New York Naval Militia
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The New York Naval Militia is the Naval Militia of New York State and is under the command of the Governor of New York.
With the New York State Guard, as well as the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, it is under the control of the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs and New York's Adjutant General.
The New York Naval Militia was organized as a Provisional Naval Battalion in 1889 and was formally mustered into State service as the First Battalion, Naval Reserve Artillery, on 23 June 1891. One year later the New York Naval Militia was called to active duty to protect steam ship passengers during the 1892 cholera quarantine at Fire Island.
Following the sinking of USS Maine, the Navy Department called up Naval Militia volunteers for duty in the Federal Auxiliary Naval Force. The Spanish American War had begun and the New York Naval Militia participated. New York Naval Militiamen manned two auxiliary cruisers that were engaged in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba and served aboard various other ships including patrol craft tasked with protecting New York Harbor.
During the early 1900's frequent attempts by Congress to create a National Naval Reserve Failed. In 1914 however, Congress passed the Naval Militia Act which placed the State organizations under the supervision of the Navy Department.
1916 saw the establishment of the United States Navy Reserve. Unfortunately, only those persons with prior Naval service could affiliate. This left the Naval Militias as the only avenue for civilians to become sailors. The National Defense Act of 1916 resulted in the creation of the National Naval Volunteers, which the New York Naval Militia joined enmasse. 1916 also saw the formation of a Naval Militia Marine Company. The Militia Marine Company was the first in the Nation and predated the United States Marine Corps Reserve program by four months. In addition, the donation of a hydroplane, by patriotic citizens, marked the beginning of the Naval Reserve Aviation Program.
During the next 34 years, the New York Naval Militia (Naval volunteers/Navy and Marine Corps Reserves) were Federally mobilized for both World Wars (100%) and the Korean War (75%). During the Korean War, many of the State Militias began to disappear. The New York Naval Militia recognized the parallel to the Reserve structure and the New York Military Law was changed, making it compulsory for all New York Naval Militia members to be drilling Navy or Marine Corps Reservists.
