Mississippi State Guard

Mississippi State Guard

Mississippi State Guard SSI
Abbreviation MSSG
Formation 1941
Type State defense forces, state guards or official militias
Legal status Active
Purpose To serve the State of Mississippi in aid with, to or in lieu of the Mississippi National Guard
Headquarters 1410 Riverside Drive Jackson, Mississippi 39296
Location
  • Mississippi
Membership
 300 +/-
Commander-in-Chief
 Gov. Phil Bryant
Adjutant General
 MG Augustus L. Collins
MSSG Commanding General
 David Hughes McElreath, Brigadier General (MS) MSSG
MSSG State Command Sergeant Major
 CSM Issac Moore
Parent organization
 Mississippi Military Department
Affiliations

Mississippi Army National Guard,

Mississippi Air National Guard
Budget
 $0.00
Website http://www.msstateguard.us

The Mississippi State Guard(MSSG) is the constitutionally authorized state defense force of the State of Mississippi. Operating under the authority of the Mississippi Military Department, it is placed on an equal legal basis with the Mississippi Army National Guard, (MSARNG) and the Mississippi Air National Guard (MSANG) by the Mississippi Code of 1972.[1][2]

The Commanding General of the MSSG is appointed by the Adjutant General and Governor of the State of Mississippi, and reports directly to them. All commissioned officer appointments and or promotions must be approved by the Adjutant General and the Governor of Mississippi.[2]

The MSSG is an all-volunteer organization tasked with supplementing the forces of the MSARNG and/or MSANG upon the order of the Governor and/or Adjutant General of the State of Mississippi. While its primary mission is to assist in coping with man-made or natural disaster, the MSSG trains to be ready to meet any assignment. As a state defense force, it is not subject to any federal authority with regard to assignment and/or control. But as many state militias were activated throughout the Southern states during WW II and became the Dixie Division, it is possible to serve under Title 10.Members of the Mississippi State Guard were called Federal Service during and many were part of the US Army Dixie Division.[2]

The MSSG was initially established as the Home Guard by executive order in 1941, during World War II, after the Mississippi National Guard units were called to federal active duty.

In 1986, when the United States Army adopted the "Total Force Concept" in which the National Guard of all states are trained as, and considered an integral part of, the active duty forces of the United States military (though remaining under state control unless activated to federal service), the MSSG was re-activated and reorganized as a cadre force to augment the state's National Guard forces as necessary in the event of their federal deployment.

Membership

The MSSG open to all citizens of Mississippi, male and female, age 17 to 62. All applicants are subject to rigid background checks. An oath of office is required, though there is no contractual obligation to members, who may resign from the MSSG at any time.[3]

Training

All new state guardsmen receive basic military training in the wear and appearance of their uniform, military structure and ranking system, military chain of command, rendering proper honors and respect to those appointed over them.[4]

Guardsmen are required to train in emergency management by taking several free, online classes provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to earn their Military Emergency Management Specialist Badge.[4]

Members also receive specialized training in the military police Military Occupation Specialty (MOS).[4]

Organization

The Mississippi State Guard is organized into three Brigades, each with two Battalions. The units include:[5]

Individual ribbons

Unit ribbons

See also

References

  1. โ†‘ "ยง 33-5-51 - Organization of the State Guard". justia.com. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Serving With the Mississippi State Guard". The Official Mississippi State Guard Website. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  3. โ†‘ "Enlistment Requirements". The Official Mississippi State Guard Website. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "Training". The Official Mississippi State Guard Website. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  5. โ†‘ "Units". The Official Mississippi State Guard Website. Retrieved 16 April 2014.

External links

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