California State Military Reserve

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The California State Military Reserve is the state defense force of California. The military reserve was formed to provide California a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed. Its current mission is to assist the National Guard especially in concern to homeland security.

1 Organization
2 Operations
- 2.1 Operation Fall Blaze
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Organization

The California State Military Reserve is authorized as a state defense force under the provisions of the Title 32, United States Code, Section 109 and the California State Military Reserve Act (codified in the California Military and Veteran's Code).^[1]

[edit] Members and Recruiting

The force is made up by volunteers who possess a variety of skills, and many members are veterans of other branches of the United States Military. The force is headquartered in Sacramento, CA. All citizens who are not felons and possess a high school diploma are eligible though military veterans and those with special skills are preferred.

[edit] Duties

The CSMR assists the California National Guard in its Homeland Security Mission by providing individual soldiers and airmen as well as rapid response teams to Military Assistance to Civil Authorities in the preparation, prevention, deterrence, preemption, defense, and mitigation of natural and man-made threats to California.

Members of the CSMR are required to volunteer a minimum of 200 hours annually. Part of that time is spent at Unit Training Assemblies (drills or meetings) which are usually eight hours on one Saturday each month. These drills are used for training sessions, activity coordination, and to work with the National Guard counterparts.

[edit] Uniforms

CSMR soldiers wear the standard Army Class "A" and "B" uniforms as well as the Army Combat Uniform (ACU), all with distinctive state insignia designating them as a member of the California State Military Reserve. All officers and enlisted members are responsible for purchasing their uniforms and accessories. This could require an investment of about $300. However, a yearly $125 uniform and travel allowance has been authorized for all SMR soldiers and airmen who have maintained 100% attendance in a twelve month period.

[edit] Naval Militia

The California Military and Veteran's Code also provides for a naval branch.^[2] The California Naval Militia was reactivated in 1976 by the Governor of California.^[3] Unlike New York and the few other states with ship-borne active naval militia units, the California Naval Militia is a small unit of military lawyers and strategists who provide advice and legal expertise in the field of military and naval matters for the benefit of California's state defense force.^[4]

See also the Naval militia article for more information.

[edit] Operations

[edit] Operation Fall Blaze

The most recent large-scale operation of the CSMR was during Operation Fall Blaze in October/November 2007, where over 100 citizen soldiers of the CSMR were integrated with their National Guard counterparts to assist firefighters fight the California wildfires.