Self-defense force

A self-defense force (SDF) is, in its stricter terms, a defense force composed by the local inhabitants of a territory joint together in order to protect themselves, their territory, their property, or their laws. The term, however, has come to refer to three different subjects in modern times:

• the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) established after the end of World War II in Asia following the surrender of Japan,
• the state defense forces of the United States, or
• local defense forces under the sole and exclusive control of subnational authorities, in comparison to the typical armed forces that report to national authorities, or national guards that report to subnational authorities but may come into national authority in times of crisis.

Self-defense forces are organized, in theory, as a force that can react quicker to subnational matters in comparison to national armed forces. In practice, however, they tend to be loosely organized, untrained, and barely funded. Most of its member tend to be former veterans and subnational civilians willing to defend their subnational territory by force.

Self-defense forces also serve as a force that protects subnational interests when national military forces threat their own subnational authorities.