Alabama State Defense Force: Difference between revisions
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On December 22, 1983, Governor [[George Wallace]] signed Executive Order Number 20, which authorized the creation of the Alabama State Defense Force, the successor of the Alabama State Guard which was disbanded in World War II.<ref>{{cite executive order |
On December 22, 1983, Governor [[George Wallace]] signed Executive Order Number 20, which authorized the creation of the Alabama State Defense Force, the successor of the Alabama State Guard which was disbanded in World War II.<ref>{{cite executive order |
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| number = 20 | url = http://www.archives.alabama.gov/executiveorders/executiveorders/1983_20.pdf | date = December 22, 1983 | language = English | post = Governor of Alabama | accessdate = September 28, 2013 }}</ref> On August 14, 2012, Governor [[Robert J. Bentley|Robert Bentley]] signed into law the Alabama State Defense Force bill (SB278), which added clarification to the role of the ASDF in relation to the Alabama National Guard, so that the two organizations can be better integrated in future stateside missions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alabama SB278|url=http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2012RS/Printfiles/SB278-int.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bentley Signs State Defense Force Bill |author=Brandon Moseley |url=http://alreporter.com/archives/2012-june/2236-bentley-signs-state-defense-force-bill.html |newspaper=Alabama Political Reporter |date=August 16, 2012 |accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref> |
| number = 20 | url = http://www.archives.alabama.gov/executiveorders/executiveorders/1983_20.pdf | date = December 22, 1983 | language = English | post = Governor of Alabama | accessdate = September 28, 2013 }}</ref> On August 14, 2012, Governor [[Robert J. Bentley|Robert Bentley]] signed into law the Alabama State Defense Force bill (SB278), which added clarification to the role of the ASDF in relation to the Alabama National Guard, so that the two organizations can be better integrated in future stateside missions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alabama SB278|url=http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2012RS/Printfiles/SB278-int.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bentley Signs State Defense Force Bill |author=Brandon Moseley |url=http://alreporter.com/archives/2012-june/2236-bentley-signs-state-defense-force-bill.html |newspaper=Alabama Political Reporter |date=August 16, 2012 |accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref> Currently the ASDF is inactive pending reorganization by the Alabama National Guard. |
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==Mission== |
==Mission== |
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Revision as of 16:53, 27 December 2013
| Alabama State Defense Force | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Alabama |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | State defense force |
| Size | 1,000 legally authorized |
| Part of | National Guard Bureau, Alabama Military Department |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Taylor Harden Armory, Montgomery, Alabama |
| Website | http://sdf.alabama.gov[dead link] |
| Commanders | |
| Commander in Chief | Gov. Robert Bentley |
| Adjutant General | MG Perry G. Smith |
| Commander | BG(AL) Dale Webb |
The Alabama State Defense Force (ASDF) is the state guard of the State of Alabama allowed by the Constitution of Alabama, The Code of Alabama and Executive Order . It has an authorized strength of 1,000 members and is organized on the United States Army structural pattern. The ASDF is under the control of the Governor of Alabama, as the state's Commander in Chief, and comes under the authority of The Adjutant General (TAG) of Alabama. The ASDF is an adjunct, volunteer, augmenting force to the Alabama National Guard and is not federally recognized. Currently the ASDF is inactive pending reorganization by the Alabama National Guard.
History
Prior to the modern National Guard, states would provide volunteer militia units to augment the federal army in times of war. In the Mexican-American War, Alabama provided the United States with multiple units of Alabama militia, with most serving for less than a year.
During the American Civil War, both Union units and Confederate units were raised in support of the war effort.
In the Spanish-American War, Alabama raised three volunteer infantry units.[1]
After the declaration of World War II, the majority of the National Guard was mobilized, leaving governors without troops to guard against invasion, provide disaster relief, and protect against civil unrest. Therefore, many states, including Alabama, raised state defense forces to act as a replacement for the National Guard during the war. In 1940, Governor Frank M. Dixon created the Alabama State Guard, recruiting primarily from World War I veterans, mainly from the American Legion.[2][dead link] Alabama took a unique approach in creating its state defense force. While other states actively recruited from veteran's organizations, Alabama went a step further and "gave the American Legion of Alabama the responsibility for creating and running its State Guard," and in return, Alabama "was able to achieve a functioning state guard sooner than most states."[3] By using an existing private organization as the framework for their state defense force, Alabama was able to achieve full readiness far sooner than might be expected. At the war's end, the Alabama State Guard was deactivated.[2]
On December 22, 1983, Governor George Wallace signed Executive Order Number 20, which authorized the creation of the Alabama State Defense Force, the successor of the Alabama State Guard which was disbanded in World War II.[4] On August 14, 2012, Governor Robert Bentley signed into law the Alabama State Defense Force bill (SB278), which added clarification to the role of the ASDF in relation to the Alabama National Guard, so that the two organizations can be better integrated in future stateside missions.[5][6] Currently the ASDF is inactive pending reorganization by the Alabama National Guard.
Mission
The mission of the Alabama State Defense Force is to on order of the Adjutant General of Alabama provide trained and ready volunteer individuals and units to support the National Guard conducting Defense Support to Civil Authorities missions to mitigate and/or alleviate the effects of a natural or man-made disaster.
Organization
The ASDF is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.
Awards and decorations
The Alabama State Defense Force issues several ribbons to guardsmen who have merited them, including the following ribbons:
ASDF Alabama War Ribbon
ASDF Distinguished Service Ribbon
ASDF Meritorious Service Ribbon
ASDF Commendation Ribbon
ASDF Achievement Ribbon (Officer)
ASDF Achievement Ribbon (Enlisted)
ASDF Merit Ribbon
ASDF Desert Shield/Storm Support Ribbon
ASDF Disaster Readiness Ribbon
SGT Dixie Club-Gold Ribbon
SGT Dixie Club-Silver Ribbon
SGT Dixie Club-Bronze Ribbon
ASDF Service Ribbon
ASDF Distinguished Graduate Ribbon
ASDF Professional Development Ribbon
ASDF Officer Training Ribbon
ASDF Warrant Officer Training Ribbon
ASDF NCO Training Ribbon
ASDF C.E.R.T. Ribbon
ASDF Recruiting Ribbon
ASDF Super Recruiter Recruiting Ribbon
ASDF Association Member Ribbon
ASDF SGAUS Ribbon
ASDF Outstanding Unit Comm. Ribbon
SGAUS Superior Unit Citation
MEMS Academy Unit Citation
References
- ^ http://www.spanamwar.com/units.htm
- ^ a b http://sdf.alabama.gov/about-asdf/history
- ^ Stentiford, Barry M. (2002). The American Home Guard: The State Militia in the Twentieth Century. Texas A&M University Press. p. 99. ISBN 1585441813.
- ^ Exec. Order No. 20 (December 22, 1983; in English) Governor of Alabama. Retrieved on September 28, 2013.
- ^ "Alabama SB278" (PDF).
- ^ Brandon Moseley (August 16, 2012). "Bentley Signs State Defense Force Bill". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ Bush, Eric. "Alabama State Defense Force Awards & Ribbons". Retrieved 6 October 2013.
