment
Historical/Defunct	Alaska Territorial Guard Arkansas State Guard Delaware State Guard Florida Naval Militia Florida State Guard Georgia Naval Militia Hawaii Naval Militia Hawaii Territorial Guard Idaho State Guard Illinois Naval Militia Illinois Reserve Militia Indiana Naval Militia Iowa State Guard Kansas State Guard Kentucky Active Militia Louisiana Naval Militia Maine State Guard Maryland Naval Militia Massachusetts Naval Militia Michigan Naval Militia Minnesota Naval Militia Minnesota State Guard Missouri Naval Militia Nebraska State Guard New Hampshire State Guard New Jersey Naval Militia New Jersey State Guard North Carolina Naval Militia North Carolina State Defense Militia Oregon Naval Militia Pennsylvania State Guard Rhode Island Naval Militia Rhode Island State Guard South Dakota State Guard Utah State Defense Force Virginia Defense Force Riverine Detachment Washington Naval Militia Wisconsin Naval Militia Wisconsin State Defense Force

10. Idaho State Guard Association Official Facebook page of ISGA/IDSGA www.facebook.com/idahostateguard