| California State Military Reserve (CSMR) | |
|---|---|
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| Abbreviation | CSMR |
| Motto | Always Ready, Always There |
| Formation | 1846 |
| Type | State Militia |
| Legal status | Title 32 USC Section 109(c), CMVC Sec 51, 120, & 550 |
| Headquarters | Sacramento, CA |
| Region served | State of California |
| Membership | 1,000+ |
| Commanding General | BG (CA) Roland R. Candee [1] |
| Parent organization | California Military Department |
| Affiliations | State Guard Association of the United States |
| Budget | $627,000 per year [2] |
| Website | http://www.calguard.ca.gov/casmr |
| Remarks |
Engagements: |
| Former name | California State Defense Guard, California Home Guard, California State Guard, California National Guard Reserve |
The California State Military Reserve (CSMR) 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.
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The California State Military Reserve is authorized as a state defense force under the provisions of the Title 32, United States Code, Section 109(c) [10] and the California State Military Reserve Act (codified in the California Military and Veterans Code).[11] It is one of five components of the California Military Department [12] and has legal standing as part of California's Active Militia [13].
The force consists of citizens who possess a variety of skills, and many members are veterans of other branches of the United States Military as well as former members of the California Army and Air National Guard. They are considered uncompensated employees,[14] and when called to emergency state active duty, they become compensated employees.[15] The force is headquartered in Sacramento, CA. All citizens who are not felons and possess a high school diploma are eligible, although military veterans and those with special skills which materially contribute to the CSMR mission are preferred.
As authorized by Table of Distribution and Allowances (15 Apr 2011)
Like other state defense forces, the CSMR is not eligible for federal service. However, 10 USC 331-333 may grant powers to the federal government to call up the CSMR [16][17] since militia is defined as both organized (National Guard) and unorganized under 10 USC 311(b).[18]
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 missions in the preparation, prevention, deterrence, preemption, defense, and mitigation of natural and man-made threats to California.
Members of the CSMR are required to donate a minimum of 200 hours annually. Part of that time is spent at Unit Training Assemblies (drills or meetings) which are usually eight to twelve hours on one Saturday each month. These drills are used for training sessions, activity coordination, and to work with the National Guard counterparts. CSMR soldiers embedded with National Guard units for training purposes will drill the full weekend with their National Guard counterparts.
CSMR soldiers of the Army Component wear the standard Army Class "A" and "B" uniforms as well as the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and CSMR airmen of the Air Component wear the standard U.S. Air Force Service Dress uniforms, as well as the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) or Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). All uniforms have 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. [19]
The California Military and Veterans Code also provides for a naval branch.[20] The California Naval Militia was founded in 1891 and grew to have many ships and sailors at statewide ports, from San Diego to Eureka. It provided officers and sailors to the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War and World War I.[21] The California Naval Militia was reactivated in 1976 by the Governor of California.[22] 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. It has not been a branch of the California state militia since it was mustered into the Navy during World War I[23]
A past 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.
The CSMR took an active and vital role in the 2008 Operation Lightning Strike, when Governor Schwarzennegger called on over 2,000 troops from the California Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and SMR to help overwhelmed fire fighters fight statewide wildfires.[24]